Chapter XXXIX: Appendix: NOTE T: Page 251

[The Topography of Knoxville and Its Vicinity.]

“On the north bank of the river, a narrow ridge is formed,
extending from a point about two and a-half miles east of
Knoxville, to Lenoir’s. It has an average base of about one and
a-half miles in width. At Knoxville, the width is about one mile.
This ridge is cut through at short intervals by small streams,
two of which, First and Second creeks, run through the town of
Knoxville at a distance from each other of about three-fourths
of a mile. The main part of the town is built upon that portion
of the ridge bounded on the northwest by the valley, on the
southwest by Second Creek, on the southeast by the Holston River
and on the northeast by First Creek. It has the appearance of
a table, elevated about 150 feet above the river, and about
100 feet above the valley. Again, Third Creek is found about
seven-eighths of a mile below Second Creek, forming a second
similar table. A depression in the ridge about the same distance
east of First Creek, forms still another table upon which is
built East Knoxville. This elevated ground is called Temperance
Hill. From this eastward, the ridge is more broken until it
disappears and other ridges spring up. This last division is
known as Mabry’s Hill, and is the highest ground by some twenty
feet to be found on the north side of the river within cannon
range of Knoxville.”

CAPTAIN O. M. POE,
Chief Engineer, Dept. of the Ohio.