DOCSLIB.ORG

Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Battlefields Point Park

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Battlefields Point Park Point Park Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Battlefields CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA National Military Park GEORGIA AND TENNESSEE armies and provide a springboard for the in Mississippi were sent hurrying to Chat­ On the third day, the Union Army resumed invasion of Georgia. tanooga, and General Grant arrived to take the attempt to gain a foothold on the north During the summer and early fall of 1863, the overall command. end of Missionary Ridge, which it had pre­ Point Park, Lookout Mountain by skillful maneuvers, the Union Army of the The reinforcements arrived in time to save viously failed to take, but all attacks were Cumberland forced the Southern Army of the besieged army. A new supply route was repulsed by the Confederates. The forces on November 23, but it warned the Confederates opened and was successfully defended. As a Tennessee out of middle Tennessee and Chat­ of danger on their right flank and prompted Lookout Mountain were ordered to advance result of this timely aid, the siege of Chatta­ and Chattanooga Battlefields tanooga. On September 19 and 20, at Chick­ them to strengthen their positions. across Chattanooga Valley to attack the Con­ amauga Creek in Georgia, the two armies met nooga failed. Nevertheless, the Confederates federate left flank, but they advanced slowly. On the next day, while the maneuvering still held their positions. In November the in one of the fiercest engagements of the war. force was still getting into position, the Meanwhile, in order to relieve the situation greatly strengthened Union Army assumed While this battle ended in a Confederate Union officers tried another demonstration, on both Union flanks, other troops were the offensive. CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA victory, the Union forces succeeded in retreat­ this time to divert the Confederates on their thrown against the Confederate rifle pits ing northward into Chattanooga. left. Moving along the slopes of Lookout along the base of Missionary Ridge. In a rush The Battle of Chattanooga NATIONAL MILITARY PARK The Confederates now settled down to Mountain from the western side, Union these Union soldiers carried the rifle pits. siege tactics and attempted to force the sur­ The Battle of Chattanooga was a 3-day troops gradually drove back the few Confed­ Then in their enthusiasm, without waiting render of the Army of the Cumberland engagement, November 23 to 25. As planned erate defenders. At Cravens Farm, however, for further orders, they charged up the moun­ through starvation. By occupying Lookout by the Union officers, victory was to be won they met stubborn resistance from an en­ tain slopes and broke the Confederate posi­ Mountain and Missionary Ridge and by es­ by a flanking movement against the Confed­ trenched line of troops. Here the fighting was tions. This precipitated a general retreat of tablishing a line between the two heights, erate right wing on the north end of Mission­ most serious, the Confederates finally being the Confederate Army across the border into they cut off all but the most difficult route by ary Ridge. If this position were carried, dislodged and forced to retreat to a new line Georgia. Complete control of Chattanooga which supplies could be brought into the city. Union troops in the center were to join in an 400 yards beyond. At this point the fighting and its approaches had at last been won by Within a month the Union Army in Chat­ effort to sweep the Confederates from their ended, and although the Confederates had the Union. tanooga was in a desperate situation and base of supplies and communications and to not yet been driven from the mountain, their was reduced to half rations. Ten thousand defeat them. The engagement, however, de­ position was in danger. Rather than risk The Park horses and mules died and surrender seemed veloped much differently. While the main being cut off from the main line of forces on strength of our democracy. At the dedication The Battle of Chattanooga—a Union inevitable. force was maneuvered into position, a dem­ Missionary Ridge, the Confederate com­ Chickamauga and Chattanooga National of the park, a veteran of the battle said: mander, General Bragg, evacuated all troops victory in November 1863 which se­ The North, however, met this crisis by a onstration attack was made on a Confederate Military Park is composed of separate areas, "Here ... we and they, the living and the from Lookout Mountain and the valley below. change of command and reinforcements. outpost at Orchard Knob, about a mile in the more important of which are: Chicka­ cured that important railroad center dead, Confederate and Federal, fought for When Union soldiers scaled the palisades Troops from the Army of the Potomac in front of Missionary Ridge. This advance mauga Battlefield, in Georgia; Point Park the right as each understood it, for the Con­ the next morning, they found the mountain and opened the way for the Atlanta Virginia and from Grant's Vicksburg forces movement was successfully carried out on and the Battlefield of Lookout Mountain, and stitution as each construed it, and for the deserted. Orchard Knob, in Chattanooga; a chain of Campaign liberty as each interpreted it." Chickamauga and Chattanooga National The Campaign for Chattanooga Missionary Ridge from DeLong Reservation. Tennessee River from Point Park. Lookout Mountain. Military Park, oldest and largest of the na­ Chattanooga was an important railroad tional military park areas, was established in center at the time of the Civil War. Railroad commemoration of two important battles of lines radiated in the four principal directions the American Civil War. On these battlefields and provided connections with Nashville, gallant soldiers of the North and the South Memphis, Atlanta, and Richmond. The loca­ fought for control of Chattanooga, strategic tion of the city on the navigable Tennessee railroad center and gateway to the heart of River where there were gaps in the mountains the Confederate States. Here, thousands of added to its strategic value. Its capture by men on both sides exemplified the true Amer­ Union forces would be a severe blow to the ican qualities of independence, courage, and South. It would check the east and west pas­ self-sacrifice, which constitute the enduring sage of men and supplies for the Southern The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people. small reservations located on Missionary Missionary Ridge Ridge; and Signal Point on Signal Mountain. To commemorate the engagement on Mis­ The park contains approximately 8,190 acres sionary Ridge, there are a series of park areas Point Park of Federal land. located at important points on the ridge. Access to these areas is provided by the Crest Point Park and Road which runs the entire length of the line Lookout Mountain Battlefield occupied by the Confederates during the You are urged to go first to Point Park on battle. Markers, monuments, tablets, and gun Lookout Mountain positions will provide you with information, Lookout Mountain, where from the terrace and you can get excellent views of Chatta­ of the Adolph S. Ochs Observatory and nooga along this drive. The more important Museum, high above the winding Tennessee units of the park on Missionary Ridge are: River, you may obtain a comprehensive view and Chattanooga The Sherman Reservation, where Sherman's of the Battlefield of Chattanooga. On the forces unsuccessfully attacked the north end parapet are markers to identify the more of the Confederate line; the DeLong Reser­ important troop positions, and maps are vation, site of one of the breaks in the Con­ available to indicate the natural and historic federate line; the Ohio Reservation, an area Battlefields set aside to commemorate the participation of features of interest. You may get further Ohio troops in the battles; and the Bragg assistance from a National Park Service Reservation, where the Confederate com­ attendant. mander had his headquarters. The observatory and museum bears the name of one of the park's major benefactors, Orchard Knob the late Adolph S. Ochs, publisher of the This unit of the park is located near Mc- Chattanooga Times and the New York Times. Callie Avenue (U. S. 11 and 64), in Chatta­ He was responsible for the acquisition of nooga. It marks the site where the first action considerable land on Lookout Mountain for of the Battle of Chattanooga took place. inclusion in the park. Orchard Knob became General Grant's head­ From Lookout Point interesting foot trails, quarters during the remainder of the battle. extending along eastern and western flanks Administration of the mountain, will reveal to you unusual rock formations typical of the area and will Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is administered by the National provide ever-changing and beautiful vistas of Park Service of the United States Department the countryside below. of the Interior. You can reach Point Park from Chatta­ At the park headquarters, located on the nooga via U. S. 41, 64, 72, and 11 which Chickamauga Battlefield in Georgia, there are combine as they leave the city and skirt the a museum and reference library. The Fuller base of Lookout Mountain. You then turn off gun collection of American shoulder arms is on the Scenic Highway, which leads up the an outstanding attraction of the museum. mountain to the park entrance. You may also Additional information may be obtained visit the park by means of the St. Elmo buses by addressing the Superintendent, Chicka­ from Chattanooga, which connect with the mauga and Chattanooga National Military UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Lookout Mountain Incline Railway at the Park, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter One: the Campaign for Chattanooga, June to November 1863
    CHAPTER ONE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHATTANOOGA, JUNE TO NOVEMBER 1863 Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park commemorates and preserves the sites of important and bloody contests fought in the fall of 1863. A key prize in the fighting was Chattanooga, Tennessee, an important transportation hub and the gateway to Georgia and Alabama. In the Battle of Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863), the Confederate Army of Tennessee soundly beat the Federal Army of the Cumberland and sent it in full retreat back to Chattanooga. After a brief siege, the reinforced Federals broke the Confeder- ate grip on the city in a series of engagements, known collectively as the Battles for Chatta- nooga. In action at Brown’s Ferry, Wauhatchie, and Lookout Mountain, Union forces eased the pressure on the city. Then, on November 25, 1863, Federal troops achieved an unex- pected breakthrough at Missionary Ridge just southeast of Chattanooga, forcing the Con- federates to fall back on Dalton, Georgia, and paving the way for General William T. Sherman’s advance into Georgia in the spring of 1864. These battles having been the sub- ject of exhaustive study, this context contains only the information needed to evaluate sur- viving historic structures in the park. Following the Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863), the Federal Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Major General William S. Rosecrans, spent five and one-half months at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, reorganizing and resupplying in preparation for a further advance into Tennessee (Figure 2). General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of Tennessee was concentrated in the Tullahoma, Tennessee, area.
    [Show full text]
  • Science and Nature in the Blue Ridge Region
    7-STATE MOUNTAIN TRAVEL GUIDE hether altered, restored or un- touched by humanity, the story of the Blue Ridge region told by nature and science is singularly inspiring. Let’s listen as she tells Wus her past, present and future. ELKINS-RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURISM CVB ) West Virginia New River Gorge Let’s begin our journey on the continent’s oldest river, surrounded by 1,000-foot cliffs. Carving its way through all the geographic provinces in the Appalachian Mountains, this 53-mile-long north-flowing river is flanked by rocky outcrops and sandstone cliffs. Immerse your senses in the sights, sounds, fragrances and power of the Science and inNature the Blue Ridge Region flow at Sandstone Falls. View the gorge “from the sky” with a catwalk stroll 876 feet up on the western hemisphere’s longest steel arch bridge. C’mon along as we explore the southern Appalachians in search of ginormous geology and geography, nps.gov/neri fascinating flora and fauna. ABOVE: See a bird’s-eye view from the bridge By ANGELA MINOR spanning West Virginia’s New River Gorge. LEFT: Learn ecosystem restoration at Mower Tract. MAIN IMAGE: View 90° razorback ridges at Seneca Rocks. ABOVE: Bluets along the trail are a welcome to springtime. LEFT: Nequi dolorumquis debis dolut ea pres il estrum et Um eicil iume ea dolupta nonectaquo conecus, ulpa pre 34 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 35 ELKINS-RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURISM CVB Mower Tract acres and hosts seven Wilderness areas. MUCH MORE TO SEE IN VIRGINIA… Within the Monongahela National fs.usda.gov/mnf ) Natural Chimneys Park and Camp- locale that includes 10 miles of trails, Forest, visit the site of ongoing high- ground, Mt.
    [Show full text]
  • Battle of Vicksburg 1863
    Name: edHelper Battle of Vicksburg 1863 The city of Vicksburg in Mississippi was considered the hinge point between the two halves of the Civil War: the east and the west. General Ulysses S. Grant, of the Union army, was convinced that the key to winning the war was the control of Vicksburg which sat right on the banks of the Mississippi River. His first expeditions were failures, but Grant didn't give up. Finally, he devised a complicated plan. First, Grant marched his troops some 25 miles south of Vicksburg. They crossed through swamps and bayous [pronounced BY-yoos]. There, Union gunboats met them. They had run past the gun batteries at Vicksburg on a moonless night to aid the army. Their job was to ferry the entire Union force across the Mississippi River. After crossing, Grant realized that he had to control Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, before he could get to his destination. It was an important railway center which could help move troops and supplies to Vicksburg. On May 14, 1863, he took the city. Before it was captured though, Confederate General Joe Johnston sent a message to General Pemberton in Vicksburg. He wanted them to cede the city and retreat so the Confederate force there would not be captured. General Pemberton was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He agreed with Johnston's evaluation of the situation, but he also had direct orders from President Davis to hold the city. He chose to obey his orders at first but then decided it might be better to get out.
    [Show full text]
  • What Do You Love About Lookout Mountain, GA?
    What do you love about Lookout Mountain, GA? 1. The small community!! 2. The ability to let kids be kids, ie let them ride their bikes or go to the soccer/baseball fields without concern for safety. 3. Quiet private community that encourages family and neighbor gatherings. 4. safe, quiet community. 5. Safe for kids Close to Chattanooga Beautiful 6. The views, the rocks, and Covenant College. 7. The safe, close knit community 8. Everything..... 9. Tree -canopied streets, more affordable housing than the Tennessee side, quietness, caring, friendly neighbors, trusty police, convenience to Chattanooga, residence status at Rock City. 10. Community, scenery, and availability of elementary education 11. It’s a quiet family community! 11. The natural beauty, the people , the proximity to Chattanooga. 12. It’s home 13. Security, privacy, less busy neighborhood feel, the opportunity to use the roadways for walking, jogging, strolling babies, cycling, kids to visit neighbors without being driven by parents in cars. 14. Family friendly environment, a great SAFE place to raise kids. You can come home to a much more laid back relaxed pace of life. Small tight knit community 15. Small tight-knit community. Safe place to raise a family. Close proximity to downtown. 16. It is a special place , what makes it so is it's being different than other communities in the Chattanooga area. It has charm & character. By allowing higher density and or more rental property or even allowing to much commercial properties, and the issues that come with them, we would effectively be making ourselves more like other communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Paddler's Guide to Civil War Sites on the Water
    Southeast Tennessee Paddler’s Guide to Civil War Sites on the Water If Rivers Could Speak... Chattanooga: Gateway to the Deep South nion and Confederate troops moved into Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia in the fall of 1863 after the Uinconclusive Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Both armies sought to capture Chattanooga, a city known as “The Gateway to the Deep South” due to its location along the he Tennessee River – one of North America’s great rivers – Tennessee River and its railroad access. President Abraham winds for miles through Southeast Tennessee, its volume Lincoln compared the importance of a Union victory in Tfortified by gushing creeks that tumble down the mountains Chattanooga to Richmond, Virginia - the capital of the into the Tennessee Valley. Throughout time, this river has Confederacy - because of its strategic location on the banks of witnessed humanity at its best and worst. the river. The name “Tennessee” comes from the Native American word There was a serious drought taking place in Southeast Tennessee “Tanasi,” and native people paddled the Tennessee River and in 1863, so water was a precious resource for soldiers. As troops its tributaries in dugout canoes for thousands of years. They strategized and moved through the region, the Tennessee River fished, bathed, drank and traveled these waters, which held and its tributaries served critical roles as both protective barriers dangers like whirlpools, rapids and eddies. Later, the river was and transportation routes for attacks. a thrilling danger for early settlers who launched out for a fresh The two most notorious battles that took place in the region start in flatboats.
    [Show full text]
  • Militaristic Nationalism and Pseudo-Religion: a Material Culture Analysis of a 1911 Ulysses S
    North Alabama Historical Review Volume 3 North Alabama Historical Review, Volume 3, 2013 Article 6 2013 Militaristic Nationalism and Pseudo-Religion: A Material Culture Analysis of a 1911 Ulysses S. Grant Tobacco Card Gracjan Kraszewski University of North Alabama Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.una.edu/nahr Part of the Public History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Kraszewski, G. (2013). Militaristic Nationalism and Pseudo-Religion: A Material Culture Analysis of a 1911 Ulysses S. Grant Tobacco Card. North Alabama Historical Review, 3 (1). Retrieved from https://ir.una.edu/ nahr/vol3/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by UNA Scholarly Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in North Alabama Historical Review by an authorized editor of UNA Scholarly Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Articles 83 Militaristic Nationalism and Pseudo-Religion: A Material Culture Analysis of a 1911 Ulysses S. Grant Tobacco Card Gracjan Kraszewski Material culture, the study of man-made objects, allows scholars to construct a more complete and thorough understanding of the past.1 However, documents only go so far. They are often biased, their human authors intentionally exaggerating points while simultaneously omitting crucial evidence. The rawness of objects helps historians remedy such problems. While objects, like documents, are human products built within cultural constructs and loaded with meaning, material goods stand apart. They can be intrinsically analyzed, producing historical cohesion and nuance. It must be noted that objects do not always challenge documents; at times they reinforce the written record, showing, ubiquitously, how deeply entrenched some historical claims are.
    [Show full text]
  • Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, 1890-1942
    CHAPTER TWO: THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL MILITARY PARK, 1890-1942 1 COMMEMORATING THE CIVIL WAR The Civil War was a watershed event in American history and a signal event in the lives of all who participated in it. Of the 2.75 million Americans who saw action in the war, 621,000 died and 470,000 were wounded. Efforts to memorialize the fallen and recognize and aid veterans and their survivors began even before combat ceased. The creation of the first Civil War national military parks in the 1890s was preceded by twenty-five years of private and state memorial efforts. Commemorative efforts began in the mid-1860s with the formation of local memorial associations in the South, the creation of Union soldiers’ cemeteries at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Antietam, Maryland, the preservation of land at Gettysburg, the establishment of national cemeteries by the federal government, and the creation of veterans’ groups, mostly in the North. In the early postwar years, commemoration took different forms in the North and the South. In the 1880s and 1890s, as the veteran population aged, commemorative activity expanded, and contact between ex-Confederates and ex- Federals increased. Blue-gray reunions, often held on the battlefields, became common. The interaction at reunions, a spirit of sectional reconciliation and commemoration of the sacrifice of both sides, and an increased appreciation of the nation’s past all contributed to the successful movement to establish national battlefield parks. In the South, independent, local memorial associations sprang up rapidly during and after the war. Many originated in women’s wartime groups organized to do hospital and relief work.
    [Show full text]
  • General Grant National Memorial
    both as a citizen and soldier. Allegorical figures by J. CAPTAIN SAM GRANT: The future commanding gen­ At Shiloh in April, when a Confederate surprise Massey Rhind representing Grant's youth, military service, eral of the Union armies and President of the United States attack threatened to overwhelm the Federal army, Grant civilian life, and death are between the arches of the ro­ was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, on April 27, 1822. regrouped his shaken forces and drove the Southerners tunda. Bronze busts sculpted by Mues and J. Juszko of sev­ Baptized Hiram Ulysses Grant, he found when he en­ from the field. The narrowly won victory was a giant eral of Grant's comrades-in-arms are in niches in the walls tered West Point in 1839 that his name appeared on the step forward in the North's conquest of the Mississippi of the crypt. In 1966 three mosaics, designed by Allyn Cox, records as Ulysses Simpson Grant. The record was al­ Valley. representing the battles of Vicksburg and Chattanooga and lowed to stand. To the other cadets his initials suggested Maintaining the initiative in the West, Grant the surrender at Appomattox, each a significant event in the nickname "Uncle Sam," quickly shortened to "Sam." achieved a major goal of Union war strategy on July 4, Grant's career, were placed in the lunettes of the rotunda. At West Point he distinguished himself in horsemanship 1863, when his capture of the Mississippi fortress of Vicks­ THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL: From the time of its and showed ability in mathematics.
    [Show full text]
  • Farmville and the Civil
    FARMVILLE AND THE CIVIL WAR – 4 THINGS TO KNOW The town of Farmville, Virginia – through which both General Lee’s army and General Grant’s army marched – looms large in the closing days of the Civil War. Here are some of the reasons why, along with resources to help you explore further and plan a visit. Lee’s Retreat Toward Farmville In the spring of 1865, after the 10-month Siege of Petersburg, General Lee retreated westward with his army. Hoping to feed and resupply his men and connect with other Confederate armies, and with Union forces in pursuit, the stage was set for the final act of the Civil War. The Battle of Saylor’s Creek On April 6, 1865, just three days before the surrender at Appomattox Court House, nearly a quarter of General Lee’s army – more than 7,700 men – were killed, wounded or captured at the battle of Saylor’s Creek. Be sure to visit Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historic State Park. The Battle of High Bridge After giving up on his plan to issue provisions to his men at Farmville, General Lee moved to cross the Appomattox River at High Bridge, 4.5 miles north, and continue his westward retreat. On April 6, 1865, the Confederates fought to secure and cross Photo by Julian Vannerson, The Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog the bridge. Then, on April 7, they fought to destroy the bridge to stop Union forces from following them. Part of the Lee’s Retreat Civil War Driving Tour Lee’s Retreat is a self-guided tour through the final days of troop movement and strategy between Lee’s Army and General Ulysses S.
    [Show full text]
  • 1054 the Revelation 3:21 Grant – US Grant
    #1054 The Revelation 3:21 Grant – U.S. Grant Key Understanding: The Lord ordained the name and person of U.S. Grant to fulfill “will I grant” in Revelation 3:21. The Lord ordained that Hiram Ulysses Grant undergo the name change to U.S. Grant, and then subsequently raised up U.S. Grant during the course of the U.S. Civil War to eventually become the commander of all of the Union armies, so as to fulfill the prophecy associated with Revelation 3:21, with its words of “will I grant.” Revelation 3:21 (KJV) TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH [(i) the U.S. Grant-led Joel’s former rain-reign Union Army and the United States on April 9, 1865, (ii) the William Joseph Seymour/Edward Lee Latter Rain-reign Pentecostals on April 9, 1906, and (iii) the April 6 [= 9], 1917, Woodrow Wilson-led Joel’s Latter Rain-reign ‘Man o’ War’ U.S. Army] WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, AND AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE. Ulysses S. Grant. U.S. Grant commanded the victorious Union armies at the close of the Civil War. His success and fame as a general led to his election as President in 1868. He served two terms as President of the United States. Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He was the first child of Jesse and Hannah Simpson Grant. In 1839, the congressman who appointed Ulysses to the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Background: Appomattox
    Unit 3: Appomattox Classroom Resources Background: Appomattox During the Civil War, the Confederacy had its own constitution, its own president, and its own capital city in Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate government met there, and President Jefferson Davis lived in a mansion called the White House of the Confederacy. Three years into the war, Ulysses S. Grant led a massive campaign to capture this city, believing it would defeat the South for good. Grant chose not to attack the well-defended capital directly. Instead, he focused on Petersburg, about 20 miles to the south. Most of Richmond’s supplies came through this city. Beginning in the summer of 1864, Union forces lay siege to Petersburg, destroying highways, railroads, and bridges. Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee defended Petersburg from a line of trenches, but they were badly outnumbered. The Confederate Congress debated whether to arm slaves to fight as soldiers, which would have increased the size of the Army dramatically, but the decision to do so came too late to affect the outcome of the war. In March 1865, General Lee proposed to Jefferson Davis that the Army abandon Petersburg, sacrifice Richmond, and escape to merge with General Joe Johnston’s 20,000 troops in North Carolina. Free of the need to defend the cities, the combined force could continue the war for as long as it took to win. This is just what Grant feared might happen as he continued the siege of Petersburg. On March 30 and 31, 1865, Federal forces tried repeatedly to destroy the last rail link from Petersburg to Richmond.
    [Show full text]
  • Ulysses S. Grant Born April 27, 1822 Point Pleasant, Ohio Died July 23, 1885 Mount Mcgregor, New York
    Civil War Bios- Vol. 1 10/7/03 4:17 PM Page 159 Ulysses S. Grant Born April 27, 1822 Point Pleasant, Ohio Died July 23, 1885 Mount McGregor, New York Union general who captured Vicksburg and defeated Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, ending the Civil War Eighteenth president of the United States lysses S. Grant was one of the greatest—and most un- “I have but one Ulikely—military commanders in American history. Prior sentiment now. We have to the Civil War, he struggled to provide for his family, first a government and laws as a soldier and then as a businessman. But when the war and a flag and they must began, he quickly showed that he was one of the North’s be sustained. There are top military leaders. During the first two years of the con- flict, his victories at Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Chat- but two parties now: tanooga helped the Union seize control of the Confedera- traitors and patriots.” cy’s western states. Grant then moved to the war’s eastern theater (a large geographic area in which military operations take place), where he was given command of all the Union armies. Begin- ning in the spring of 1864, he brought the full power of the Union forces against the South. Grant’s merciless use of sus- tained pressure against the weary armies and citizens of the Confederacy eventually forced the South to surrender in 1865. Four years later, Grant became president of the United States. But the North’s greatest military hero never really learned how to be a good political leader, and his two terms Ulysses S.
    [Show full text]