Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge

After the fall of Vicksburg the center of military operations was shifted to Chattanooga, which became the scene of the most peculiar and dramatically interesting conflict of the war. Before describing this "battle above the clouds," a review of the events succeeding the battle of Murfreesborough is necessary. After that conflict no active measures were taken for six months, Rosecrans awaiting the reduction of Vicksburg. He moved at length, on the 16th of June, with an army of sixty thousand men. Bragg had forty-six thousand, who were strongly intrenched at Tullahoma and points in its vicinity, guarding the railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga. Rosecrans made a flank movement on this army, threatening to turn its right, upon which Bragg hastily abandoned his intrenchments and fell back to Bridgeport, Alabama. A nine days' march, over roads, rendered almost impassable by excessive rains, had gained this important advantage. Bragg continued his retreat to Chattanooga, destroying the railroad as he went. He lost six thousand men, mainly by desertion and straggling. Rosecrans followed, rebuilding the railroad'as he advanced, and on August 16 began to cross the Cumberland Mountains. Two other events of importance accompanied these. On June 27, John H. Morgan was sent North on a cavalry raid. He crossed the Ohio into Indiana, rode through this State and Ohio, and circled around Cincinnati, doing great damage along his route. He was unable to recross the river, however, and was obliged to surrender, with his men, on July 26. The other event was the expedition of Burnside to East Tennessee. This general, then in command of the Department of the Ohio, with twenty thousand men, marched towards Knoxville on August 16. After a very difficult journey over the Cumberland Mountains, he reached Knoxville on September 9, and compelled it to surrender. This gave him control of East Tennessee, and completed the conquest of that State. Buckner, who was at Knoxville with ten thousand men, marched to reinforce Bragg.

Before describing the subsequent events, the situation of Chattanooga needs to be outlined. At this point are several parallel ranges of the Appalachian mountain-system, with intermediate valleys, in one of which the town is situated, on the south bank of the Tennessee River. Southwestwardly from the town run several ranges, known, from west to east, as Raccoon Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Pigeon Mountain, and Chickamauga Hills. The town lies in the mouth of the valley between Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The former is a lofty and rugged elevation, about two thousand four hundred feet high, ending abruptly near the town.

Rosecrans again made a flank movement, crossing the ridges to the south of Chattanooga, and occupying the several valleys. On the 20th of August his left wing reached the north bank of the Tennessee, from which he shelled Chattanooga on the 21st. Bragg, finding that his communications were threatened by the advance of Thomas and McCook into the mountain-gaps, abandoned Chattanooga on September 8, and moved southward. He had no intention of definitely retreating, however. He had been heavily reinforced, and concentrated his army at Lafayette, while the three corps of Rosecrans's army were widely separated by mountain-ridges. Had Bragg assumed the offensive when he first wished to, a serious Union disaster might have resulted. But he was delayed by the insubordination of his officers, and meanwhile Rosecrans, realizing the true situation, began to concentrate his army. Before this was fully accomplished Bragg fell upon him with his whole force. The advance of a strong reinforcement, under Longstreet, reached him from Virginia on the 18th. On the morning of the 19th the two armies stood face to face, and the battle of Chickamauga began with a vigorous Confederate assault. The battle continued during the day, and ended indecisively, neither side having lost ground. During the night the remainder of Longstreet's men came up.

The assault was renewed on the morning of the 20th, Rosecrans having in the mean time covered his front with breastworks. It continued till mid-day without decisive result. Shortly afterwards, however, by an unfortunate misapprehension of orders, a gap was opened in the Union lines, of which the Confederates took instant advantage,' pushing into the opening and rolling back the broken flanks. The charge was urged by Longstreet's men with such fierce energy that the error could not be rectified. The centre and right were broken and dispersed, and driven back in rout towards Chattanooga. A terrible defeat would have supervened but for the gallant behavior of the left wing, under Thomas. Sheridan managed to join him with a portion of his division, and with less than half the original army he held his ground unflinchingly against the whole Confederate force until darkness put a close to the contest,--after which he retired in good order to Rossville. On the 21st he offered battle again, and that night withdrew into the defences of Chattanooga. Bragg had won a victory, but had not recovered the town. His loss was about eighteen thousand men. Rosecrans lost about sixteen thousand three hundred and fifty men, and fifty-one guns. On the 24th, Bragg advanced on Chattanooga, expecting to take it easily. He found it too strongly defended, however, for any hope of success in an assault, and during a considerable period no further hostilities occurred.