Summer of 18-#65 - Civil War History-Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Thursday September 20th, 2018
We decided to visit the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park today.  I was really going along for the ride, and didn't expect to be all that interested in this.  I really had no understanding of what was at this park, and the way it is presented is, in my opinion, exceptional.

We started at the Visitor Center, which was very informative.

Here's a map of the Civil War battlefield, which you can drive around. Here's a Points Map, which gives more information on several of the monuments and locations.

There was a room that had the Civil War documented in yearly increments.  This was a good way to start.  I did do Civil War History at school, but it was many years ago and I don't really remember much. As a teenager, I wasn't really interested in American History and would have liked to learn more about the two World Wars that affected Britain more.  Now, I'm interested in both British and North American History.

There is a seven mile auto tour that you can drive around, markers and informational signs tell you about each location.  You can also follow an audio tour on your cellphone as you go round. We didn't do that, as we had more than enough information to actually read, but here is a LINK if you are interested.

I will copy the information leaflets comments for each stage of the tour.

1. "Breckenridge's Assault - Confederates commanded by former US Vice President John C. Breckenridge assaulted and briefly penetrated the Union line in this area, before turning their attack southward"

The signs bordered in red, refer to the Confederates.  I have enlarged the signs so that hopefully they are easier to read.  

Bryan taking a picture at what the soldiers would be looking and firing at.

This was the view

Florida State Monument

Proceeding toward the second marker, we passed several monument stones along the road.

We reached Battleline Road and Marker 2.

2. "The Battle Line - The line of Union monuments extending the length of Battleline Road mark where Union troops constructed crude breastworks during the early morning hours.  Secure in their positions, they successfully halted repeated Confederate assaults."

Texas State Monument

A Confederate flag and a flower had been placed at the base of the Texas monument

The blue signs refer to the Union.  As I read the signs, it occurred to me that today was September 20th and this battle happened here, where we were standing, on September 20th, 155 years ago to the day.  There had been a sign in the Visitor Center about the 155th Anniversary but it didn't occur to me that it was today!!!

The signs were very detailed, giving times, actions and even casualty figures.  

Reading the very detailed events affected me emotionally.  I'm not sure why it had such an impact, but the fact the signs had the date and times of events, made me very aware of what was happening here 155 years ago exactly.  Staring down the hill, I could visualize the soldiers coming up, guns being fired and soldiers injured and killed.  It was surreal.  The way most of it has been preserved, so you can visualize it is amazing. I know, I have a vivid imagination!!  I think Bryan was amused that I was reading every sign, there were a lot.  He drove along where I was walking and got out several times to take pictures but I had to walk and read, ha!!ha!!

See the dates and times here.  This regiment was standing/defending/fighting here at the time we were here, only 155 years ago.  Sorry, I know I keep repeating myself, but I just couldn't get over it.  It was a complete coincidence that we ended up here today of all days, and made a huge difference to my experience.  

Imagine the troops hiding in the undergrowth

The Stewarts have arrived!!!!!!!

This was a monument to Col. Edward King, 68th Ind. Commanding 2D Brigade Reynold's Division, who was killed here at 5pm, September 20, 1863.

Battlefield Road took us at least 90 minutes to go along but eventually we got to the end, got back in the car and continued the tour.

3. "Mix-Up in Union Command-As officers called for troops to strengthen the left end of the Union line, Rosecrans ordered a division to shift out of its position.  Unknowingly, his command created a fatal gap in the line."

Georgia State Monument

Georgia State Monument

4. "Confederate Breakthrough - Before troops could fill the gap in the Union line, the yells of thousands of confederates pierced the air as they poured across Lafayette Road  and through the gap. The breakthrough split the Union Army."

I took particular interest in anything I saw with the name Stewart.  💝

This sign was by the Brotherton Cabin.

The picture above is hard to read, so here is a transcription:

"Left Wing - Army of Tennessee.
Lieutenant General James Longstreet.
September 20th, 1863.
Stewart's Division - Major General Alexander P. Stewart.
Johnson's Division - Brigadier General Bushrod R. Johnson.
Hood's (Law's) Division - Brigadier General E. Mcl. Law.
Kershaw's Division - Brigadier General Joseph B. Kershaw
Hindman's Division - Major General Thomas C. Hindman.
Preston's Division - Brigadier General William Preston.
Stewart's Division attacked at 11 o'clock, and, after terrific fighting and an advance of one part of his line beyond the Chattanooga Road, was obliged to retire to the line from which he first advanced.
Johnson's Division, followed by Law and Kershaw, passed through the gap made by the withdrawal of Wood's Division from the Union line at Brotherton's.  Johnson moved through the Dyer fields and assaulted Snodgrass Hill near Vittetoe's. Law pushed north through the woods on the east of the Dyer field and was repulsed near its northern boundary. Kershaw, following Law, passed over the shattered lines of the latter and assaulted Snodgrass Hill. Hindman, after pursuing Sheridan's and Davis' Divisions to the high ground west of the Crawfish Springs Road and north of Widow Glenn's, joined Johnson's troops near Vittetoes's. Preston was moved up from the vicinity of Hall's Ford to the Brotherton house, and marching from the latter point at 4pm, assaulted Snodgrass Hill at 4:30 on the left of Kershaw's Division. At sundown Stewart moved over the works which had been held by Reynolds, captured a number of prisoners, and bivouacked near the Kelly house.
Kershaw's, Johnson's, and Hindman's Divisions continued to assault Snodgrass Hill unsuccessfully until sundown.  At six o'clock Steedman's Division forming the right of the Union line on Snodgrass Hill was withdrawn under orders to the next ridge in rear. General Longstreet's troops followed and at dusk occupied a part of Snodgrass Hill from which Steedman had withdrawn and the ravine to the north of it."

Brotherton Cabin

Inside cabin

Here's a VIDEO with an account from Brigadier General Bushrod R. Johnson of the Confederate Army, about the battle here.

5. "Viniard Field - Step back one day to September 19th.  Thousands of soldiers, one division at a time, fought back and forth across this field trying to gain control of Lafayette Road.  When sunset came, neither side held the road, yet thousands had paid the ultimate sacrifice."

Ok, I'm sorry but amongst all the sadness of the day, as we read this sign we both looked at each other and smiled.  Col. Dick, Maj. Dick, and Capt. Swallow brought a smile to our faces.  There were no words!!!! 

6. "Lightning Strikes - Union Col. John T Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry, armed with Spencer repeating rifles, halted a portion of the attacking Confederates.  The "Lightning Brigade" had the only Union success on this part of the field."

Here is a LINK to a Union soldier's account of the action here.

The Wilder Brigade Monument reminded us of a lighthouse, so we had to try and climb it.

Going up

We made it to the top, 135 steps.  I'm not sure how, as we were both exhausted from all our walking yesterday at Rock City, and now today around this amazing Military Park. The views were good.

There's our car down below,

Going down!!!

We made it, phew!!

More markers

By this time, neither of us had any energy left, we continued the tour but didn't get out of the car again. 

7. "Rout of the Union Right - Confederate soldiers swept out of the woods and into the fields what one commander called "a scene of unsurpassed grandeur."  This attack collapsed the Union right, forcing the defenders, including Rosecrans, to flee."

8. "Horseshoe Ridge and Snodgrass Hill - Union soldiers held the ridge throughout the afternoon, repulsing repeated Confederate assaults.  As darkness fell, one final assault revealed the remaining Union troops had slipped away to Chattanooga.  After three days of fighting, the Confederate Army of Tennessee was victorious." 

What a wonderful and interesting day.

On the way home we decided to try and find the Chattanooga Choo Choo.  It has now been turned into a hotel, and the train cars have been made into rooms.  We drove into town and found the location, but we couldn't actually see the train without paying to park in a multi story car park.  It was late and we were exhausted and so we passed.

We did manage to get this picture of the sign!!!

There is so much more we could do here but we have to leave tomorrow.  I'm sure that we will return one day, Chattanooga.  Until the next time.....