• About the Medal of Honor and Ohio Recipients
• Design of the Medal of Honor
• For Conspicuous Gallantry: Stories of Ohio's Medal of Honor Recipients
• Related Sites

The Battle of Missionary Ridge

After their defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863, the Union’s Army of the Cumberland retreated to the city of Chattanooga to reorganize its troops. Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s indecisiveness in pursuing the Confederates' withdrawal to Chattanooga allowed the Union Army enough time to entrench itself and begin preparations to defend the city. When Bragg’s troops finally arrived at Lookout Mountain on September 23, they realized that the Union Army was not going to evacuate Chattanooga as previously been expected. If the Confederates did not attack immediately, the advantage won at Chickamauga would slip away, yet General Bragg decided not to attack.

The Army of the Cumberland then had the problem of defending Chattanooga. The realization that the city had limited supplies became the first challenge to overcome in the defense of the city. Confederate forces controlled the railways north of the city. The waters of the Tennessee River were too low to bring in supplies by boats. The Union Army would be forced to bring in all supplies by wagon train. Adding to the problem, Chattanooga was surrounded by mountains on all sides.

The areas surrounding Chattanooga were too widespread for the Union forces to protect, which allowed Confederate cavalry forces to attack the wagon trains headed to the city on October 2. It was another blow to the already rapidly dwindling supplies. For the next two weeks, the Chattanooga area was deluged with rain, making passage into the city almost impossible. A decision had to be made. Would the Army of the Cumberland stay and starve or retreat from the city? The decision to defend Chattanooga at all costs was made.

Unsatisfied with Major General William S. Rosecrans’ performance at the Battle of Chickamauga, the War Department relieved him of command of the Army of the Cumberland on October 20. The command was assigned to Major General George H. Thomas. At the same time, Major General Ulysses S. Grant assumed command of the new Military Division of the Mississippi.

On October 23, General Grant arrived in Chattanooga. A plan was immediately developed to supply the city. Establishing a beachhead on Brown’s Ferry on October 26, the Union troops used the position to land the steamboat Chattanooga, which was full of supplies, three days later. Finally, the siege of Chattanooga was relieved.

Instead of attacking Chattanooga, Bragg made the decision to attack Knoxville with part of his command. The administration in Washington ordered Grant to send troops to Major General Ambrose Burnside in Knoxville. Instead complying with the order from the capital, Grant decided to go on the offensive. Grant anticipated that by attacking Bragg he would be forced to send for reinforcements from Knoxville thus saving Burnside. Major General William T. Sherman arrived in mid-November with four divisions to support the offensive operations.

Lookout from the Union works on Chattanooga Creek. From Harper's Weekly, v.7, 1863, p. 724.

On November 23, Thomas’s troops attacked the Confederate forces in Lookout Valley and drove them back to the base of Missionary Ridge. In the offensive surge, Orchard Knob was also captured. The next morning Union forces under Major General Joseph Hooker captured Lookout Mountain.

On November 25, Hooker’s troops came down from Lookout Mountain and assumed the right flank by Thomas’ troops. Attacking from Thomas’ left flank, Sherman’s troops started the battle. The target was the seemingly impregnable Confederate stronghold on Missionary Ridge.

Having limited success attacking the Confederates from the left flank, Grant hoped that by attacking the center with Thomas’ troops, Bragg would be forced to send for reinforcements from his flanks. From his position on top of Orchard Knob, Grant ordered Thomas’ troops to charge the rifle pits at the base of Missionary Ridge and hold their position.

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  Bibliography