City Center in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Point in the Line of Fort Sherman

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 5, 2014

1. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker

Inscription. 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-52.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 35° 3.059′ N, 85° 18.382′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is in City Center. Marker is at the intersection of Lookout Street and East 5th Street, on the right when traveling north on Lookout Street. This historical marker is located in the downtown area, on the southeast corner of the intersection, right underneath the corner stone of what was once the "Wiley Memorial M. E. Church - 1887.". Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 504 Lookout 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 marker. Chattanooga's First School (here, next to this marker); Swaim's Jail (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of General Bragg's Headquarters (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Headquarters of Brigadier General George D. Wagner (about 600 feet away); Hamilton County (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Point in the Line of Fort Sherman

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Frances Willard House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Military History of Chattanooga (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.

More about this marker. In earlier searches for this particular historical marker I completely missed it, because until recently, there was a bush standing in front of where this marker is currently located. So either the marker had been hidden by the bush, or the marker had recently been restored and the bush removed.

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

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 5, 2014

2. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker

View of the historical marker, located just beneath the corner stone of the former "Wiley Memorial M. E. Church - 1887," looking east on East 5th Street.

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.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. A list of the tablets placed throughout the city of Chattanooga, in the mid-1890s, that identify historical points in connection with the occupancy of Chattanooga by Federal and Confederate troops.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 5, 2014

3. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker

View of the historical marker looking north along Lookout Street.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 5, 2014

4. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker

View of the historical marker on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 5, 2014

5. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker

View of the historical marker in front of the northwest corner of the current Bethlehem - Wiley Church, which, in 1979, was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 12, 2017

6. Point in the Line of Fort Sherman Marker

View of page 52 from the National Park Service’s record book on the Chattanooga - Chickamauga ”MT-numbered” listings of classified structures, which is kept in the Chickamauga Battlefield Park's Visitor Center.

Tablet Related Newspaper Article image. Click for full size.

Image courtesy of the Chattanooga Public Library.

7. 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 16, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 16, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6. submitted on July 20, 2017, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 7. submitted on August 25, 2018, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.