![]() Library of Congress ![]() NPS Photo During the Civil War, Chattanooga was the "Gateway to the Confederacy." To the south lay the Confederacy's heartland. President Lincoln declared that if the Union could capture Chattanooga then the war would be won. By November of 1863, the Union Army occupied Chattanooga, but was under siege. Confederates controlled the heights around the city, and only a steady trickle of supplies on the "Cracker Line" kept the Union Army fed. From November 23-25, 1863 the Union Army launched a series of assaults on the Confederate positions around the city. The Confederates were driven south, and the gateway to the Confederacy was opened. Over the next two years the Union Army's occupation of Chattanooga led to a rebirth of the city as they constructed roads, bridges, and railroads. Thousands of civilians and enslaved people poured into the city, and a thriving economy developed in the wake of the military presence. In the fall of 1865 Chattanooga emerged from the Civil War a thriving economic hub, poised to become one of the region's leading cities. Join us for the 152nd Anniversary of the Battles of Chattanooga on November 21-22, 2015, for a series of ranger-guided programs exploring how soldiers and civilians went "through the gateway" of Chattanooga and the city was reborn. Saturday, November 21 9 am - Ranger Guided Hike from Sunset Rock to the Craven's House 9:30 am - Engaging the Attention of the Enemy: Hooker's Demonstration on Lookout Creek 10 am to 4 pm - Meet Author Dr. Aaron Astor 10 am - Ranger Guided Tour of Point Park 2 pm - Ranger Guided Tour of Point Park 3 pm - Ranger Talk at the Ochs Memorial Observatory in Point Park. 3:30 pm - Sherman's Crossing and the Occupation of Billy Goat Hill 4 pm - Ranger Guided Tour of Point Park ![]() NPS Photo Sunday, November 22, 2015
The Cravens House will be open from 9 am to 5 pm, and a Park Ranger will be available for house tours. 10 am - "With a Fearlessness and Determination That Was Astonishing: Sherman's Assaults on Tunnel Hill
“…with a fearlessness and determination that was astonishing.” That is way one Union brigade commander described his men’s assault on Tunnel Hill on November 25, 1863. His was one of the more than half a dozen Northern brigades that attacked the Confederate line on the hilltop rising in their front. In this two hour, mile and a half walk in the Sherman Reservation, National Military Park Historian Jim Ogden will examine the ground of Tunnel Hill and the Union attacks across it. The program will begin at the Sherman Reservation parking area in the 2800 block of Lightfoot Mill Road just off Campbell Street/North Crest Road. Comfortable, supportive footwear, water, and clothing appropriate for the weather are recommended. There are no admission fees for this tour. Join a Park Ranger for 45 minute walking tour of Point Park and learn about the Battle of Lookout Mountain. Admission to Point Park is $5 per adult, age 16 and over. Ages 15 and under are free. 11 am - Ranger Talk at the Ochs Memorial Observatory in Point Park. Join a Park Ranger at the Ochs Museum for 30 discussion about the role of photography and signalling in the hills and valleys around Chattanooga. Admission to Point Park is $5 per adult, age 16 and over. Ages 15 and under are free. Noon - Ranger Guided Tour of Point Park
Join a Park Ranger for 45 minute walking tour of Point Park and learn about the Battle of Lookout Mountain. Admission to Point Park is $5 per adult, age 16 and over. Ages 15 and under are free. 2 pm - The Lone Star State Leads the Defense of Tunnel Hill
“…the brunt of this long day’s fight was borne by Smith’s (Texas) brigade….” That is how Confederate General Pat Cleburne began the summary of his division’s fighting on November 25, 1863. While ably supported by others, the Lone Star men positioned atop Tunnel Hill withstood more than half a dozen Union attacks to thereby be the basis of Cleburne’s success against William T. Sherman. National Military Park Historian Jim Ogden will examine this stalwart defense by the Texans in this two hour, one mile walking tour. The program will begin at the Sherman Reservation parking area in the 2800 block of Lightfoot Mill Road just off Campbell Street/North Crest Road. Comfortable, supportive footwear, water, and clothing appropriate for the weather are recommended. There are no admission fees for this tour. 2 pm - Ranger Guided Tour of Point Park
Join a Park Ranger for 45 minute walking tour of Point Park and learn about the Battle of Lookout Mountain. Admission to Point Park is $5 per adult, age 16 and over. Ages 15 and under are free. 3 pm - Ranger Talk at the Ochs Memorial Observatory in Point Park.
Join a Park Ranger at the Ochs Museum for 30 discussion about the role of photography and signalling in the hills and valleys around Chattanooga. Admission to Point Park is $5 per adult, age 16 and over. Ages 15 and under are free.EndFragment 4 pm - Ranger Guided Tour of Point Park
Join a Park Ranger for 45 minute walking tour of Point Park and learn about the Battle of Lookout Mountain. Admission to Point Park is $5 per adult, age 16 and over. Ages 15 and under are free. |
Last updated: November 16, 2015