After trees were cut from Fort Anderson, soldiers of the Tennessee National Guard became easy targets for miners positioned on higher ground. Convicts then dug these breastworks to provide cover from attacking miners. War correspondents from national news publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Harper's Weekly convinced soldiers to pose for photographs by standing guard over convicts during construction of the breastworks. An accidental discharge of a soldier's rifle killed a convict and ended the practice of posing for photographs.