Assassination Site of Sgt. E. Frank Harrison
In 1870 St. Clair Co. was still under Radical Republican Reconstruction. On August 20, 1870 honorable men of the County (former Confederates) had decided to hold the first Democratic Convention after the War Between the States. The meeting would be held at the Courthouse in Ashville. Former Sgt. E. Frank Harrison, Co. F. 10th Ala. Infantry Regiment was selected as one of the delegates. As Sgt. Harrison and a number of Confederate Veterans approached the Courthouse, they were ambushed by the cowardly “Springfield Gang”, led by H. J. Springfield, a Confederate deserter and outlaw of the worst kind. On this spot Sgt. Harrison was shot and killed by H. J. Springfield. Due to Harrison’s death, the meeting was postponed and then held at Bolton’s Crossroads.
Marker is on 5th Street (U.S. 231) south of 9th Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
