Morganton, Tennessee Ghost Town

You’ll find Morganton, Tennessee beneath the waters of Tellico Lake today, but this ghost town was once a bustling river port. From the late 1700s until 1961, it served as an essential ferry crossing on the Little Tennessee River, playing key roles in early settlement and Civil War operations. The town declined after nearby railroad development, and the 1979 completion of Tellico Dam submerged everything except Morganton Cemetery. Its underwater ruins hold centuries of rich historical secrets.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 The Rise of a River Crossing Hub

3 Ferry Operations and Early Settlement

4 Strategic Importance During the Civil War

4.1 Military Crossing Attempts

4.2 Supply Line Control Point

5 Economic Decline and Bridge Construction

6 Life Before the Waters Came

7 Archaeological Discoveries and Preservation

8 Legacy Beneath Tellico Lake

9 Frequently Asked Questions

9.1 Can Visitors Scuba Dive to Explore the Underwater Remains of Morganton?

9.2 What Happened to the Cemetery Plots When Morganton Was Flooded?

9.3 Are There Any Surviving Photographs of Morganton Before Submersion?

9.4 Did Any Original Morganton Residents Refuse to Leave Their Homes?

9.5 What Is the Exact Depth of Water Covering the Former Town?

10 References

Key Takeaways

Morganton, Tennessee, established in the late 1700s as Wear’s Ferry, is now submerged beneath Tellico Lake following the 1979 dam construction.
The town’s decline began when the L&N Railroad in Greenback diverted commerce away, leading to decreased river-based transportation importance.

Only Morganton Cemetery remains visible today, situated on higher ground above the lake that covers the former thriving river port.
The closure of Morganton Ferry in 1961 marked the end of river commerce, contributing to the town’s eventual abandonment.
The site holds significant archaeological value, including Native American settlements and Fort San Juan remains, now underwater.

The Rise of a River Crossing Hub

While many Tennessee towns sprang up along railroads, Morganton’s origins trace back to its strategic position on the Little Tennessee River in the late 1700s.

You’ll find the town’s beginnings with the establishment of Morganton Ferry, which quickly became an essential crossing point for regional transport and movement.

As riverboat commerce flourished in the early 1800s, Morganton transformed into a bustling shipping hub.

Just as place name disambiguation helps clarify various locations called Morganton today, the town’s distinct riverside location made it easily identifiable to traders of that era.

The town’s strategic location sparked robust community development, with infrastructure emerging to support the growing trade activities.

You’d have seen a thriving business center complete with stores, homes, and a church, all centered around the ferry crossing.

Local agricultural trade thrived as farmers utilized the river transport system to ship corn and other goods, cementing Morganton’s role as a significant commercial nexus before the Civil War.

Like many towns during the Civil War, Morganton became a target due to its stores of corn and other vital supplies.

Ferry Operations and Early Settlement

Before becoming known as Morganton, the ferry crossing began as Wear’s Ferry in the late 18th century, serving as an important link across the Little Tennessee River near present-day Greenback, Tennessee.

Wear’s Ferry emerged as a vital river crossing in the 1700s, connecting communities along the Little Tennessee River in Tennessee.

You’ll find rich ferry history here, where the small community of “Portville” emerged by 1810 before being chartered as Morganton in 1813, named after merchant Gideon Morgan.

The settlement patterns grew around this essential crossing point, which connected to the newly relocated Tellico Agent at Fort Southwest Point. The town grew into a thriving port with hemp and whiskey trade becoming major local industries by the 1830s.

The resulting Morganton Road became a significant transportation route, with the ferry operating across a 0.4-mile stretch of river.

George Spivey’s ownership from 1900 through the 1940s marked a notable period in the ferry’s operations, which continued serving local residents until its closure in 1961.

Strategic Importance During the Civil War

During the Civil War, you’ll find Morganton’s strategic river crossing became a focal point for both Union and Confederate military operations, with General James Longstreet initially planning to cross the Little Tennessee River there in late 1863. Similar to the conflict in Scott County, the area faced guerrilla raids from both sides that disrupted local communities.

You can trace how Longstreet’s plans were thwarted by a lack of pontoon bridge materials, forcing Confederate forces to seek alternative crossing points at Loudon. His operational challenges were compounded by having poor supply situations and inadequate maps.

Union General William T. Sherman later succeeded where Longstreet failed, crossing at Morganton by constructing pontoon bridges from dismantled local houses, demonstrating the crossing’s crucial role in controlling regional supply lines.

Military Crossing Attempts

Throughout the Civil War, the Tennessee River crossing at Morganton proved strategically vital for both Union and Confederate forces. The challenging river conditions and military logistics required commanders to execute complex tactical maneuvers to secure passage.

Sherman’s forces initially attempted fording shallow areas in November 1863, but deeper-than-expected waters halted their progress.

Union troops adapted by dismantling local barns and structures to construct makeshift bridges from timber.
In April 1865, Union Cavalry under Brig. Gen. Gillem faced Confederate resistance at a destroyed bridge and blocked ford.
Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. McCown utilized artillery and rifle-pits to contest crossing control, though Union forces eventually prevailed through coordinated flanking movements and artillery support.

The ability to quickly engineer solutions while under enemy fire demonstrated the remarkable adaptability of Civil War armies at this vital crossing point. The successful bridge construction near Morganton Crossing ultimately enabled Sherman’s troops to continue their critical march toward relieving the siege at Knoxville. A similar pontoon bridge of 59 boats was successfully deployed by Union forces at nearby Capertons Ferry during their Tennessee River crossing operations.

Supply Line Control Point

The strategic value of Morganton extended far beyond its river crossing capabilities, as the town emerged as an imperative supply depot that could make or break military campaigns in eastern Tennessee.

You’ll find that control of this essential supply chain hub near the Catawba River directly impacted both Union and Confederate forces’ ability to sustain operations.

When Brigadier General Gillem’s Union cavalry captured Morganton in April 1865, they seized critical foodstuffs and artillery, demonstrating effective logistical strategies that crippled Confederate resources while bolstering Union capabilities.

Similar to battles like Weldon Railroad where Union forces targeted vital Confederate supply lines, the town’s position facilitated imperative transport and distribution of military provisions, making it a constant target for both sides. Similar to the Big South Tunnel destruction in 1862, Confederate forces recognized the importance of disrupting Union supply lines through strategic infrastructure attacks.

Union forces maintained their advantage through dismounted battalions guarding supply routes and coordinated defenses that prevented Confederate attempts to reclaim this strategic asset.

Economic Decline and Bridge Construction

While Morganton once thrived as an essential river crossing point, its economic decline began in the mid-19th century when railroads revolutionized East Tennessee’s transportation landscape.

Much like the Asheville Plank Road completed in 1851, early infrastructure projects initially supported river commerce before railroads changed everything.

This transportation evolution triggered a dramatic economic transformation that would ultimately seal the town’s fate.

The decline accelerated through several key developments:

The L&N Railroad’s arrival in nearby Greenback diverted commerce and traffic away from Morganton
Post-Civil War shift from riverboats to railroads diminished the town’s relevance

The 1947 removal of tolls at Niles Ferry Bridge ended most river ferry operations
Morganton Ferry’s closure in 1961 marked the end of river-based commerce

Life Before the Waters Came

Prior to Tellico Lake’s creation, Morganton stood as a significant riverside settlement with approximately 20 buildings, including 18 houses, a local store, and a church.

You’d have found a tight-knit community where local commerce revolved around the Little Tennessee River’s essential transportation routes. The town’s ferry service, operating for over 170 years, connected people and goods across the water until its closure in 1961.

Community dynamics centered on river-based activities, with riverboats serving as the primary mode of transport before railroad development.

Archaeological surveys in 1978 revealed artifacts dating back to 1762, showcasing the deep historical roots of human settlement in the area.

While the physical town now lies beneath Tellico Lake, its cultural heritage lives on through preserved artifacts and historical records.

Archaeological Discoveries and Preservation

Since archaeological excavations began in 1986, the Berry Site near Morganton has revealed extraordinary discoveries, including remnants of a large Native American town called Joara and Fort San Juan, a 16th-century Spanish colonial fort.

The site’s archaeological significance lies in documenting one of the few successful Native American resistances against European colonization.

Evidence shows initial cooperation between Joara residents and Spanish colonizers before indigenous resistance destroyed Fort San Juan by 1568.
Artifacts span multiple periods, from Archaic to Spanish colonial, revealing long-term indigenous habitation.
A moat cutting through a Mississippian earthwork mound indicates Spanish fortification adaptations.

Preservation challenges include damage from 20th-century plowing, though controlled excavations and community cooperation help protect remaining features.

Legacy Beneath Tellico Lake

After the completion of Tellico Dam in 1979, the Tennessee Valley Authority‘s impoundment of Tellico Lake submerged the historic town of Morganton along with numerous significant Native American sites.

The waters now cover ancient Cherokee Heritage sites including Chota, Tanasi, and Tuskegee – sacred places that held up to 1,000 years of continuous Indigenous occupation.

Beneath Tellico Lake’s surface lie sacred Cherokee sites – ancestral grounds where Indigenous peoples lived and thrived for ten centuries.

The Environmental Impact extends beyond the loss of these cultural treasures. You’ll find the dam’s construction sparked controversy over endangered species, particularly the snail darter fish, though Congress ultimately exempted the project from environmental protection laws.

Today, only Morganton Cemetery remains visible on higher ground, while beneath Tellico Lake lie the remnants of a once-thriving river port, prehistoric archaeological sites, and essential Cherokee political centers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Visitors Scuba Dive to Explore the Underwater Remains of Morganton?

You can’t officially explore these underwater remains through scuba diving, as there aren’t established diving programs or regulations in place. Safety hazards and limited visibility also restrict underwater exploration opportunities.

What Happened to the Cemetery Plots When Morganton Was Flooded?

Time heals all wounds, but history’s mysteries remain. You won’t find clear records detailing cemetery relocation during the flood impact, though TVA typically moved graves to higher ground before reservoir filling.

Are There Any Surviving Photographs of Morganton Before Submersion?

You’ll find archaeological surveys from 1978 captured images of structures before flooding, though they’re not widely available. TVA and University of Tennessee archives likely hold historical documentation of underwater archaeology sites.

Did Any Original Morganton Residents Refuse to Leave Their Homes?

Like a fading whisper in time, you won’t find documented cases of residents refusing to leave. While resident stories circulate and ghost sightings persist, historical records show all inhabitants relocated before submersion.

What Is the Exact Depth of Water Covering the Former Town?

You won’t find official records stating the exact water depth over this submerged history, but based on Tellico Lake’s characteristics and similar TVA projects, it’s likely between 50-80 feet deep.