Chattanooga

Updated 7/06/04

Western ACW Books

Chattanooga was the last straw when it came to retaining Bragg as Army commander. After the great victory at Chickamauga, the Rebels moved to the heights surrounding the town of Chattanooga, which was the current resting place for the Union Army. There the Confederates laid siege to the town and attempted to starve the Federals out. Lincoln and Halleck decided to save the Army of the Cumberland by sacking Rosecrans, appointing Thomas to succeed him, and by sending Grant and his victorious Army of the Tennessee to Chattanooga to help break the siege. More help was also on the way in the form of the Union XI and XII Corps, both under the command of Joe Hooker. This combination of two arnies and parts of a third resulted in some serious jealousy in the Union ranks. The Cumberland Army resented the fact that the administration had thought they needed help. The Tennessee Army made it known that they were superior to all others, and both Western armies made fun of the well-kept appearance of the Easterners. Bragg bumbled again and sent Longstreet northeast to besiege Burnside at Knoxville, ostensibly just to get rid of him because they hated each other. Also, as would soon be seen, the Rebel breastworks and troop positions on Missionary Ridge were faulty. To make a long story short, Hooker's men successfully stormed Lookout Mountain, for once the Army of the Tennessee stalled while attacking Cleburne's excellent Division on Tunnel Hill, and the Army of the Cumberland, without orders, stormed and took Missionary Ridge, completely routing the Southerners and negating any advantages they had accumulated after Chickamauga. As an aside, Longstreet also failed to take Knoxville.

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Chickamauga & Chattanooga: Battles for the Confederate Heartland (Civil War Regiments, Volume Seven, Number 1)

 

Various Authors
This is another of Savas' fine "Civil War Regiments" journals. As usual, it is in essay format, and the essays are very good. The sole Brigade of U.S. Regulars out west get their due, as do the 2nd Georgia Battalion of Sharpshooters. The Battles of Miisionary Ridge and Tunnel Hill are also examined in detail. NOTE: I've included this book in the Chattanooga section also. 184 pp., 11 maps

The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles For Chattanooga

Peter Cozzens

This is another great book by Peter Cozzens. He deals with the numerous feuds within the Union Army without taking sides and weaves a wonderful tale of a very improbable Union victory. Like his Chickamauga book, Cozzens has written the definitive book on another battle here. Buy this and you won't come away disappointed. 515 pp., 13 maps

Mountains Touched With Fire: Chattanooga Besieged, 1863

Wiley Sword
Wiley Sword is another good author. His books have all been very good, but I always seem to find one book that I like just a little better. Don't let that scare you away from this one though. The book is very well-written and the maps are also good. If you want more than one opinion on the campaign, make sure this is the second book on your list. 430 pp., 12 maps

Storming the Heights: A Guide to the Battle of Chattanooga

Matt Spruill

maps by Lowell Forbes

NEW 7/06/04 I just bought this book at Borders. It came shrinkwrapped and I had not read anything prior to buying it, so I took a chance. From my initial glance, I should enjoy this one. There are many, many maps, and an order of battle at the end. I will give you my further impressions after I have finished reading it. 341 pp., 40maps