Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Superintendent Shawn Benge announced a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the individuals responsible for the theft of two bronze plaques from the Chickamauga Battlefield.
The reward money is being provided by The Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
He said on Sept. 11, park rangers discovered that the bronze plaques had been stolen from 42nd and 88th Indiana Infantry Regiment monuments, both located along Glenn-Kelly Road in the battlefield. Each plaque measures 12” x 18”.
The monuments were placed on the battlefield in 1898 by Indiana veterans to commemorate their participation in the Battle of Chickamauga in the fall of 1863.
Superintendent Benge stated, “This callous act has robbed the American people of historic cultural resources critical to understanding the battle action at Chickamauga. The memory of all veterans who fought at Chickamauga has been desecrated by this senseless act. I am hopeful that the local community will embrace our efforts to bring those responsible to justice.”
The theft of the commemorative plaques is a felony violation of the federal Archeological Resources Protection Act. Criminal penalties may include up to five years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.
If you have any information about this crime, please contact Supervisory Park Ranger Jim Staub at (706) 866-6627 or via e-mail at Jim_Staub@nps.gov.