Near Buffalo Valley in Smith County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Tennessee Civil War Trails
Create Some History of Your Own
Welcome to Smith County, Tennessee!
Get ready to visit small towns with big stories.
Tennessee Civil War Trails tells riveting stories of battles and leaders, and much more. You'll learn about some of the state's 275,000 enslaved men and women who self-emancipated, and the 20,000 self-liberated warriors who fought for freedom in the U.S. Colored Troops.
Your explorations will take you to houses and mills that played a role in the war, and small towns and farms where families found themselves swept up in the conflict. Some communities found themselves divided over secession and slavery, causing a "war within a war" that left deep, lingering scars.
Though the state seceded and supplied 120,000 soldiers to Confederate armies, United States sentiment was also strong here, particularly in the eastern part of the state. 31,000 white Tennesseans fought for the Union, more than any other Confederate state. And more battles were fought in Tennessee than any other state except Virginia.
Enjoy scenic byways, historic main streets, rivers and railroads, and explore the fascinating stories all around you. Walk in the footsteps of history, and gain inspiration from the men and women who struggled through perilous times. Create some history of your own!
(Captions)
Smith County Courthouse
Federal artillery battery - Smith County Heritage Museum
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Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list.
Location. 36° 8.408′ N, 85° 48.373′ W. Marker is near Buffalo Valley, Tennessee, in Smith County. It can be reached from Interstate 40 at milepost 267, one mile west of Medley Amonette Road (Tennessee Route 96) when traveling west. The marker is on the west side of the Tennessee Welcome Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6710 I-40, Lancaster TN 38569, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North
America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: U.S. Senator Albert Gore, Sr. (here, next to this marker); Tennessee Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Jim Denny (approx. 1.3 miles away); Buffalo Valley School (approx. 1.3 miles away); Center Hill Dam / Center Hill Powerhouse (approx. 3 miles away); Site of Roulston Stand (approx. 3.1 miles away); Last Stagecoach Hold-Up (approx. 3.3 miles away); Edgar Evins State Park (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo Valley.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Civil War in Tennessee (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 16, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

