Linda Moss Mines: Chattanooga's Spanish Cannon, Part 1

  • Monday, January 13, 2025
  • Linda Moss Mines
While one most often identifies the U. S. Civil War when considering connections between Chattanooga and military conflict, the city claims three ‘touch points’ with the Spanish-American War. First, nearby Fort Oglethorpe served as a basic and advanced training base and hundreds of troops arrived by rail in Chattanooga and then marched to camp via Remembrance Road, now Rossville Boulevard. Residents turned out to cheer the soldiers as they arrived. “Remember the Maine,” the rallying cry encouraging young men to step forward and enlist, created a fever among recent graduates of Chattanooga High, Central High and other schools.
But perhaps the most visible connection rests today on the grassy triangle park near the Hamilton County Courthouse – Chattanooga’s Spanish Cannon.

While few Chattanoogans served in Cuba or the Philippines since the war only lasted from April to August 1898, local residents followed the daily news reports and cheered as American forces emerged victorious, defeating the Spanish on both land and sea. Spain, forced to cede Guan, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the United States and agree to Cuba’s new status as an independent nation, faced the end of an empire that had gained prominence beginning in the 15th century. The United States emerged as a global power and ‘Rough Rider’ Theodore Roosevelt, already a recognizable name in U. S. political circles, would ride his San Juan Hill victory to the vice-presidency and ultimately the nation’s highest office.

On Monday, June 12, 1899, the Chattanooga Daily Times contained a short note that the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce had asked General Boynton if he could assist Chattanooga in obtaining “one of the old Spanish cannons being distributed by the government.” General Boynton responded in the meeting that he was unaware of the program but that he would do “anything he could to assist the committee in securing one of these cannons for Chattanooga.”
One week later, the Chamber announced that, as recommended by General Boynton, L. D. Wildman, chairman of the special ‘cannon’ committee, had requested letters of support from Tennessee Governor Benton McMillin and Chattanooga Mayor Edmund Watkins. In addition, the Grand Old Army of the Republic posts in the region had each “passed resolutions” requesting a Spanish cannon and presented Wildman with signed copies to be included in the packet to the U. S. Department of War. Wildman reported that if the request was not “viewed favorably” by Secretary of War Elihu Root, the committee would apply for an audience with the “Navy Department.”

By September, Chattanooga officials were frustrated. Acting Secretary of War Arnott Meiklejohn had announced earlier that a cannon would be “permanently loaned to Chattanooga,” an offer immediately accepted by Mayor Watkins. Meiklejohn explained that the chief of ordinance for the War Department would ship the cannon to Chattanooga and “requested that the mayor put himself in communication with that officer.” The mayor immediately wrote to the chief and was assured that the commanding officer of the New York arsenal would identify and ship a cannon immediately. Three weeks pasted with no expected date of arrival, but, in December, the mayor and council shared the exciting news - - Chattanooga’s Spanish cannon would arrive after Jan. 1.

Dedication planning began immediately and Chattanooga invited General George Dewey to preside over the ceremony. Unfortunately, General Dewey telegraphed H. T. Olmstead on February 14, 1900 that he would be unable to attend due to official duties. The committee moved forward with planning. The question of location rose again and the group divided with T. T. Wilson and J. T. Burford of the Chamber “insisting that the gun should be mounted on the custom house grounds.” The other members of the committee did not agree and were unanimous in favor of moving the location from the custom house. However, they were divided on the question of the new location. Forstner and Duncan suggested Fountain Square. Colonel Watkins suggested the corner of Broad and Ninth Streets while others mentioned the courthouse lawn as a possibility. When the Council members asked if the Chamber would be willing to share in the cost of the project, Mr. Burford responded “No.” Councilman Duncan then suggested that the Chamber should have “no vote on where to locate the gun.”

A city council vote affirmed the Fountain Square location, near the Fireman’s Fountain Memorial, and the aldermen agreed to contract with Charles E. Smith to begin work on a mounting of Georgia marble. Construction began on April 24 with plans for an elaborate May dedication.

* * *

Linda Moss Mines is the official Chattanooga and Hamilton County historian.

Memories
Celia Shaneyfelt Speaks At NSDAR Moccasin Bend Chapter Meeting
Celia Shaneyfelt Speaks At NSDAR Moccasin Bend Chapter Meeting
  • 2/10/2025

The Moccasin Bend Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their monthly meeting at the First-Centenary United Methodist Church. The speaker for this meeting ... more

Sewanee’s Unrivaled History
Sewanee’s Unrivaled History
  • 2/5/2025

The University of the South that sits on 13,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau off interstate I-24 a few miles from Monteagle between Nashville and Chattanooga is “unrivaled” in many aspects ... more

Linda Moss Mines: Chattanooga's Lincoln Park, Part 1
  • 1/31/2025

It was 1918 and the war was raging in France and along the Western Front. Hundreds of men from the Tennessee Valley had enlisted following President Woodrow Wilson’s April 2, 1917 address to ... more