Chattanooga, Tennessee

Pardon me boy,

Is that the Chattanooga Choo-choo? Track 29, boy you can give me a shine! (for those of you who remember the song)

It was in 1880 that the first passenger train leaving Cincinnati for Chattanooga was nicknamed "The Chattanooga Choo-Choo. This was the first major link in public transportation from the north to the south. The old train station is now a historic hotel.

Mom and dad stopped for lunch at the brewery across the street

before taking off to walk across the Tennessee river on the original Walnut Street  bridge, which is now a pedestrian bridge.

Looking back they 
could see the Hunter Museum of American Art  on the banks of the river.

And here I am

Just sitting up here enjoying the view of Chattanooga.

This is a city steeped in Civil War history. Mom decided to give me a history lesson so I could share it with you. We started the day at Lookout Mountain Battlefield and Point Park high above Chattanooga. 

This large monument at the center of the park is the New York Peace Memorial. Atop its shaft a Union and a Confederate soldier shake hands under one flag, signifying peace and brotherly love.

It was hard to imagine a battle being fought on this mountain.
From here we drove to Chickamauga Battlefield in Georgia. 

The Wilder Brigade Monument, honors Col. John Wilder and his brigade of mounted infantry. Armed with seven-shot Spencer repeating rifles, they poured a deadly fire into Confederate troops.

This cabin served as a field hospital after the battle.

On these hills and fields in the fall of 1863 the Union and Confederate armies clashed in some of the Civil War's hardest fighting.

The prize was Chattanooga, a key rail center and gateway to the heart of the Confederacy. The Confederates won the battle of Chickamauga, forcing Union troops to retreat into Chattanooga. This battle was the most significant Union defeat in the war. 

The Confederates pursued, occupying Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Placing artillery on heights overlooking the river, they blocked the roads and railroads preventing most Union supplies from entering the city. The Union army would either starve and surrender or abandon Chattanooga. 

However, Union troops found a shorter supply route and aided by heavy fog partially shrouding Lookout Mountain, they pushed the Confederates out in what was to be called the "Battle Above the Clouds". 

Now the Confederate army was concentrated on Missionary Ridge. The Union assault went quickly, scaling the heights of the Ridge in one of the war's greatest charge's. The Confederate line collapsed and began their retreat to Georgia. Although the war continued until May of 1865, this was considered to be the turning point.

We drove along the small road along Missionary Ridge. The road was full of steep curves and along the way were plaques and monuments.

Even several homes with the original cannons in their front yards.

So sad to think of all the lives lost here in these three battles. Union casualties were 21, 998 and Confederates
25, 621. 

What I found interesting is that these two National Military Parks were the model for most national and military parks to come. They were authorized by Congress in 1890 and most of the battlefields'  monuments and markers were placed by veterans of the battles. This is just a brief overview of these three battles, sure hope I got my facts straight.

Adios,
Yuki