Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Civil War River Crossing
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
1. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Around midnight on November 23, 1863, Union troops boarded the pontoon boats moored in North Chickamauga Creek. After entering the Tennessee River, part of the flotilla moved silently downstream and landed just north of the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek, the other pontoons landing south of the creek. The Federals quickly rounded up surprised Confederate pickets who had failed to raise the alarm. Within a short time, the Union
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Throughout the predawn hours of November 24, oarsmen hastily plied their boats back and forth across the Tennessee River. At the same time, engineers began work on the pontoon bridge that would span the river. The completion of this bridge around noon on November 24, along with the arrival at the crossing site of the side-wheeler Dunbar, greatly facilitated the passage of Sherman's troops, horses, and cannon. This uncontested crossing of the Tennessee River put the Union troops in a highly advantageous position on November 24, near the right flank of Bragg's army.
The bridge's southern terminus was in the vicinity of the large grain silos. A short distance east of the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek was the location of another Union pontoon bridge.
Erected by The Tennessee Riverpark Master Plan.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1901.
Location. 35° 5.389′ N, 85° 16.037′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It can be reached from Lost
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
2. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Close-up view of the text on the historical marker.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Roxbury Indian Mound (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chickamauga Mound (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chattanooga Golf and Country Club (approx. 1.8 miles away); Sherman's Hideout
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
3. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Close-up view of the photograph of a Union pontoon bridge that is displayed on the historical marker.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
4. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Close-up view of the photograph of a Union pontoon boat, crossing a river, that is displayed on the historical marker.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
5. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Close-up view of the photographs of the Union generals Grant and Sherman, that is displayed on the historical marker.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
6. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Close-up view of the topographical map, showing the Union crossing of the Tennessee River, that is displayed on the historical marker.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
7. Civil War River Crossing Marker
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
8. Civil War River Crossing
View of the end of the Riverpark walking path, situated just below the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek, on the southern side of the Tennessee River. Also a distant view of the north side of the Tennessee River, where the north end of the Federal pontoon bridge was situated.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
9. Civil War River Crossing
View of Blue and Gray Education Society, tour group, being educated by Jim Ogden, of the National Park Service, about the Union crossing of the Tennessee River in this area.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
10. Civil War River Crossing
View of the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek, where it empties into the Tennessee River.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
11. Civil War River Crossing
View looking upstream on the Tennessee River, towards the mouth of North Chickamauga Creek, where the Federal landing operations originated from.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
12. Civil War River Crossing
View of Jim Ogden, of the National Park Service, holding up a drawing of the Union pontoon bridge, which crossed the Tennessee River from the area seen in the picture, directly across the river.
Photographed by Dale K. Benington, December 6, 2013
13. Civil War River Crossing
View from the north side of the Tennessee River, looking across the river to the south side, of about where the Union pontoon bridge, crossed the Tennessee River.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,093 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on December 10, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
