Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
E. H. Phelps Memorial Monument
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 23, 2011
1. Col. E. H. Phelps Marker
Mortally Wounded
Near This Spot
About 5.20 P.M.
November 25th
1863.
Erected 1908 by Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Battlefield Commission. (Marker Number MT-125.)
Topics and series. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Missionary Ridge, and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park: November 25, 1863 series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1840.
Location. 35° 2.995′ N, 85° 15.138′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is in Missionary Ridge. Marker is on North Crest Road north of Crest Terrace Drive. According to the National Park Service, "Monument is located on Missionary Ridge at 312 North Crest Road, Map Site #77.". Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 312 North Crest Road, Chattanooga TN 37404, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jackson's Brigade. (here, next to this marker); 14th Ohio Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 38th Ohio Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Phelps' Brigade (within shouting distance
this page online
More about this monument. According to the description provided by the National Park Service, this monument is, "3' x 3' x 8', the monument consists of a bronze cannon tube mounted vertically on a circular granite pedestal. Attached to pedestal is a bronze shield-shaped inscription tablet. Atop cannon tube is a cast-iron cannonball."
Also see . . . Edward H. Phelps. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 27, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Col. E. H. Phelps
After visiting Missionary Ridge and photographing the Col. E. H. Phelps marker, I noticed that before being given a brigade to command, that Col. E. H. Phelps was the commander of the 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.). That got my curiosity going and
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 23, 2011
2. Col. E. H. Phelps Marker
Then I discovered something else that really shocked me, I discovered that the officer who was killed during the charge up on Missionary Ridge, who had the monument erected in his honor near the spot where he was mortally wounded, that he was buried in Toledo, Ohio.
So now I must confess that I am embarrassed that I was so ignorant of who this gallant hero from northwest Ohio was and that I had no idea that he was buried right here in my hometown. When I finally did find his grave I was even more embarrassed because his gravestone has been long neglected and seemingly forgotten. I found it ironic that Col. E. H. Phelps' memory was better honored and preserved in Chattanooga, Tennessee than it is here in Toledo, Ohio.
Although the text on the stone is very weathered and difficult to read, I could read part of the inscription, on one side of the gravestone. It read as follows:
To the Memory of
Col. Edward H.
Phelps
By the members of the
Regt. 38th Ohio Vol. Inf.
Now the fact that he was buried in Toledo by members of the 38th O.V.I. raises
via Wikipedia, unknown
3. Col. Edward Herrick Phelps
In going back through the copies of the local newspaper, the Toledo Blade, from the time when reports of Col. E. H. Phelps' death at Missionary Ridge were first reported, right up to the arrival of his body in town and reports of the events surrounding his burial were published, there is no explanation provided as to why he was buried in Toledo, as opposed to his hometown of Defiance, Ohio.
So if anyone reading this might have the answer to this question of interest (well it is of interest to me), please don't hesitate to contact me.
— Submitted May 5, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 23, 2011
4. Col. E. H. Phelps Marker
View of the historical marker looking south on North Crest Road.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 23, 2011
5. Col. E. H. Phelps Marker
View of the historical marker looking north on North Crest Road.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2011
6. Col. E. H. Phelps Gravestone
View of Col. E. H. Phelps gravestone, which is located in Toledo, Ohio, in the Forest Cemetery, 41° 36.877'N, 083°38.015'W.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2011
7. Col. E. H. Phelps Gravestone
Close-up view of the weather worn text on one side of the Col. E. H. Phelps gravestone.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2011
8. Col. E. H. Phelps Gravestone
Close-up view of the weather worn text on another side of the Col. E. H. Phelps gravestone, although some of this text is still readable.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 23, 2011
9. Col. E. H. Phelps Gravestone
Another, more distant, view of Col. E. H. Phelps gravestone, which is located in Toledo, Ohio, in the Forest Cemetery, 41° 36.877'N, 083°38.015'W.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 27, 2017
10. E. H. Phelps Memorial Monument
View of page 125 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 781 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 3. submitted on July 27, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on July 5, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 5, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 10. submitted on July 11, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
