Thieves Steal Plaques from Chattanooga Military Park, Drove Green Ford F-150

Ohio Regiment Markers Stolen from Military Park

Two men removed three bronze plaques from Sherman Reservation on Missionary Ridge this past Sunday.

The theft occurred at 12:01 pm on May 4, 2025, at the historical site located at 2419 North Crest Road in Chattanooga.

Park officials value the stolen historical markers at $18,000 total. A piece of a cannon tube called a cascabel may also have been taken during the same timeframe.

The History of Sherman Reservation

Sherman Reservation marks the site where Union General William Tecumseh Sherman attacked Confederate forces at Tunnel Hill.

The 50-acre park preserves a key location from the 1863 Battle of Chattanooga. The reservation sits atop Missionary Ridge, offering strategic views of the Tennessee Valley.

Memorial Markers Honor Ohio Regiments

The stolen plaques were memorials to the 53rd, 57th, and 70th Ohio infantry regiments.

These Union forces fought on Missionary Ridge when Union General William T. Sherman attacked Confederate defenses at Tunnel Hill during the Civil War.

Park officials note this isn’t the first time bronze has been taken from the battlefield.

Look Out for Green Ford F-150 with Gray Stripe

According to park officials, the suspects allegedly drove a green Ford F-150 extended cab pickup truck. It had a two-tone gray stripe along the bottom quarter of the body.

The driver’s side front wheel doesn’t match the other three wheels, according to surveillance footage.

Vehicle model is estimated to be from the late 1990s or early 2000s.

Thieves Allegedly Posed a Maintenance Workers

Both suspects appear to be white males in their mid-20s with brown hair. One suspect wore a bright orange shirt similar to construction safety gear during the theft.

Park rangers describe them as appearing like ordinary maintenance workers.

Recent Damage To Historic Cannon Also Discovered

Park historian Jim Ogden also discovered fresh damage to a cannon at the site, where the cascabel (a knob-like part at the rear of the cannon) had been sawed off.

Bronze filings remained at the scene, indicating the theft happened between Saturday and Tuesday. This small bronze piece was approximately the size of a large man’s fist.

Part Of Larger Military Park

The Sherman Reservation forms part of the larger Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

This federally protected area preserves battlefields from the 1863 Chattanooga Campaign across nine thousand acres. The park spans multiple sites across northern Georgia and southern Tennessee.

Reward Offered For Information

Park officials are offering a reward for verified information leading to the recovery of the stolen plaques. The exact reward amount remains unspecified.

Anyone with information should contact Ranger Justin Young at 423-298-7437. Here’s the full press release from the National Park Service.

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