Signal Mountain in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Civil War Signaling

—With ﬂags and torches, signalmen passed the word —

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

1. Civil War Signaling Marker

Inscription. When Confederate forces laid siege to Chattanooga in late September 1863, they cut off telegraph lines leading into the city. The Federals, in order to move messages from Chattanooga to their supply base in Bridgeport, Alabama, established a series of signal stations. One of those stations was here at Signal Point.

Messages relayed here from Bridgeport were flashed to Stringers Ridge (upriver to your left) and then on to Cameron Hill in the city. By this means, the Federals received news of reinforcements and supplies coming to their relief. When the siege was broken in late October, the signal stations diminished in importance.

The U.S. Army Signal Corps, established during the Civil War, operated the stations. Signals were sent by waving square flags or torches. Flag-waving patterns represented numbers. By using secret codes, number combinations could be translated into letters to form words. Observers used telescopes and binoculars for long-range viewing.

Erected by Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

Location. 35° 7.172′ N, 85° 22.012′ W. Marker is in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. Marker can be reached from Signal Point Road west of Flint Street. Touch for map

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

2. Civil War Signaling Marker

View of the illustration displayed on the historical marker that shows a U.S. army signal station in action.

. This historical marker is located at the end of Signal Point Road, in Signal Point Park, at the end of the trail that leads to the park's overlook of the Tennessee River Valley. Marker is in this post office area: Signal Mountain TN 37377, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Boats on the Tennessee (a few steps from this marker); Attack at Suck Creek (approx. 0.7 miles away); Williams' Island (approx. 3.3 miles away); Stringer's Ridge (was approx. 4.1 miles away but has been reported missing. ); Sherman's Hideout (approx. 4.2 miles away); Wilder's Artillery Position (approx. 4.2 miles away); Red Bank Veteran's Memorial (approx. 4.4 miles away); Chattanooga High School (approx. 4.6 miles away).

Categories. • War, US Civil •

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

3. Civil War Signaling Marker

View of the illustration displayed on the historical marker that shows a cipher disk.

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

4. Civil War Signaling Marker

A close-up view of the text displayed on the historical marker.

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

5. Civil War Signaling Marker

View of the historical marker, situated on the crest of Signal Mountain, overlooking the Tennessee River Valley, at the federal park.

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

6. Civil War Signaling Marker

Another view of the historical marker, situated on the crest of Signal Mountain, overlooking the Tennessee River Valley, with a view of the river in the valley below.

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

7. Civil War Signaling Marker

A distant view of the historical marker situated on the crest of Signal Point, overlooking the Tennessee River Valley.

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

8. Civil War Signaling Marker

A view of the park's path that leads down to the location of the historical marker at Signal Point.

Signal Point, Park Sign image. Click for full size.

By Dale K. Benington, September 24, 2013

9. Signal Point, Park Sign

Tennessee River from Signal Point image. Click for full size.

By Brandon Fletcher, June 7, 2008

10. Tennessee River from Signal Point

Looking toward Chattanooga

By Brandon Fletcher, June 7, 2008

11. Tennessee River from Signal Point

Looking in direction in which the Tennessee flows away from Chattanooga.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 10, 11. submitted on August 9, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.