Chickamauga And Chattanooga National Military Park
The Battle of Chickamauga occurred after Gen. William S. Rosecrans and 58,000 Union troops crossed the Tennessee River southwest of Chattanooga, forcing the Confederate troops of Gen. Braxton Bragg to abandon the city and move south to protect their Atlanta supply lines. Bragg obtained reinforcements and moved back northward hoping to retake Chattanooga. The two forces clashed at Chickamauga Creek near the Georgia-Tennessee line.
Although victorious, the Confederates suffered heavy losses. The Union forces withdrew to Chattanooga after suffering more than 16,000 casualties. The ensuing Confederate siege of the city almost subdued the Union army. However, bolstered by reinforcements and a new supply route, Union forces resumed the offensive by November.
The 3-day Battle of Chattanooga began Nov. 23, 1863, with Union forces driving the Confederates back to the base of Missionary Ridge and capturing Orchard Knob. When the Union troops assaulted the remaining Confederates in the Battle of Lookout Mountain the next day, the Confederates chose to evacuate the area rather than risk separation from their main line.
The decisive blow came a day later. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant directed the all-day Battle of Missionary Ridge, in which the Confederates were dislodged from strategic points and Union forces gained the steep slopes above the city. The Confederates withdrew after dark; their defeat opened the way to Atlanta and the heart of the Confederacy.
Much of the area in this beautiful park is kept in wartime condition. More than 1,600 markers, monuments, cannons and tablets indicate the battle lines of both sides and recount the story of the area. Self-guiding tours enable visitors to explore the battlefields of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Ranger-led tours also are offered.
Among the points of interest are Orchard Knob, Grant's headquarters during the Battle of Chattanooga; Crest Road, along Missionary Ridge; Wilder Brigade Monument, commanding a good view of the Chickamauga Battlefield and its surroundings; the Brotherton House, a reconstructed prewar farmhouse marking the spot where the Union line was broken; Snodgrass Hill, the scene of the last fighting at Chickamauga; and Snodgrass House, which served as a Union field hospital during the battle.
Chickamauga Battlefield grounds and monuments are open daily dawn to dusk. Visitor center open daily 8:30-5; closed Jan. 1 and Christmas. Free. Phone (706) 866-9241.