Carthage in Smith County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Smith County Courthouse Square

A Major Federal Base

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 22, 2013

1. Smith County Courthouse Square Marker

Inscription. Carthage’s historic courthouse square was the control center of a major Federal base from 1863 to 1865 in the fight to control the Upper Cumberland River region. When Union Gen. George Crook arrived in Carthage to stay in 1863, he commandeered the courthouse for his headquarters. From here, Crook and subsequent commanders directed the work necessary for the construction of the earthworks on Battery Hill and organized excursions into the countryside. In June 1863, Col. William B. Stokes, 5th Tennessee Cavalry (US), replaced Crook and waged a determined war against the many partisan units in the region. In September 1864, Stokes asked permission to “clear the country” of Confederates so “to prevent them from bush whacking.” The last officer in command here, Col. Abraham E. Garrett, led the 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry, a 400–man unit largely recruited in Carthage and Nashville. Garrett wrote some of his morning reports in the county’s will books. After the war, he remained in Carthage, where he was an attorney and also represented Smith County in the Tennessee General Assembly.

At the

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northwest corner of the square is the historic Carthage City Cemetery, which contains the remains of both Confederate and Federal soldiers and officers. Confederate Col. John A. Fite is buried there, as are Union Cols. Abraham E. Garrett and William B. Pickering. The square also includes a Confederate monument erected in 1930 by the Henry W. Hart Chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy.

(Inscription under the photo in the lower left)
The first courthouse was built in 1805. It was fifty feet square with four offices and a hall on the first floor and two offices and courtroom on the second floor. The present courthouse was built a few years after the Civil War and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

(Inscription under the photo in the lower right)
Thirteen Civil War veterans gathered at the Smith County Courthouse in 1926. By this time, the number of Civil War survivors had dewindled to merely a handful. – Courtesy of Lecil McDonald, Smith County resident, WWII Veteran

Smith County Courthouse

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 22, 2013

2. Smith County Courthouse Square Marker

in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1863.

Location. 36° 15.077′ N, 85° 57.142′ W. Marker is in Carthage, Tennessee, in Smith County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and 2nd Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carthage TN 37030, 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 walking distance of this marker: Captain William Walton (a few steps from this marker); Benton McMillin (a few steps from this marker); Bragg Invades Kentucky (a

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 22, 2013

3. Smith County Courthouse Square Marker

few steps from this marker); Confederacy Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Smith County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith County September 11 Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); DeFord Bailey (within shouting distance of this marker); Louise Scruggs (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carthage.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,533 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.