Chickamauga & Chattanooga

Chickamauga and Chattanooga Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Georgia / Tennessee National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Chickamauga Chattanooga It seemed as though a terrible cyclone was sweeping over the earth, driving everything before it. Still they advance, and still we shoot them down, and still they come. Col. Benjamin Scribner, 38th Indiana Infantry, USA Union soldiers fire from Horseshoe Ridge during the Battle of Chickamauga. FROM THE PAINTING TO THE LAST ROUND: THE 21ST OHIO AT HORSESHOE RIDGE © KEITH ROCCO / TRADITION STUDIOS Capt. Samuel T. Foster, 24th Texas Cavalry (Dismounted), CSA Confederate soldiers defend their position on Missionary Ridge. FROM THE PAINTING ON EMPTY RIFLES © RICK REEVES The Campaign for Chattanooga: Death Knell of the Confederacy? President Abraham Lincoln believed that taking Chattanooga was as important as taking Richmond. Why was a small town of 2,500 as important as the capital of the Confederacy? The small city lay on the banks of the Tennessee River where it cut through the Appalachian Mountains, allowing four major railroads to converge (see map at right). If the Union captured Chattanooga, it could cripple Confederate supply lines and strike at the industrial heart of the Confederacy. In the summer of 1863, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg and his Army of Tennessee controlled Chattanooga. But Union Gen. William Rosecrans skillfully moved his Army of the Cumberland south, across the Tennessee River and over Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain, threatening the Confederates from behind. By early September, Bragg realized he had been outmaneuvered. The Confederate Army had no choice but to abandon the city and its remaining residents. Rosecrans thought the Confederates were retreating toward Atlanta, prompting him and his army to pursue the gray-clad soldiers into Georgia. However, the Confederates had a surprise of their own. Bragg, now heavily reinforced, was not going to give up Chattanooga without a fight. At the Battle of Chickamauga, little went as planned and thousands of men lost their lives. Yet, it would be late November before the city’s fate would be decided—and perhaps that of the Confederacy. Gaining Control of the South 1861 Armies in the western theater fought for control between the Mississippi River and the Appalachians. After Chattanooga, the western theater expanded toward the eastern theater, which centered around the Union and Confederate capitals. Western Theater Confederates violate Kentucky’s neutrality. October Eastern Theater Confederates bombard Fort Sumter, SC; war begins. April 1863 1862 1864 1865 Confederates move to suppress Unionists in eastern Tennessee. November Union captures Fort Donelson and Fort Henry in Tennessee. February Union victories, Shiloh and Stones River, TN. April, December Union captures Vicksburg, MS. July Confederates rout Union at Chickamauga, GA and begin siege of Chattanooga, TN. Sept. 18–20 Union defeats Confederacy at Chattanooga, opening way to Georgia. November 23–25 Union victories, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta, GA. June, July Confederate Army of Tennessee surrenders in NC. April Confederate victory, Battle of First Manassas, VA. July Union victory, Antietam, MD. September Confederate victory, Fredericksburg, VA. December Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation. January Confederate victory, Chancellorsville, VA. May Union victory, Gettysburg, PA. July Siege of Richmond and Petersburg, VA; Lincoln re-elected. June, November Confederate Army of Northern Virginia surrenders at Appomattox, VA; Lincoln assassinated. April Battles for Chattanooga Battle of Chickamauga For thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers, their hopes hinge on controlling Chattanooga—the “gateway” to the Confederacy. Yet, in midSeptember, they meet in the peaceful farm fields of north Georgia, along a tranquil creek named Chickamauga. In late October, the Union uses darkness to silently float past Confederates on Lookout Mountain. Then, in a rare night battle near Wauhatchie, they win control of Lookout Valley and secure their new supply route, the “Cracker Line.” Chattanooga is still up for grabs. September 18 November 23 Surprise, confusion, and hard fighting replace the well-laid plans of General Bragg, who hoped to block LaFayette Road and cut the Union’s route to Chattanooga. As darkness falls, Bragg is still confident he can continue his plans and stop the Union Army in the morning. However, General Rosecrans moves his troops north throughout the night, a move that could turn the tide of battle. Thousands of Union soldiers march out of Chattanooga. Like a great blue wave, they crash around Confederate-held Orchard Knob, a small hill between the city and Missionary Ridge. The Southerners flee, providing General Grant a strategic view of his next goal, the ridge. During the night, Bragg reinforces his line on Missionary Ridge. September 19 September 20 Siege of the City Begins November 24 November 25 The War Continues Early in the morning, Union troops stumble into Confederates, who they presumed to be farther south. Both sides exchange fire all morning, leaving fields and woods littered with dead and wounded soldiers. The fighting spreads southwest, yet neither side has gained a clear advantage. During the night, Confederate reinforcements arrive, while Union troops fortify their positions. Fighting begins when Confederates attack Union fortifications on the battlefield’s northern end. This forces Rosecrans to shift troops, accidentally creating a gap in the center of his line. By chance, Confederates swarm through, sweeping away Rosecrans. Retreating Union soldiers make a heroic stand on Horseshoe Ridge, but only darkness saves their army. Rosecrans’s army withdraws into Chattanooga while Confederates occupy key ground surrounding the city, including Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The stage is set to starve the Union Army into submission. They and the remaining residents endure a hungry month before General Ulysses S. Grant and reinforcements arrive to help open a supply line into the city. The Union intends to take Missionary Ridge but mistakenly assaults a hill to the north. They discover their mistake too late to attack the ridge that day. Their diversionary tactic—attacking fog-enshrouded Lookout Mountain— becomes the famous “Battle Above the Clouds” that sweeps the Confederates off the mountain and toward Missionary Ridge. Confederates successfully defend both ends of Missionary Ridge. Grant orders an attack against entrenchments centered at the base of the ridge. Finding little resistance there, and without orders, the recently defeated Army of the Cumberland continues charging up the rocky slopes and forces Bragg’s army from the summit. Confederate troops retreat south into Georgia. The rivers, rails, and roads of Chattanooga are firmly in Union hands. The city is transformed into a supply and communications base for Gen. William T. Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign, which will begin in the spring. Disheartened Confederates wonder: Is the fall of Chattanooga truly “the death knell of the Confederacy”? The Soldiers The Generals Young men opposing one another across the battle lines fought for different reasons. Many from the North fought to preserve the Union or abolish slavery, while those from the South struggled to retain slavery or defend their homes and families. These convictions brought these soldiers here, where confusion and chaos reigned in the mountains and forests surrounding the battlefields. Often, soldiers reacted to the sights and sounds unfolding around them rather than following orders. When veterCOURTESY CHARLES DARDEN ans later “suitably marked” the battlegrounds, they decided not to place monuments to generals. Instead, they honored the soldiers, whose actions decided the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. The campaign resulted in the fall of two commanders and the rise of another. Although Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg (near right) won at Chickamauga, he lost Chattanooga and had to resign. After abandoning his troops at Chickamauga, Union Gen. William Rosecrans (center) was removed from command. When Gen. Ulysses S. Grant arrived in Chattanooga, he took command of Union forces and replaced Rosecrans with Gen. George Thomas, whose men had gallantly held Horseshoe Ridge at Chickamauga. Grant is shown facing his staff on Roper’s Rock atop Lookout Mountain (far right) shortly after the battles for Chattanooga. Rural Southern Farms ABOVE–LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BELOW–THE CARTER HOUSE Taken from the Cherokee Nation in 1838, the rich lands alongside Chickamauga Creek became home to 24 families. They cleared the woods to grow crops of corn or wheat and planted rows of fruit trees. As battle loomed, the families fled before their farm fields became killing fields. Once the fighting subsided, they returned to trampled crops and fields littered with dead. Some repaired the damage and resumed farming, while others were forced to abandon their homes. Several of the families—Brotherton, Kelly, and Snodgrass—are immortalized today on the battlefield. NATIONAL ARCHIVES / MATHEW BRADY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS / ROYAN LINN Change in Chattanooga War transformed Chattanooga from a small town to a bustling, industrial city. During the siege, residents saw stately homes become hospitals, while local forests provided lumber for warehouses and forts. After the battles, they could see the ruins of the “white house” on Lookout Mountain, owned by local resident and iron master Robert Cravens. But they also started to see Union soldiers making improvements like bridging the Tennessee River, building a waterworks, and expanding the thriving railroad industry. Much like the city, Cravens rebuilt and prospered. NATIONAL ARCHIVES ABOVE LEFT–CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL HALL MUSEUM; ABOVE RIGHT– LIBRARY OF CONGRESS / BRADYHANDY COLLECTION LIBRARY OF CONGRESS / ROYAN LINN Soldiering to Freedom Union-held Chattanooga became a beacon of freedom for people escaping slavery. Camp Contraband, so named because escaped slaves were considered “contraband” or illegal property, protected more than 2,000 people. In 1863, the US Army began recruiting former slaves. Hubbard Pryor (left), escaped slavery in Georgia to don the blue uniform of the Union Army at Camp Contraband (right). By war’s end, Pryor and over 20,000 free men and former slaves had joined the United States Colored Troops. BOTH–NATIONAL ARCHIVES Exploring Chickamauga and Chattanooga In 1890, the US Congress authorized Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the first such park in the United States. It was dedicated in 1895 and has since served as a model for most national military and historical parks. Point Park The park has two visitor centers open daily except December 25 and January 1. Emergencies call 911 Accessibility We strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to a visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check the park website. For GPS or mapping programs, use this address: 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742. Do not send mail here. Safety and Regulations Do not climb cannons and monuments. • Federal laws protect all cultural and natural features. • Do not dig or use metal detectors. • Do not collect any objects. • Report suspicious activity to a park ranger. • See the park website for other regulations. More Information Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park PO Box 2128 Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-866-9241 www.nps.gov/chch This is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America’s communities, visit www.nps.gov. ✩GPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx Last updated 20xx Printed on recycled paper. Orchard Knob At the time of the Civil War, Orchard Knob was outside city limits. It offers clear views of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Chattanooga—exactly what Union General Grant needed to guide his troops during the battles for Chattanooga. Moccasin Bend NPS Chickamauga Battlefield Explore events of September 1863 at this visitor center. View exhibits and a film about the battles; see a large collection of military weapons. Take the self-guiding auto tour described below. Lookout Mountain Atop this mountain, discover details about the siege of Chattanooga and the battles for control of the city. View exhibits and the historic 13- by 30-foot James Walker painting, The Battle of Lookout Mountain. Point Park (described at far left) has battery positions, monuments, exhibits, trails, and views. NPS Planning Your Visit Seen here from Lookout Mountain, Moccasin Bend tells stories spanning over 12,000 years. During the siege of Chattanooga, Union troops opened a supply route across the bend, out of reach of Confederate artillery on Lookout Mountain. sin Bend. 5 During the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Van Den Corput’s Battery attempted to fire on Union soldiers advancing on the slopes below. From here, you can walk down to Ochs Memorial Observatory via tiers of steps. 6 Visit the observatory’s museum to learn more about the Civil War and American Indians. Enjoy spectacular views of the Chattanooga area from the terrace. You can continue on trails to other scenic views on Lookout Mountain. Today Moccasin Bend is a National Archeological District. It has a three-mile loop trail; other visitor services are planned. Missionary Ridge NPS Point Park is across from the visitor center; fee. 1 Point Park Gate was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers and is a replica of the Corps insignia. 2 Artillery marks a small part of the Confederate battery during the siege. 3 New York Peace Monument symbolizes reunification and reconciliation. Even its materials, Tennessee marble and Massachusetts pink granite, carry the theme. 4 From Garrity’s Battery, Confederates tried to stop Union troops from crossing Mocca- Some Union and Confederate leaders were here in 1838 when the US Army forced the area’s Cherokees to move to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). At least two groups of Cherokees traversed the bend and crossed the river at Brown’s Ferry, leaving almost everything behind on their Trail of Tears. This removal was the final blow to tribes who first encountered the Spanish here three centuries before. This steep ridge stretches from Chattanooga to Chickamauga. North and South Crest roads follow the ridge to seven military reservations (parcels of land set aside to commemorate the battle) and the Phelps Monument. Highlights include: Bragg Reservation The Illinois Monument (above) honors Union troops from that state who participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge. From his headquarters, located here, Confederate General Bragg attempted to rally his demoralized troops. Instead, they fled the ridge and retreated to Georgia. Sherman Reservation This reservation marks the site where Confederate Gen. Patrick Cleburne successfully halted Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s assaults on Missionary Ridge. This action forced Union officers to send troops toward the Confederate entrenchments at the center and base of the ridge. Touring Chickamauga Battlefield Climb the Wilder Brigade Monument (above right, open seasonally) for a view of the battlefield. The 8th Wisconsin Battery Monument stands next to it. Confederates swarmed past the Brotherton cabin (below) as they broke through Union defenses. BOTH–NPS 3 Mix-up in Union Command Throughout the tour, you will federates. The ”Lightning As officers called for troops to see monuments and memorials Brigade” had the only Union strengthen the left end of the honoring those who fought success on this part of the field. Union line, Rosecrans ordered a here. You may also notice tabdivision to shift out of its posilets, blue for Union and red for 7 Rout of the Union Right tion. Unknowingly, his command Confederate soldiers swept out Confederate, that describe the created a fatal gap in the line. soldiers’ actions; they date from of the woods and into the fields around 1890. You can reach the in what one commander called major points of interest on the 4 Confederate Breakthrough “a scene of unsurpassed granseven-mile auto tour. Hear more Before troops could fill the gap deur.” This attack collapsed the in the Union line, the yells of details on your cell phone, 585Union right, forcing the defendthousands of Confederates 672-2619; follow the prompts. ers, including Rosecrans, to flee. pierced the air as they poured Most stops follow the battle’s 8 Horseshoe Ridge and across LaFayette Road and final day, September 20. through the gap. The breakSnodgrass Hill Union soldiers through split the Union Army. held the ridge throughout the 1 Breckinridge’s Assault afternoon, repulsing repeated Confederates commanded by Confederate assaults. As darkformer US Vice President John 5 Viniard Field Step back one day to September 19. Thousands ness fell, one final assault reC. Breckinridge assaulted and of soldiers, one division at a vealed the remaining Union briefly penetrated the Union time, fought back and forth troops had slipped away to line in this area before turning across this field trying to gain Chattanooga. After three days their attack southward. control of LaFayette Road. of fighting, the Confederate 2 The Battle Line The line of When sunset came, neither side Army of Tennessee was held the road, yet thousands victorious. Union monuments extending had paid the ultimate sacrifice. the length of Battleline Road mark where Union troops con6 Lightning Strikes Union Col. structed crude breastworks John T. Wilder’s brigade of during the early morning hours. Follow these signs mounted infantry, armed with Secure in their positions, they for the Chickamauga Spencer repeating rifles, halted successfully halted repeated Battlefield Tour TOUR a portion of the attacking ConConfederate assaults.