Historical
Iron Works

During the war between the States (1861-1865) The Tellico Iron Works produced cannonballs and bullets for the confederacy. In December 1863, General Sherman, U.S. Army, with his troops came to Tellico Plains and destroyed the works.

Before the Civil War, the Tellico Iron Company produced what was considered some of the finest ore in the world. Owned by Unionist Elisha Johnson and located right next to his own home, the iron works was seized by the Confederacy early in the war, where it was used to
manufacture munitions.

In 1863, General Sherman marched with the Union Army into Tellico Plains to retake the iron mill and arrest Elisha Johnson for his role in supplying the Confederate Army. After a lengthy trial, Elisha was set free and his home was spared, but the iron works was burned.