September 25, 2013

September 25, 2013

The rain caught up to us again. It rained all night. Not a good thing for an outdoor park. We drive the couple miles to nearby Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This is both the oldest and the largest battlefield park. It was preserved in 1890 six years before the more famous Gettysburg.

Since it is raining, we spend the first half of the morning watching the excellent movie and perusing the exhibits. Chattanooga with its railroad hub was a prize that the Union coveted. The Rebels pulled out all the stops to save it. General Rosecrans led the Army of the Cumberland from Nashville beautifully up to doorstep of Chattanooga. He then brilliantly flanked the Confederate general who gave up the city without a fight. Rosecrans was hot.

Unfortunately his opposition didn’t give up. Seeing Rosecrans stretched thin, the Rebels received timely reinforcement and attacked him here along Chickamauga Creek south of town. Rosecrans was prepared and would have repelled the attack but he made an unlucky error and left a hole in his line, which the Rebels walked right through. The Union Army could have been wiped out but for a stubborn Union officer and a bunch of new Spencer Repeating rifles that allowed an orderly retreat. In war, glory and success is fleeting and fickle. A hero is the man who beats the odds the longest.

Rosecrans was relieved of command and replaced with Grant. Grant had his work cut out for him. Chattanooga is surrounded by steep hills that gave the Rebels great defensive positions. Under his leadership, the Union rolled ahead easily. Now the road to Atlanta was wide open.

Last week was the 150th anniversary of Chickamauga and it was completely packed. Today we only have to share it with a dozen others. The rain has stopped so we spend the rest of the morning driving around the Chickamauga battlefield. Like Gettysburg, it is full of memorials. I would love to now head to the second part of the park atop nearby Lookout Mountain but with the rain, this tall hill is in the clouds. Instead we drive into Chattanooga along Missionary Ridge. It is here that Grant defied the odds, and took the high ground. The Ridge is now lined with expensive houses alternated with War memorials. The terrain falls steeply away. Maybe that was Grant’s luck. It was too steep and wooded to make defensive artillery very useful.

We decide to quit early and return to the same campground as last night. I am crossing my fingers we get clear skies tomorrow.