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

Military History of Chattanooga

Civil War History image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa July 1984

1. Civil War History

Inscription. This city was first occupied by Confederate troops in the spring of 1862 under Generals Floyd, Maxey and Leadbetter. Union troops under General Mitchell shelled it June 7 and 8. Bragg's Army occupied it in August preparing for the Kentucky campaign, again in the fall on its return from Kentucky, and in the summer of 1863 when retiring before Rosecrans from Middle Tennessee. Wilder shelled the city from Stringer's Ridge August 21. Bragg evacuated it Sept. 7 and 8, and a small Union force took possession. Rosecrans occupied it in force the second morning after the Battle of Chickamagua, and thereafter it remained in Union control. Thomas succeeded Rosecrans Oct. 19.

Grant took general command Oct. 23. A short line of supplies to Bridgeport by Brown's Ferry was opened Oct. 28, upon a plan devised by General Rosecrans. Hooker's forces arrived in Lookout Valley on that date and fought the Battle of Wauhatchie. Sherman's troops crossed the Tennessee above the city during the night of Nov. 23.

On that day the Army of the Cumberland carried Orchard Knob.

Nov. 24, Hooker's column captured the north slope of Lookout Mountain. On Nov. 25, Missionary Ridge, excepting Cleburne's position at Tunnel Hill and the intervening line to Walthall's Stand north of De Long's was carried by Grant's combined Armies, Bragg retreated to Dalton.

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Erected 1890 by the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Battlefield Commission. (Marker Number MT-4A.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1917.

Location. 35° 2.255′ N, 85° 18.398′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is in the Southside Historic District. It is on Market Street (State Highway 8). Chattanooga Union Station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 block of Market Street, Chattanooga TN 37402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 walking distance of this marker: Chattanooga, a City of Historical Significance (a few steps from this marker); Chattanooga's Railroads (a few steps from this marker); Terminal Station (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chattanooga Choo-Choo (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Chattanooga Choo-Choo (within shouting distance of this marker); Dedication of Rose Garden to all Veterans (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A point in the 2D Line of Works (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.

Other markers no longer nearby. Center of Fort Phelps (was about 800 feet away

Military History of Chattanooga Marker (refurbished) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 15, 2012

2. Military History of Chattanooga Marker (refurbished)

but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Center of Fort Phelps (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Point in the 2D Line of Works (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing); East Angle of Fort Phelps (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing); Southeast Angle of Fort Phelps (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Battle of Chattanooga. (Submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. Battle Above the Clouds. (Submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Military History of Chattanooga Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

3. Military History of Chattanooga Marker

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

4. Military History of Chattanooga Marker

View looking left of the historical marker, towards the former railroad station's passenger platform.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

5. Military History of Chattanooga Marker

View looking right of the historical marker.

Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 15, 2012

6. Military History of Chattanooga Marker

Marker in distance (yellow arrow)

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

7. Military History of Chattanooga Marker

View of the former Chattanooga Railway Station, where this historical marker is located, in the garden area of the now Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel.

Chattanooga Under Fire image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa July 1984

8. Chattanooga Under Fire

First Battle of Chattanooga, (June 7–June 8, 1862) minor artillery bombardment by Union Brig. Gen. James Negley against Confederate Maj. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith

View from atop Lookout Mountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, July 1984

9. View from atop Lookout Mountain

Nearby Lookout Mountain, with fog. "Battle above the clouds" fought here image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa July 1984

10. Nearby Lookout Mountain, with fog. "Battle above the clouds" fought here

-+-+-Second Battle of Chattanooga, (August 21, 1863), Union artillery bombardment that convinced Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg to evacuate the city -+-+- Third Battle of Chattanooga, (November 23–November 25, 1863) Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant defeated Braxton Bragg

Military History of Chattanooga image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 15, 2012

11. Military History of Chattanooga

Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Point Park atop Lookout Mountain and the Cravens House in the distance.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo is at the Former Terminal Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, circa July 1984

12. The Chattanooga Choo Choo is at the Former Terminal Station

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 27, 2017

13. Military History of Chattanooga Marker

View of page 4A 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 February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,772 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on March 18, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on September 16, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 22, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6. submitted on September 16, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 7. submitted on August 23, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 8, 9, 10. submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 11. submitted on September 16, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 12. submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 13. submitted on August 29, 2017, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.