Joseph Wheeler's Confederate cavalry intercepted and severely damaged a train of 800 wagons-burning hundreds of the wagons, and shooting or sabering hundreds of mules-at the start of his October 1863 Raid through Tennessee to sever Rosecrans's supply line. Heavy rains began to fall in late September, washing away long stretches of the mountain roads. The only supply line that was not controlled by the Confederates was a roundabout, tortuous course nearly 60 miles long over Walden's Ridge from Bridgeport, Alabama. Bragg's troops established themselves on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, both of which had excellent views of the city, the Tennessee River flowing through the city, and the Union's supply lines. Confederate General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee besieged the city, threatening to starve the Union forces into surrender. William Rosecrans retreated to Chattanooga. Joseph Hooker, the Union Army routed Bragg's army, which retreated to Dalton, Georgia, ending the siege of Union forces in Chattanooga, Tennessee.įurther information: Chattanooga CampaignĪfter their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga, the 40,000 men of the Union Army of the Cumberland under Maj. In combination with an advance from the southern end of the ridge by divisions under Maj. The Union advance was disorganized but effective finally overwhelming and scattering what ought to have been, as General Grant himself believed, an impregnable Confederate line. This second advance was taken up by the commanders on the spot, but also by some of the soldiers who, on their own, sought shelter from the fire further up the slope. The Union soldiers moved forward and quickly pushed the Confederates from the first line of rifle pits but were then subjected to a punishing fire from the Confederate lines up the ridge.Īt this point, the Union soldiers continued the attack against the remaining lines, seeking refuge near the crest of the ridge (the top line of rifle pits were sited on the actual crest rather than the military crest of the ridge, leaving blind spots). Thomas, to move forward and seize the Confederate line of rifle pits on the valley floor, and stop there to await further orders. He ordered the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Maj. In the afternoon, Grant was concerned that Bragg was reinforcing his right flank at Sherman's expense.
Sherman attempted to capture the northern end of Missionary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, but were stopped by fierce resistance from the Confederate divisions of Maj. In the morning, elements of the Army of the Tennessee commanded by Maj. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Gen. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War.
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