Chickamauga &' Chattanooga NATIONAL MILITARY PARK

* * * TE N N ESSEE • • * * * *•*- 77;.- Georgia Slate Memorial on Chickamauga Battlefield

Contents Page Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park 3 The Civil War in the West 4 The Importance of Chattanooga in the War . 6 The Campaign for Chattanooga 7 The Battle of Chickamauga 9 The Siege of Chattanooga 11 The Battle of Chattanooga 12 The Western Campaign after Chattanooga . 13

THE COVER A Confederate battery position on Missionary Ridge. On November 25, 1863, the Federals as­ saulted Missionary Ridge; after severe fighting, the Confederates withdrew to Ringgold and then to Dalton. The Chattanooga Campaign thus ended in a Union victory

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary 1940 • NEWTON B. DRURY, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of t>ocuments, , D. C. Price 10 cents Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1895, Adlai E. Stevenson, Confederate and Union supporters. This closely Vice President of the , spoke to a paralleled the growth of Chattanooga following group of people gathered to dedicate the Chick­ the Civil War, when large numbers of northerners amauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. and southerners moved to the growing industrial Mr. Stevenson said, ". . . Today, by Act of the city. Today, the statue of reconciliation surmount­ Congress of the United States, the Chickamauga- ing the New York monument on Lookout Moun­ Chattanooga National Military Park is forever set tain, depicts a Union soldier clasping the hand of a apart from all common uses; solemnly dedicated Confederate and seems to symbolize a reality for all the ages—to all the American people . . ." carried out both in the park and community The park dedicated at that time has since grown growth. to be the largest of our national military park Just as the park development represented both areas. It contains parts of the battlefields of Confederate and Union achievement, so did the Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Civil War en­ battles which it commemorates represent dual gagements severely contested in the latter part of measures of success for the participants. The Con­ 1863. From its inception in 1890, when Congress federate victory at Chickamauga, perhaps its established the area as a national military park, greatest success in the West, gave new hope to the the park has represented a cooperative effort of South. But at Chattanooga, Union forces blasted

One may obtain an aerial view of the Moccasin Bend of the River from Point Park on , as well as a panorama of the battlefields surrounding Chattanooga Chattanooga at the time of the war was a sprawling village. 7 his view made in 1863 shows Lookout Mountain in the background. (Signal Corps, U, S. Army) this hope and permanently secured control of the which also houses the library and museum, devoted strategic town. This battle virtually completed principally to Civil War materials. Park em­ the Union occupation of the Valley, ployees here are ready to extend every courtesy cut the communications of the Confederate armies and assistance to the visitor. in the West from those in the East, and opened the The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National way for the capture of and the March to Military Park, in addition to its historic interest, the Sea. possesses considerable scenic attraction. The views The various units of the park, covering 8,500 from Point Park and Signal Point are exceptionally acres and including the battlefields of Chicka- picturesque. Both in the Chickamauga and Look­ mauga, Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, and out Mountain areas, the visitor will find numerous Missionary Ridge, are within easy access of Chatta­ trails and bridle paths for his use and enjoyment. nooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga National Ceme­ All communications pertaining to this area tery, established by order of Major General should be addressed to the Superintendent, Chicka­ Thomas in 1863, is close to the center of the city. mauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Visitors are urged to go to Point Park on Lookout Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Mountain as soon as possible after their arrival in Chattanooga. From the Adolph S. Ochs Observa­ tory and Museum there, all the battlefields can be The Civil War in the West viewed and complete orientation obtained. An THE CIVIL WAR in the West was motivated by attendant is on duty to assist the visitor. At the two major plans of the Union forces. One was to northern entrance of the Chickamauga battle­ drive a wedge through the Confederacy along the field is the administration building of the park, . The river offered a natural 4 The Federal Army built this trestle bridge across the during the Chattanooga campaign. (Signal Corps, U. S. Army) avenue of transportation and supply. Union con­ later a combined naval and land force began an trol of it would virtually split the Confederacy and attack on , on the Cumberland. prevent the reinforcement and supply of the armies After a severely fought battle, the fort surrendered. east of the river by those west of it. Fort Donelson opened the way to the capture of The second objective was to drive another wedge Nashville. It also called the Nation's attention to through the Confederacy along the railroads Ulysses S. , the leader of the victorious through Chattanooga and to the Atlantic Ocean. forces. From Fort Donelson to the capture of As Vicksburg proved to be the focus for the Union Chattanooga, nearly 2 years later, the fortunes of drive along the Mississippi, Chattanooga, located the Union Armies in the West closely paralleled at a gap in the Cumberland Mountains, became those of Grant. the focal point of the drive to the southeast. Following the victory at Fort Donelson, the Early in the war, the Confederate forces west of Union troops moved up the Tennessee River to the Alleghenies had established a defensive line in Pittsburg Landing. The Confederates held Cor­ and Missouri. The failure of these inth, Miss., at the junction of the Mobile & States to secede and early Union victories forced a and the Memphis and Charleston Railroads. Ad­ withdrawal to the Tennessee border. Here, where vancing from this point, the Confederates struck the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers flow into the on in the Kentucky, the Confederate forces were assembled and drove them back toward the river. Before to resist and to advance up the rivers. victory could be attained, however, Union rein­ On February 6, 1862, Union gunboats which forcements arrived, and on the following day the had moved up the Tennessee River from the Ohio, Confederates were driven back. Shiloh cost the attacked Fort Henry and captured it. A week Confedcracv one of its ablest leaders. Gen. Albert

5 Sidney Johnston, who was mortally wounded in The Importance of Chattanooga in the first day of the battle. Both South and North were appalled by the tremendous losses, which gave the War them a real appreciation of the meaning of war. Union victories along the Mississippi followed. To THE military strategists, Chattanooga appeared In the same month was captured, to be a very important point. Located where the and, in June, Memphis fell. The one remaining Tennessee River passed through the Cumberland obstacle to complete Union control of the Missis­ Mountains, forming gaps, it offered an opportunity sippi was Vicksburg. On July 4, 1863, the Con­ for getting an army into the seaboard States be­ federates surrendered this important stronghold. yond. Furthermore, Chattanooga was an impor­ Meanwhile, Union forces had taken Corinth and tant railroad center. Lines connected Chatta­ had begun a slow advance on Chattanooga along nooga with Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta, and the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The Con­ Knoxville, and at those points provided connec­ federates then assumed the offensive and moved tions all over the South. Union control of this into Kentucky. The campaign was unsuccessful, point would break an important link in the supply but the Union forces were diverted from their ad­ system of the Confederacy. vance on Chattanooga. While the Confederates Perhaps of equal importance, since political rea­ left Kentucky for Chattanooga and then moved to sons often influenced military movements, was one Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Union forces assembled nourished in Washington. Chattanooga was in east at Nashville. On the last day of December 1862 Tennessee; was strongly loyal to the and the first two days of 1863 the battle of Stones Union. Therefore, concluded the political leaders, River, or Murfreesboro, was fought, forcing the the loyalty of these people must be supported by Confederate Army to fall back to Tullahoma, military encouragement. Tenn. The Union Army then occupied Murfrees­ boro. Headquarters Campy Federal , at Chicka- mauga. (Signal Corps, U. S. Army) The Campaign for Chattanooga MURFREESBORO, held by the Union forces since the Confederate retreat of January 3, 1863, lay on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad about 110 miles northwest of Chattanooga. Here the Union Army spent the winter, recovering from the severe losses at Stones River. The Confederates had occu­ pied Tullahoma on the same railroad and south­ east of Murfreesboro. The Union commander, Maj. Gen. , methodically pre­ pared for an advance on the Confederates, com­ manded by Gen. . He reorganized the Federal forces into three corps: The 14th, com­ manded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas; the 20th, commanded by Maj. Gen. Alexander Mc- Cook; and the 21st, under Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden. This entire force was designated the Army of the Cumberland. Late in June 1863 the Union Army advanced. By skillful maneuvering against the Confederate flanks, the Union Army forced the Confederates out of Tullahoma and across the Tennessee River to Chattanooga. The next problem of the Union forces was to cross the Tennessee River. Moving- three brigades along the river banks north of Chat­ tanooga, the Union commander created the im­ pression that he would attempt to cross in that locality. Meanwhile, the major portion of his army was moved to the south of Chattanooga, and here, with little Confederate opposition, a crossing was made. Rosecrans' plan to take Chattanooga was to ma­ neuver to the south of the town and break the rail­ Early on the morning of .November 25, 1863, a Union detachment way to Atlanta, thereby cutting the main line of planted the Stars and Stripes on Lookout Mountain. The first man up is said to have been Capt. John Wilson, Co. C, 8th Ken­ supply of the Confederates. If these communica­ tucky Infantry. In the picture he is holding the flag. The oilier tions could not be broken, it was possible that a men are, rigid to left, Sgt. James Wood, Put. William Witt, Sgt. threatening movement against them would force Harry II. Davis, Put. Joseph Bradley, and Sgt. Joseph Wagers the Confederates out of Chattanooga where they could be met on equal terms. Meanwhile, the Federal corps under Crittenden, Keeping his army divided, Rosecrans pushed one which had moved directly on Chattanooga, occu­ corps up the valley toward Chattanooga. The pied the town and headed south after the retiring others moved toward Lookout Mountain, south of Confederate forces. The Union forces were now in Chattanooga. But General Bragg was not fooled. a precarious position. Coming across Lookout Learning of the approach of the Union forces south Mountain, Thomas' Corps was about 20 miles of Chattanooga, he abandoned the town and took south of Crittenden. McCook's Corps was fully 40 his army to LaFayette, about 30 miles south of miles away. To the east of these forces lay the Chattanooga and just east of Lookout Mountain. Confederate Army, strategically situated for strik­ Here the Confederates could guard the railway to ing each of the separated corps. Atlanta and be in position to strike any of the three General Bragg then issued orders for attacks on Union corps. two corps of the divided Union Army, but failure 7 Lee and Gordons Mill was the scene of some of the action on the After the fall of Chattanooga, supplies were brought to the Union first day of the Battle of Chickamauga. This photograph was Army by steamboats. It was necessary to warp the boats up the made soon after the battle. (Signal Corps, U. S. Army) river through rapids. (Signal Corps, U. S. Army)

Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on Lookout Mountain, 1863. Grant e figure in the lower left corner. (Signal Corps, U. S. Army)

Gen. , victor in the Battle of Lookout Moi n, with his staff. Hooker is the sixth figure from the right

A part of Chickamauga Battlefield as it appeared after the fight. Headquarters of Union General William Rosecrans in Chattanooga (Signal Corps, U. S. Army) during the siege. (Signal Corps, U. S. Army)

of his subordinates to carry out the commands The Battle of Chickamauga caused the opportunity to be lost. Finally, aware of the danger, the Union forces were ordered to ON THE afternoon of September 18, 1863, parts of unite. It was none too soon, as Bragg began to the Confederate Army reached the banks of Chick­ move his forces northward to strike at Crittenden's amauga Creek. At Reed's Bridge and at Alexan­ Corps, in position on . Success der's Bridge Union cavalry and mounted infantry of this attack would cut off the entire Union force had arrived to prevent the Confederates from cross­ from Chattanooga. ing. The first skirmishing of the battle took place On September 17 and 18 there took place a race at Reed's Bridge, where efforts to stop the Confed­ for position, the Union forces desperately pushing erates were unsuccessful. At Alexander's Bridge northward in an endeavor to unite before the Con­ the Confederates were stopped but pushed down­ federates could attack and secure the first advantage. stream and crossed at one of the numerous fords. 8 9 Chickamauga-Chattanooga Campaign — June 23 to November 23, 1863

Throughout the evening Confederate troops were Union forces had clung desperately to their roads arriving at the creek, some crossing and encamping to Chattanooga. on the west side, others preparing to cross in the Both commanders were busy on the 19th with morning. the placement of their troops. The Confederate Meanwhile the Union forces to the west of the line was established parallel with the LaFayette creek were also inarching northward, and by day­ Road, the left resting on Chickamauga Creek and light had joined together. From Thomas' Corps the right reaching beyond the Reed's Bridge Road. on the left of the Union position to Crittenden's Cavalry troops guarded both flanks. The army had Corps at Lee and Gordon's Mill the Union forces been divided into two wings, the right commanded now held a continuous line. by Gen. , and the left by Gen. James About 7:30 on the morning of the 19th, a Union Longstreet, who had just arrived from . brigade in Thomas' Corps attacked the cavalry of The Union forces were drawn up in a more com­ the Confederates, which was in position on their pact line, not far away. Thomas' Corps was on the right. Reinforcements were ordered up by both left, just east of Kelly Field; McCook's Corps was armies, and gradually the battle lines became ex­ in the center, facing the LaFayette Road; while tended from Jay's Mill southward toward Lee and Crittenden held the right, with his forces slightly- Gordon's Mill. In the dense woods and the few withdrawn. Thomas' forces had strengthened their open fields the fighting raged all day. Only the position by erecting log breastworks. trees furnished protection to the soldiers as they General Bragg's orders for the 20th were for an pushed forward and then fell back. By nightfall attack to be started at daylight by General Polk's the Confederates had driven up close to the right division and to be taken up by successive LaFavettc Road, but efforts to secure it had failed. divisions to the left. Bragg hoped to outflank the

10 Union left and cut off the army from Chattanooga. hills were favorable to these methods. General The Confederate attack did not get started until Bragg placed troops on Lookout Mountain from its 9:30 a. m. when the extreme Union left was top down to the Tennessee River. Other forces attacked. The charges against the Union breast­ were placed on Missionary Ridge from Rossville works were repulsed with heavy losses, but two Gap northward to the end of Missionary Ridge Confederate brigades were threatening to outflank and from there to the Tennessee River north of the left wing. In response to Thomas' call for rein­ Chattanooga. Connecting these major dispositions forcements, General Rosecrans was shifting forces was a line across Chattanooga Valley from Lookout from the right and center to the left. Under the Mountain to Missionary Ridge. The only Union impression that Brannan's division had been moved connection with Bridgeport, Ala., its supply base on from the Union center to reinforce the left, Rose­ the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, was crans ordered General Wood's division to consoli­ across the Tennessee River, then across Walden's date with Reynold's division in order to keep the Ridge by rough wagon road and down the Se­ line intact. But Wood's division was separated quatchie Valley. Confederate cavalry troops from that of Reynolds by Brannan's, still in position operated effectively against this line, preventing in the Union center. In carrying out Rosecrans' necessary food supplies from reaching the Union order, Wood moved his division front the front line Army. Within a month starvation threatened the and passed to the rear of Brannan, leaving a gap forces in Chattanooga. in the Union line. Coincident with Wood's move­ Aware of the critical situation, Union authorities ment, the Confederate attack developed. Long- in Washington ordered troops to the relief of the street's troops made the most of their opportunity town. From the Army of the Potomac in Virginia, and drove through the gap. The right of the Fed­ two corps, under Major General Hooker, were sent. eral line and part of the center were pushed from The Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen. Wil­ the field. Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden liam T. Sherman was also ordered to Chattanooga. were caught in the break and fled to Chattanooga. To replace Rosecrans as leader of the Army of the Thomas then assumed command of all the North­ Cumberland, Maj. Gen. George Thomas was ern forces on the field. chosen. Grant, now in command of all the Union The remaining Union troops were now faced forces in the West, arrived in October to direct the with a flanking movement on their right as well as efforts to drive the Confederates away. on the left. Thomas drew in his line and with the Soon after reaching Chattanooga, Grant ap­ assistance of reserve troops that had reached the proved a carefully prepared plan to open a new field, he took up a new position on Snodgrass Hill. line of supplies. At 3 a. m., on October 27, 1863, Longstreet's forces made several desperate efforts 1,500 men on pontoons floated down the river from to take this position. The Union troops held, how­ Chattanooga, passed the Confederate batteries on ever, until Thomas could pull his other forces from Lookout Mountain under cover of darkness, and the field and send them through McFarland Gap drifted to the west bank of the river at Brown's to Rossville. The forces at Snodgrass Hill then Ferry. The force quickly disembarked, drove in followed, and the Confederate troops held the field. the Confederate pickets, and with the cooperation The battle had been a costly one to both sides. of a force that had moved across the neck of land on Of the 66,000 Confederates engaged, approxi­ Moccasin Bend, constructed a pontoon bridge. mately 18,000 were among the killed, wounded, The next day supplies began coming in over the and missing. The Union forces lost 16,000 out of new line. 58,000 men engaged. In the meanwhile, Hooker had been ordered to advance from Bridgeport to guard the line of com­ The Siege of Chattanooga munications just opened. His forces arrived in the vicinity of Brown's Ferry on October 28. At mid­ FOLLOWING the retreat of the Union forces into night of the same day a Confederate force attacked Chattanooga, General Bragg decided to adopt part of these Union troops at Wauhatchie in an siege tactics to force the surrender of the town. The effort to gain control of the line of communications. location of Chattanooga in a bend of the Tennessee The attack failed, and the Union forces kept their River and its approaches covered by mountains and line open. With supplies now available, Grant

I I View of modem Chattanooga from a Confederate battery position on Lookout .Mountain spent the next few weeks equipping the Army of on Orchard Knob, an advance position of the Con­ the Cumberland and waiting for the arrival of federates in front of Missionary Ridge, in order to Sherman's army. test the strength of the Confederates. The position was assaulted and carried. Grant then moved his The Battle of Chattanooga field headquarters to this position. ON NOVEMBER 21, Sherman's army had reached Meanwhile, Thomas had been urging that a Chattanooga. Moving northward around Stringer's demonstration be made against the Confederate Ridge, the army camped in a concealed position, left on Lookout Mountain. This position had been ready to move at the first orders to North Chicka- weakened when Longstreet's forces had been de­ mauga Creek. Grant's plans were for Sherman to tached and sent to Knoxville. Grant approved launch pontoons there, float down the Tennessee Thomas' plan, and Major General Hooker was River, and cross the river at the mouth of Chicka- ordered to carry it out. On the morning of Novem­ mauga Creek. Then Sherman was to occupy the ber 24, Hooker's forces moved up the western north end of Missionary Ridge, turn southward, slopes of the mountain from Lookout Creek. Grad­ and, with Thomas' forces joining on the right, ually the small Confederate force was driven back drive the Confederates away from the railroad line toward the Cravens house, on a bench of the moun­ to Atlanta. tain 500 feet from the top. Here, where the Con­ While Sherman was planning this movement on federates had the protection of earthworks, the November 23, Grant ordered Thomas to advance fighting was heaviest. The Confederates were

12 finally dislodged from this position and retreated to The Western Campaign After a new line a quarter of a mile back. During the evening, Bragg, realizing the danger that his troops Chattanooga on the mountain and in the valley now faced, WHILE the Chattanooga campaign was in progress, ordered their withdrawal to Missionary Ridge. a Union force held Knoxville, Tenn. On Novem­ Early on the morning of the 25th, a Union detach­ ber 4 Longstreet was sent to take the town. On ment planted the Stars and Stripes on the top of November 29 the Union works were attacked by the mountain. Longstreet, but were successfully held. The Con­ On the Confederate right wing, Grant's plan federates then retreated toward Bristol and left miscarried. Sherman, successfully crossing the virtually all of Tennessee in Union hands. river, occupied a hill north of the position. Instead Following the battle of Chattanooga, Grant was of being the north end of a continuous ridge, as it placed in command of all the Union Armies. had appeared to the Union strategists a few days Sherman succeeded Grant as commander of the before, the hill was separated from the main ridge Union forces in the West. General Bragg, the by a deep gap. On the other side were the Con­ Confederate commander, was replaced by Gen. federates, guarding the tunnel which passes through Joseph E. Johnston. During the winter of 1863-64, the ridge at that point. Sherman made no attempt Sherman prepared for an advance into Georgia. to carry that position that day. He assembled 100,000 men and large quantities of Still determined to outflank the Confederate posi­ supplies. Opposing this force was an army of tion, Grant's orders for the 25th were for Sherman about 50,000. to assault the north end of the ridge. Hooker, Advancing from Chattanooga on May 6, 1864, successful at Lookout Mountain, was to move the Union forces maneuvered the smaller Con­ across the valley and up the ridge through Ross- federate Army out of Dalton by a flank movement ville Gap on the left flank of the Confederates. and thereafter Sherman compelled Johnston to Thomas' forces in the center were not ordered to keep his army on the defensive and by a series of move until Hooker had reached Rossville. flanking movements pushed him from one position At 7 a. m. Sherman began his attacks on the to another. By July 17, when Gen. John B. Hood north end of Missionary Ridge. Throughout the succeeded Johnston, the Union forces were close day the Confederates successfully resisted them. to Atlanta. Here the Confederates assumed the Meanwhile, Hooker had been delayed in his ad­ offensive. In a series of battles around Atlanta, vance on Rossville. In order to draw off Con­ the Confederates lost heavily and on September federate troops from the flanks and aid Sherman 2 were forced to leave the city to the Union troops. and Hooker, Grant then ordered Thomas' men Hood then moved northward to recover Ten­ to take the Confederate rifle pits at the base of nessee and Kentucky, if possible, and to force Missionary Ridge. Moving out of their positions Sherman to give up Atlanta by attacking his lines on a two-and-a-half-mile front, the Army of the of communications northward. Sherman divided Cumberland took the rifle pits. Elere the troops his forces and sent one portion under Thomas to were subjected to a severe artillery fire, and with stop Hood. The Confederate and Union troops the Confederates in front of them fleeing up the met at Franklin on November 30 and on December slopes of the ridge, the Union forces instinctively 15 at Nashville. In the latter engagement the pursued. The Confederate center was broken and Confederate forces were defeated in one of the fell back from the ridge. In the meantime, Hooker most decisive engagements of the war. had advanced through Rossville Gap and had On November 16 Sherman left Atlanta to carry assisted in driving the Confederates off. The out a plan to march to Savannah, on the Atlantic Confederate forces on the right wing, withdrawn Ocean. By destroying all sources of supplies that after dark, covered the retreat of the Confederates an army needs, Sherman hoped to bring the war to Ringgold. Here the last fighting of the cam­ to an end. On December 21 he captured Savan­ paign took place, after which the Union troops nah, then turned north through the Carolinas. returned to Chattanooga. The Confederates took On April 26, 1864, 2 weeks after Appomattox up a strong defensive position near Dalton, Ga., Court House, the surrendered and went into winter quarters. to Sherman. l3 New York State Memorial at Point Park, Lookout Mountain House where the Confederates broke the Federal line Wisconsin State Memorial at Chickamausa 'The Wilder Memorial at Chickamausa Points of Interest in the Park

Balanced Rock—Point Park National Park Service Administration Building at Chickamauga Park CHICKAMAUGAAND CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL MILITARY PARK TENNESSEE a GEORGIA

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE