The Battles for Chattanooga

In 1863, Chattanooga was a vital Civil War transportation center because of its railroads and riverboats, and both armies recognized its importance. In the late summer and fall, several key military actions decided the fate of Chattanooga and helped determine the fate of the Confederacy. At the Battle of Chickamauga on September 18-20, about 10 miles south of Chattanooga near West Chickamauga Creek, Confederate forces defeated the Union army in a bloody two-day battle, and the Federals withdrew to Chattanooga and fortified the city. From September 22 to November 23, Confederates laid siege to Chattanooga to force the Federals to surrender, occupying positions along the Tennessee River, Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Mountain. In late October, the besieged and hungry Federals opened a supply line through Lookout Valley into the city and, with fresh troops and supplies, were ready to fight by late November. On November 23, Union troops stormed and captured Orchard Knob, a hill to the east of their defense line in the city. On November 24, Union forces drove the Confederates from their positions on Lookout Mountain in an action also called the Battle Above the Clouds because the mountain was partially shrouded in fog. On November 25, Union forces stormed and shattered Confederate units occupying Missionary Ridge, breaking the siege. Chattanooga then became the Federal base from which Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman launched his Atlanta campaign in the spring of 1864.

Lookout Mountain, Tennessee · United States