The advance of General Hooker’s command from the Army of the Potomac, consisting of the 11th Corps under Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard and the 12th Corps under Maj. Gen. H.W. Slocum, reached Bridgeport on Oct. 1, 1863, and with part of this force Hooker left Bridgeport on October 27 and arrived in Lookout Valley on the afternoon of October 28. Union forces from Chattanooga under Brig. Gen. W.F. Smith occupied Brown’s Ferry at daylight on October 27. At midnight on October 28, Jenkin’s Brigade of Hood’s Division, commanded by Col. J. Bratton, attacked six regiments of Geary’s Division at Wauhatchie, but was repulsed and recalled after supporting Confederate brigades on the west side of Lookout Creek were attacked by troops of the 11th Corps moving to relieve Geary. The Confederates then withdrew from the west side of Lookout Creek while continuing to hold the mountain, and this movement opened and maintained a supply line from Bridgeport by way of Brown’s Ferry and the narrow peninsula opposite it to Chattanooga, effectively relieving the Union army. In General Grant’s original plan for the Battle of Chattanooga, Hooker was assigned to hold Lookout Valley and observe Gen. Bragg’s left, but on Nov. 22 the 11th Corps was ordered into Chattanooga, and the same day General Thomas secured permission for Hooker to make a demonstration against Lookout once General Sherman’s troops had reached their position above Chattanooga. Before daylight on Nov. 24, Hooker issued orders for an attack using Geary’s Division of the 12th Corps, Cruft’s Division of the 4th Corps, and Osterhaus’s Division of the 15th Corps, the last having been unable to join Sherman because the Brown’s Ferry Bridge had broken. Between 8 and 10 A.M. on Nov. 24, Geary’s Division and Whittaker’s Brigade of Cruft’s Division crossed Lookout Creek at Light’s Mill, moved under cover of fog up the mountain toward the palisades, and advanced, while Grose’s Brigade crossed above near the railroad bridge on Geary’s left and Osterhaus’s Division moved after crossing the creek with its left on the river road and its right extending toward Cravens. Hooker’s attacking and supporting force numbered about 9,000, opposed at first by Walthall’s Brigade, 1,489 strong, and a picket of 225 from Moore’s Brigade extending from Chattanooga Creek to Lookout Creek. As Geary’s Division and Whittaker’s Brigade struck Walthall’s left and Corse’s Brigade with Osterhaus attacked in front, many Confederate pickets were captured on the flank and rear. After Walthall was driven back to the Cravens House, Geary’s troops came over the steep nose of the mountain into his front and threatened his rear while Cruft and Osterhaus sent strong detachments to assist. The Union forces gained the Cravens House soon after noon. Walthall then made a stand about 400 yards south of the Cravens House, where he was reinforced by three regiments of Pettus’ Brigade and by Moore’s Brigade extending Pettus’ right. At dark, Geary was relieved near the Cravens House by Carlin’s Brigade of Johnson’s Division from Chattanooga, and at 2 o’clock on the morning of the 25th the Confederates withdrew from the mountain to Missionary Ridge.

Photo: Dale K. Benington

Photo: Dale K. Benington

Photo: Dale K. Benington

Photo: Lee Hattabaugh

Photo: Lee Hattabaugh

Photo: Lee Hattabaugh