Civil War cannon in Bell County defaced by vandals

Vandals scratched graffiti into a 155-year-old Civil War cannon at Fort Lyon in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Bell County, Kentucky. The cannon had been displayed on the hillside where a gun likely stood during the war. Because of the damage, park officials moved it near the park headquarters and spent time and money restoring it. It was not the first time: park staff had been fighting graffiti on their cannons for years.

Fort Lyon: Built by the Confederacy

Fort Lyon sits high on the ridge of Cumberland Mountain near the Pinnacle Overlook, about 2,500 feet above sea level, with views into Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. It was built by Confederate troops in 1861, who called it Fort Pitts. When Union forces later took the Gap, they renamed it for Union General Nathaniel Lyon. Today it is one of the best-preserved earthwork forts in the park.

The Gibraltar of America

Cumberland Gap is a natural pass through the Appalachian Mountains, the same route Daniel Boone used to lead settlers west on the Wilderness Road. During the war, both sides saw it as a key gateway between Kentucky and East Tennessee. Union General George W. Morgan called it the strongest position he had ever seen except Gibraltar.

Confederate troops under General Felix Zollicoffer first occupied the Gap in 1861. Over the next two years it changed hands several times, often without a major battle. In September 1862, with Confederate forces closing in, Union troops blew up their supplies and slipped away to the north. A year later, the Confederate garrison surrendered to Union forces in September 1863.

Protecting the Past

Artifacts like this cannon belong to everyone, and once they are damaged, they can never be fully restored. If you visit the park, help protect its history and report any vandalism you see. Read more about the weapons of the war in The 5 Most Lethal Weapons of the US Civil War, and browse our Confederate flag collection.

Source: WKYT: Civil War cannon in Bell County defaced by vandals

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