Major Hiram Solon Hanchett
16th Illinois Cavalry - U.S. Volunteers
On January 20th, 1865, Major Hanchett lead a daring, but unsuccessful escape from the military prison that was located on this spot.
He was then moved to the dungeon of the county jail, located on First North Street. In March the other Union Soldiers were sent to a parole camp in Vicksburg. Hanchett was detained because the post commandant, Lt. Col. Sam Jones believed he was a spy.
In April when Federal soldiers attacked nearby Selma, the post commandant fled Cahaba, and the citizens of Cahaba freed Major Hanchett. Reputedly, Confederate soldiers under orders from Lt. Col. Jones returned to Cahaba, seized Hanchett while he was eating breakfast, took him from the town, and murdered him.
Major Hanchett's body was never found and lies today in an unmarked grave.
Marker can be reached from Capitol Avenue near Vine Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
