The Confederate Ghost at First Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Tennessee

First Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Tennessee

One of the very pleasant memories I have of growing up in Cleveland. Tennessee, is listening every afternoon at about four o'clock for the hymns that rang out from the belfry of First Presbyterian Church. The bells chimed familiar tunes which could be heard all over the town - even at our house which was about seven blocks away.  As a kid, I was oblivious to the fact that this beautiful old church was badly damaged by Mr. Lincoln's Northern invaders who occupied our beautiful East Tennessee town, about 30 miles northeast of Chattanooga, during the War to Prevent Southern Independence.  Musket balls are still embedded in the steeple to this day.

First Presbyterian, on North Ocoee Street, is the oldest existing church building in Cleveland - this structure having been dedicated in October 1858. At the time, the church served both black and white congregants.  As was the case in so many southern churches, the black members chose leave and build their own church during the post-War Between the States era known as "Reconstruction."  Abuses by carpetbaggers and scalawags from the North helped to create a divide between black and white in the South that exacerbated policies of segregation for a century in both the North and the South.  

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, First Presbyterian is said to be the destination of a return trek each autumn by a Confederate soldier who lost limbs during the War Between the States. According to the 150 year old story, the soldier received his injuries in this location while defending his home against the aggressive Yankee hoards when they blasted their way into town.  The Confederate ghost revisits the site each year and carries a lantern as he tries to find his missing arm and leg.



The church's pastor, Rev. Dr. Joe Tanner, when interviewed after having served the congregation for 24 years, confessed that he had seen the ghostly light, but says he does not believe in ghosts. He added that he had heard others tell of seeing the light too. However, after an addition was made to the church in 1999, there have been no more reports about a light. Tanner jokes that the soldier may have been "armless" but is also "harmless."