November 23-25, 1863

On November 23rd, Union forces under Thomas, struck out and advanced east to capture a line from Orchard Knob to Bushy Knob, placing them 1/2 way to the summit of Missionary Ridge. The advance was made in broad daylight and met little resistance from the Confederates. Bragg moved Walker's division from Lookout Mountain to strengthen his right flank. The plan for November 24th was a two-pronged attack. Hooker against the Confederate left, and Sherman against the right. Hooker's 3 divisions struck at dawn at Lookout Mountain and found that the defile between the mountain and the river was not secured. They barreled right through this opening. The assault ended around 3 pm when the ammunition ran low and fog had enveloped the mountain. This action has been called the "Battle Above The Clouds" due to the fog. Bragg withdrew his forces from the southern end of the mountain to a line behind Chattanooga Creek, burning the bridges behind him. Sherman crossed the Tennessee River successfully, but his assault was then delayed and the division of Patrick Cleburne was rushed in to reinforce the Confederate right flank. No attack would ever occur on this flank today. On November 25th, Grant changed his plan and called for a double envelopment by Hooker and Sherman. Thomas was to advance after Sherman reached Missionary Ridge from the north. The Ridge was a formidable defensive position, manned in depth, and Grant knew a frontal assault would be suicidal, unless it could be arranged in support of the flanking attacks by Sherman and Hooker. As the morning progressed, Sherman was unable to break Cleburne's line and Hooker's advance was slowed by the burned bridges on the creek. At 3:30 pm, Grant was concerned that Bragg was reinforcing his right flank at Sherman's expense. Therefore, he ordered Thomas to move forward and try to seize the first of three lines of Confederate entrenchments to his front. The Union soldiers moved forward and captured the first line, but were subjected to punishing fire from the two remaining Confederate lines up the ridge. Without orders, the Union soldiers continued the attack against the remaining lines. The Union soldiers dashed madly up the ridge, shouting "Chickamauga! Chickamauga!" until they finally overwhelmed and captured the remaining Confederate lines. Bragg had misplaced his artillery on the crest of the ridge, rather than the military crest, and it was unable to provide effective fire. Nonetheless, the Army of the Cumberland's ascent of Missionary Ridge was one of the War's most dramatic events. Initially, Grant was furious that his orders hadn't been followed exactly. Thomas was taken by surprise as well, knowing his head would be on the chopping block if the assault failed. But it was successful. By 4:30 pm, Bragg's troops had broken and fled in panic. One of the Confederacy's two major armies routed. The Union held Chattanooga, the "Gateway to the Lower South." It became the supply and logistics base for for Sherman's 1864 Atlanta Campaign, and Grant had one this final battle in the West prior to receiving command of all Union armies in March of 1864.