City Center in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Point in the Line of Fort Sherman
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. Marker 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.
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, measured in a direct line); Chattanooga's First School (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Point in the Line of Fort Sherman (about 700 feet away); Frances Willard House (about 700 feet away); Swaim's Jail (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.
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 situated on the south side of the 400 block of East 5th Street, across the street from the 425 and 427 addresses.
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.
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 90 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 29, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.