City Center in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Point in the Line of Fort Sherman
Image courtesy of the Historical Marker Database
1. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker
The Chief Work of the Inner Line,
Which comprised the entire line
From Battery Bushnell
to Signal Hill.
(Marker Number MT-51.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 35° 3.05′ N, 85° 18.244′ W. Marker was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It was in City Center. It was on East 5th Street east of Georgia Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 426 East 5th Street, Chattanooga TN 37403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Headquarters of Brigadier General George D. Wagner (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Point in the Line of Fort Sherman (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of General Bragg's Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Chancellor T. M. McConnell House (about 400 feet away); Chattanooga's First School (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Point in the Line of Fort Sherman (about
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Site of Lunette O'Meara (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Point in the Line of Fort Sherman (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Point in the Line of Fort Sherman (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. According to the description information provided by the National Park Service, the marker is a, "Cast iron tablet on post at 426 East 5th Street."
In the center of the 400 block of East 5th Street, on the north side of the street, is the large mansion (that houses the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints) at 407 East 5th Street. At the northeast end of the block is the Soloff Properties building at 427 East 5th Street. In between those two addresses is a vacant lot, with what I assume would be the address of 425 East 5th Street.
I would argue that this missing marker was originally
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 11, 2019
2. Marker Search Reference Point
The mansion at 407 East 5th Street can be used as a reference point in locating the site of this missing marker.
Regarding Point in the Line of Fort Sherman. With much help from Suzette Raney of the Local History and Genealogy Department of the Chattanooga Public Library, I have been able to put together some background information on these bronze and/or iron, Civil War related, tablets placed throughout the city of Chattanooga.
According to a newspaper article published in the Chattanooga Times on, December 1, 1893, there was a committee appointed from the chamber of commerce to identify historical points in connection with the occupancy of Chattanooga by Federal and Confederate troops. These points were to later be marked by a bronze tablet bearing a description of the event which transpired at that point. According to a Battlefield Guide, published in 1897 by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, “For the 20th reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, September 18-20, 1889, the publisher of the Guide compiled the following list of historical points, which list, has since been revised and bronze tablets placed on or near the sites by the Government.” So it would appear that it was sometime between late 1893 and 1897 that these tablets were erected, by the government.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 11, 2019
3. Marker Search Reference Point
The mansion at 407 East 5th Street is in the middle of the 400 block of East 5th Street, on the north side. The missing marker was near the east end of the 400 block, on the south side.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 11, 2019
4. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker
The missing marker was near the east end of the 400 block, on the opposite side from the mansion. This picture is a view, looking east along East 5th Street, towards the site of the missing marker.
Image taken from Google Map
5. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker
The mulched area, on the south side of the street, near the east end of the 400 block of East 5th Street, is where I believe that this missing marker was originally situated.
Image taken from Google Map
6. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker
The steps that go from the sidewalk, up the small slope, and ends in the mulch, most probably belonged to what was the residential property at 426 East 5th Street. This is where I believe that the missing marker was originally located.
Image courtesy of the National Park Service., July 12, 2017
7. "MT-numbered” listings
View of page 51 from the National Park Services record book on the Chattanooga - Chickamauga ”MT-numbered” listings of classified structures, which is kept in the Chickamauga Battlefield Park's Visitor Center.
Image courtesy of the Chattanooga Public Library.
8. Tablet Related Newspaper Article
View of a tablet related newspaper article published in the Chattanooga Times on, December 1, 1893.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 210 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 29, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
