On November 24, 1863, Brigadier General John W. Geary's division of Slocum's Corps, with the brigades of Colonels Charles Candy, George A. Cobham, Jr., and David Ireland, reinforced by six regiments of Whitaker's Brigade from Cruft's Division, assembled at daylight at Wauhatchie Station. The force bridged Lookout Creek at Light's Mills above the station, began crossing about 8 A.M., marched up the mountain by the flank until its right reached the palisades, then faced toward the mountain's north point and advanced. Cobham's brigade held the right, Ireland's the center, Candy's the left, and Whitaker's brigade formed a second line behind the right and center. After advancing a mile and a quarter, the division encountered enemy pickets and attacked the main line in flank, while the left of Geary's line, supported by Grose's Brigade crossing near the railroad bridge, moved against its front. Geary's line forced its way over the steep nose of the mountain and, together with Cruft's troops, carried the Cravens House position soon after noon. The Union right then advanced in the fog about two hundred yards beyond Cravens and, aided by five regiments from Osterhaus' Division, held the exposed position under sharp fire until dark, when Carlin's Brigade climbed up from Chattanooga and relieved Geary's front line.

Photo: Dale K. Benington

Photo: Lee Hattabaugh