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

Civil War Railroad

Mile Post 42
⎯⎯⎯
Smeedsville Station

— Dickson Station —

Civil War Railroad Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, April 30, 2023

1. Civil War Railroad Marker

Inscription. Continued attacks by Confederate guerrillas destroying Union supply ships on the Cumberland River at Yellow Creek and Harpeth Shoals, as they attempted to supply Nashville, necessitated General U.S. Grant to authorize the construction of a safe means of transportation from the Tennessee River to Nashville. The result was a 78 mile railroad constructed by the 12th and 13th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiments. The guerrilla attacks were organized at a meeting held in the saloons on the Court Square at Charlotte. As many as 300 troops were assigned to secure the Court Square in Charlotte which enabled the railroad to be constructed to its south without organized attack from Confederate guerrillas. Following the War, present day Dickson was established at Mile Post 42. The town was first known as Smeedsville Station.

(caption)
Period photo of the trestle at Gillam’s (or Gillem’s) Station--site D51, now called Tennessee City. Fortifications erected at this site have been reduced and are now occupied by a cemetery.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list.

Location. 36° 4.529′

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

N, 87° 23.332′ W. Marker is in Dickson, Tennessee, in Dickson County. It is on Frank Clement Place west of Center Avenue (Tennessee Route 48), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dickson TN 37055, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee,

in the Highland Rim,

and in Greater Nashville.

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: Craig Morgan (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Mile Post 42 (a few steps from this marker); Frank Goad Clement (a few steps from this marker); Francis Craig (within shouting distance of this marker); John Rich (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); War Memorial Building (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dickson, Tennessee,100 Years 1899-1999 (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dickson.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Mile Post 42 (was a few steps from this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 24, 2013

2. Civil War Railroad Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 24, 2013

3. Civil War Railroad Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,210 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on March 14, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on May 2, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2, 3. submitted on October 1, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Civil War Railroad

Mile Post 42⎯⎯⎯Smeedsville Station

— Dickson Station —

Mile Post 42
⎯⎯⎯
Smeedsville Station