Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Army of the Tennessee

Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman.

— November 24 - 25, 1863. —

Army of the Tennessee Marker image. Click for full size.

By Dale K. Benington, July 17, 2012

1. Army of the Tennessee Marker

View of the text on the first tablet.

Inscription.

Army of the Tennessee. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman.. [Text on the 1st Tablet]: Army of the Tennessee Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman. November 24 - 25, 1863. 1st Division, 15th Corps. Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus. 2nd Division, 15th Corps. Brig. Gen. Morgan L. Smith. 4th Division, 15th Corps. Brig. Gen. Hugh Ewing. 2nd Division, 17th Corps. Brig. Gen. John E. Smith.. General Sherman's forces, excepting Osterhaus' Division, which engaged with Hooker at Lookout Mountain and Rossville, crossed the Tennessee northwest of this point early in the morning of the 24th. In the afternoon, supported by Davis' Division of the Fourteenth Corps. and Buschbeck's Brigade of the Eleventh Corps. the column advanced and took possession of the north end of the ridge without opposition. Early on the 25th the rest of the Eleventh Corps reported to General Sherman, and was marched to Boyces Station. [Text on the 2nd Tablet]: Army of the Tennessee. (continued.). Sherman's position on the ridge is now known as Sherman Heights, and that of the Confederates as Tunnel Hill, the two being separated by a deep gorge about 750 yards across. Sherman's attack began about 10 A.M. by a part of Lightburn's Brigade advancing across the gorge and effecting a lodgment in the breastworks on the north end of Tunnel Hill, which had been abandoned early in the morning, from which, supported by Corse's Brigade on its right, it made it made several unsuccessful assaults upon the Confederate line. Loomis' Brigade was on Corse's right, with Buschbeck's Brigade supporting. Toward 2 o'clock the 27th Pennsylvania, and one company of the 73rd of Buschbeck's Brigade, followed by Matthies' Brigade, assaulted the slope between Tunnel Hill and the north point. They reached the crest where they were soon joined by the front line of Raum's Brigade, but after severe fighting were forced to withdraw. Giles A. Smith's Brigade operated on the left spur of the ridge, but did not become engaged. Alexander's and Cockerill's Brigades were left in position on Sherman Heights. The Confederate forces opposing General Sherman, were posted around the high point of Tunnel Hill, and thence south along the crest to the high ground south of the tunnel. . This historical marker was erected in 1890 by the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Battlefield Commission. It is in Chattanooga in Hamilton County Tennessee

[Text on the 1st Tablet]:

Army of the Tennessee
Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman.
November 24 - 25, 1863.
1st Division, 15th Corps. Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus.
2nd Division, 15th Corps. Brig. Gen. Morgan L. Smith.
4th Division, 15th Corps. Brig. Gen. Hugh Ewing.
2nd Division, 17th Corps. Brig. Gen. John E. Smith.
General Sherman's forces, excepting Osterhaus' Division, which engaged with Hooker at Lookout Mountain and Rossville, crossed the Tennessee northwest of this point early in the morning of the 24th. In the afternoon, supported by Davis' Division of the Fourteenth Corps. and Buschbeck's Brigade of the Eleventh Corps. the column advanced and took possession of the north end of the ridge without opposition. Early on the 25th the rest of the Eleventh Corps reported to General Sherman, and was marched to Boyces Station.

[Text on the 2nd Tablet]:

Army of the Tennessee. (continued.) Sherman's position on the ridge is now known as Sherman Heights, and that of the

By Dale K. Benington, July 17, 2012

2. Army of the Tennessee Marker

View of the text on the second tablet.

Confederates as Tunnel Hill, the two being separated by a deep gorge about 750 yards across. Sherman's attack began about 10 A.M. by a part of Lightburn's Brigade advancing across the gorge and effecting a lodgment in the breastworks on the north end of Tunnel Hill, which had been abandoned early in the morning, from which, supported by Corse's Brigade on its right, it made it made several unsuccessful assaults upon the Confederate line. Loomis' Brigade was on Corse's right, with Buschbeck's Brigade supporting. Toward 2 o'clock the 27th Pennsylvania, and one company of the 73rd of Buschbeck's Brigade, followed by Matthies' Brigade, assaulted the slope between Tunnel Hill and the north point. They reached the crest where they were soon joined by the front line of Raum's Brigade, but after severe fighting were forced to withdraw. Giles A. Smith's Brigade operated on the left spur of the ridge, but did not become engaged. Alexander's and Cockerill's Brigades were left in position on Sherman Heights.

The Confederate forces opposing General Sherman, were posted around the high point of Tunnel Hill, and thence south along the crest to the high ground south of the tunnel.

Erected 1890 by the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Battlefield Commission. (Marker Number MT-68 & 69.)

Topics and series. This historical marker

By Dale K. Benington, July 17, 2012

3. Army of the Tennessee Marker

View of the historic markers situated along the western edge of the clearing, just north of the 55th Illinois Monument.

is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Sherman Reservation, and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park: November 25, 1863 series lists.

Location. 35° 4.287′ N, 85° 14.357′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. Marker can be reached from North Crest Road near Lightfoot Mill Road. This historic marker is located in the Sherman Reservation, up on the hill called the "Sherman Heights," and is situated northwest of the Iowa monument, near the top of the hill. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chattanooga TN 37404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 55th Illinois Infantry (here, next to this marker); 53rd Ohio Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 70th Ohio Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 6th U.S. Missouri Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Cockerill's Brigade (a few steps from this marker); 8th U.S. Missouri Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Earthworks (a few steps from this marker); Ewing's Division (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.

More about this marker. Because of its location in the Sherman Reservation it cannot be reached by car and can only be reached by foot. I would suggest parking your car in the provided parking area on Lightfoot Mill Road and then walking north on North Crest Road. You will reach a spot on this road where there is a locked gate barring further vehicle traffic on the road, but not foot traffic. Continue to walk all the way to the end of North Crest Road. Once there you will see a pathway that goes from the end of the road to the center of the gorge that separates "Tunnel Hill" to your south and "Sherman Heights" to your north. This historic marker is to the north on "Sherman Heights."

Regarding Army of the Tennessee.

By Dale K. Benington, July 17, 2012

4. Army of the Tennessee Marker

Another view, looking from the east towards the west, of the historic markers situated along the western edge of the clearing, just north of the 55th Illinois Monument.

While this tablet identifies both the location and role played during the military action of the Army of Tennessee, as well as listing the divisional units that make up this army, none of the listed divisions, except for Osterhaus' Division, have individual markers and/or tablets for the park visitor to view (according to the NPS staff, none were ever made). So the brigades for the Morgan L. Smith Division and the John E. Smith Division have been listed on the "related marker list," along with a D/L Marker for Ewing's Division.

In response to a request for location information on these particular division tablets, the staff of the NPS stated, "As with John E. Smith's Division ...., there does not appear as if there ever were division cast iron tablets for Morgan L. Smith's or Hugh Ewing's divisions."

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Use this link to see the related Division tablets for the Army of the Tennessee.

Also see . . .
1. Army of the Tennessee. This is a link to information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Submitted on August 9, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Army of the Tennessee. (Submitted on August 9, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

By Dale K. Benington, July 17, 2012

5. Army of the Tennessee Marker

Another, more distant view of the historic markers situated along the western edge of the clearing, just north of the 55th Illinois Monument.

By Dale K. Benington, July 27, 2017

6. Army of the Tennessee Marker

View of page 68 from the National Park Service’s record book on the Chattanooga - Chickamauga ”MT-numbered” listings of classified structures, which is kept in the Chickamauga Battlefield Park's Visitor Center.

By Dale K. Benington, July 27, 2017

7. Army of the Tennessee Marker

View of page 69 from the National Park Service’s record book on the Chattanooga - Chickamauga ”MT-numbered” listings of classified structures, which is kept in the Chickamauga Battlefield Park's Visitor Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 9, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6, 7. submitted on September 29, 2017, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.