The Fall Of Chattanooga Civil War America: A Turning Point in History

The Battle of Chattanooga, fought during the American Civil War, was a significant turning point in the conflict that ultimately shaped the outcome of the war. This article dives into the historical context, the key players, and the dramatic events that led to the fall of Chattanooga, forever altering the course of the nation.

The Historical Context

By the fall of 1863, the Civil War had been raging for over two years. The Confederate Army, led by General Braxton Bragg, had managed to control Chattanooga, a strategically important city in Tennessee. Chattanooga was considered the gateway to the Deep South, and its fall would open up crucial supply routes to Union forces in the region.

River of Death--The Chickamauga Campaign: Volume 1: The Fall of Chattanooga (Civil War America)

by William Glenn Robertson (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14293 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	696 pages

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The Key Players

Union Forces

The Union Army, under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant, had its eye on Chattanooga as a crucial objective. Grant, known for his tenacity and strategic brilliance, understood the importance of securing the city to gain a significant advantage in the war. His forces were determined to break the Confederate hold on Chattanooga.

Confederate Forces

General Braxton Bragg commanded the Confederate forces defending Chattanooga. Despite being in a strong defensive position, Bragg faced numerous challenges, including dissension within his ranks and inadequate supplies. His ability to hold onto the city was crucial to the South's hopes of maintaining control of the region.

The Battle Begins

In late November 1863, General Grant launched a two-pronged attack on Chattanooga. He sent General William Tecumseh Sherman to attack the Confederate left flank while he personally led an assault on their right flank. The Battle of Lookout Mountain, fought on November 24, and the Battle of Missionary Ridge, fought on November 25, marked the beginning of a series of bloody clashes that would culminate in the fall of Chattanooga.

The Siege

Following the Union victories at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, the Confederate forces were forced to retreat into Chattanooga, where they found themselves besieged by the Union Army. Cut off from vital supplies, the situation for the Confederates became dire. General Grant's relentless attacks pushed Bragg's forces to the brink of collapse.

The Turning Point

The turning point of the battle came with an unexpected move by Union forces. On November 24, in a daring night raid, Union soldiers captured control of the strategically significant Orchard Knob. This unexpected coup gave the Union Army a crucial foothold and placed them in a commanding position to further advance on the city.

The Confederate Retreat

Facing overwhelming odds and with their supplies running dangerously low, Bragg's Confederate forces were left with no choice but to abandon Chattanooga. In a massive retreat, the Confederate Army withdrew from the city on November 26, 1863, effectively handing over Chattanooga to Union control.

The Aftermath

The fall of Chattanooga had far-reaching consequences for the Confederacy. The loss of the city meant losing control over critical transportation routes into the Deep South, severely hampering their military efforts. Additionally, it boosted Union morale and confidence, paving the way for future successes in the war.

In

The fall of Chattanooga was a pivotal moment in the Civil War. Through the brilliant leadership of General Grant and the Union forces' relentless determination, the Confederate hold on the strategically vital city was broken. With Chattanooga in Union hands, the course of the war shifted, ultimately leading to the South's defeat and the preservation of the United States as one nation.

River of Death--The Chickamauga Campaign: Volume 1: The Fall of Chattanooga (Civil War America)

by William Glenn Robertson (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14293 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	696 pages

FREE

The Battle of Chickamauga was the third bloodiest of the American Civil War and the only major Confederate victory in the conflict's western theater. It pitted Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee against William S. Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland and resulted in more than 34,500 casualties. In this first volume of an authoritative two-volume history of the Chickamauga Campaign, William Glenn Robertson provides a richly detailed narrative of military operations in southeastern and eastern Tennessee as two armies prepared to meet along the "River of Death." Robertson tracks the two opposing armies from July 1863 through Bragg's strategic decision to abandon Chattanooga on September 9. Drawing on all relevant primary and secondary sources, Robertson devotes special attention to the personalities and thinking of the opposing generals and their staffs. He also sheds new light on the role of railroads on operations in these landlocked battlegrounds, as well as the intelligence gathered and used by both sides.

Delving deep into the strategic machinations, maneuvers, and smaller clashes that led to the bloody events of September 19@–20, 1863, Robertson reveals that the road to Chickamauga was as consequential as the unfolding of the battle itself.