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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.
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