Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Savannah in Hardin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
 

Grant at Cherry Mansion

"Gentlemen, the ball is in motion"

— Battle of Shiloh —

 
 
Grant at Cherry Mansion Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 21, 2014
1. Grant at Cherry Mansion Marker
Inscription. After the February 1862 Union victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, Gen. Don Carlos Buell’s army occupied Nashville while Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s army penetrated to Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. Buell and Grant planned to attack the rail center of Corinth, Mississippi, but on April 6, Confederate Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston struck first. The Battle of Shiloh was a near Confederate victory the first day, although Johnston was killed. On the second day, Grant’s counterattack succeeded, and the Confederates retreated to Corinth. Shiloh was the war’s bloodiest battle to date, with almost 24,000 killed, wounded or missing.

This is the house of Unionist William H. Cherry and his wife, Ann (“Annie”) Irwin Cherry. In March 1862, Union Gen. Charles F. Smith (who died here in April 25) made it his headquarters. On March 17, at Cherry’s request, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant established his headquarters here while he awaited Gen. Don Carlos Buell’s army, which was marching overland from Nashville. Grant’s army was camped two miles upriver at Pittsburg Landing.

At dawn on April 6, Confederate Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston suddenly attacked at Pittsburg Landing. Annie Cherry later recalled Grant’s reaction to the sounds of battle rumbling down the valley: “He was at my breakfast-table when he heard the report of a cannon.

Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
Holding, untasted, a cup of coffee, he paused…at the report of another cannon. He hastily arose, saying to his staff,..’Gentlemen, the ball is in motion; let’s be off.’ His flagship was lying at the wharf, and in fifteen minutes he, staff officers, orderlies, clerks, and horses had embarked.” Grant quickly steamed away toward the roar of the guns.

An ardent supporter of the Confederate cause whose two brothers served in the Southern army, Annie Cherry later remarked that Grant had “(conducted) himself as a gentleman; was kind, courteous, genial, and considerate” to all members of her family, and was “uniformly kind to citizens, irrespective of politics.” To rebut rumors that her famous houseguest had been intoxicated that morning, she asserted, “General Grant was thoroughly sober,” and “never appeared in my presence in a state of intoxication.”

(Inscription under the photos in the lower left)
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant-Courtesy Library of Congress-Annie Irwin Cherry with daughter Mary Cornelia Cherry-Courtesy Hardin County Historical Society.

(Inscription under the photo in the lower right)
“Steamboat Landing, Savannah, Tennessee” (Cherry Mansion at right above steamboat), Battles and Leaders (1887-1888)
 
Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
 
Topics and series.

Grant at Cherry Mansion image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 21, 2014
2. Grant at Cherry Mansion
This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Tennessee Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1862.
 
Location. 35° 13.548′ N, 88° 15.384′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Tennessee, in Hardin County. Marker is on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah TN 38372, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cherry Mansion (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Cherry Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); War on the River (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Crossing (within shouting distance of this marker); War Comes to Savannah (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Lost Petrified Forests of Savannah, Tennessee (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hardin County Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joseph Hardin (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.
 
Grant at Cherry Mansion image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 21, 2014
3. Grant at Cherry Mansion
Cherry Mansion (view from the Tennessee River) image. Click for full size.
October 13, 2021
4. Cherry Mansion (view from the Tennessee River)
Grant's Headquarters-Cherry Mansion image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 21, 2014
5. Grant's Headquarters-Cherry Mansion
This marker is a short distance from the Cherry Mansion.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 917 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on March 20, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on June 28, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.   4. submitted on October 16, 2021.   5. submitted on June 28, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=81776

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 28, 2024