based in Chattanooga, Tennessee led by Christopher L. Kolakowski
Chickamauga
& Chattanooga
- A Field and Walking Tour
October 8-10, 2009
Sprawling across parts of three states, the Chickamauga Campaign of August-September, 1863 culminated in the largest battle of the American Civil War’s Western Theater. Fresh from its almost bloodless triumph in the Tullahoma Campaign, Major General William S. Rosecrans’s Army of the Cumberland in late August crossed the Tennessee River and plunged into a wide-front advance that would ultimately force General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee out of Chattanooga. But Bragg was not beaten, and he gathered his now-reinforced army around Lafayette, Georgia for a series of counterstrokes. Failures by Bragg’s subordinates caused his plans to go astray and alerted Rosecrans to concentrate his scattered units. As the Federal concentration neared completion, Bragg struck again and precipitated the titanic Battle of Chickamauga on the evening of 18 September. After a two-day struggle, which cost a combined total of over 34,000 casualties, Rosecrans withdrew into Chattanooga. Bragg followed and the Siege of Chattanooga began.
From the last days of September through October 1863, Bragg’s army laid siege to the Union army at Chattanooga, cutting off its supplies. On October 17, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant received command of the Western armies. He moved to reinforce Chattanooga and replaced Rosecrans with Maj. Gen. George Thomas. A new supply line was soon established. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman arrived with his four divisions in mid-November, and the Federals began offensive operations. On November 23-24, Union forces struck out and captured Orchard Knob and Lookout Mountain. On November 25, Union soldiers assaulted and carried the seemingly impregnable Confederate position on Missionary Ridge. One of the Confederacy’s two major armies was routed. The Federals held Chattanooga, the “Gateway to the Lower South,” which became the supply and logistics base for Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign.
We will begin our tour of these pivotal campaigns on Thursday morning of our tour by following the two armies from the Tennessee River to the edge of what would become the Chickamauga battlefield. Special attention will be focused upon the operational aspects of the campaign, including its logistical underpinnings. We will assess in detail both Rosecrans’s plan and Bragg’s efforts to defeat the Federals. In the afternoon, we will arrive at Chickamauga National Military Park and begin our walking tour of the Battle of Chickamauga. We will continue on Friday with our comprehensive walking tour of the Battle of Chickamauga to the Confederate breakthrough of September 20, 1863 culminating on Snodgrass Hill. On Saturday, we will visit sites critical to the Siege of Chattanooga, including Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain
Join us for this three-day examination of the campaigns for Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Many of the sites we’ll visit are pristine, the fall foliage will be beautiful, and the history will be compelling.
About Our Tour Leader
Christopher L. Kolakowski is Chief Curator of the National Museum of the Army Reserve, located in McPherson, Georgia. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association and, before that, with the National Park Service and the Civil War Preservation Trust. He is the author of various articles on the Civil War, American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and both World Wars and is an experienced tour leader of the Civil War and American Revolution.
q Registration Fees (Lodging not Included):
q $ 445 before August 7 q $470 before September 7 q $495 after September 7
If You Must Cancel we will refund 100% of your fees paid within 30 days of your cancellation notice.
What is Included in your Registration Fee:
· the services of an expert historian chosen for his knowledge and experience
· transportation to sites as indicated
· Thursday, Friday & Saturday lunches
· refreshments and snacks during the tour
- map package
Thursday, October 8
8:00 AM Depart for tour of Chickamauga Campaign – Holiday Inn Express
5:30 PM Arrive Back at Holiday Inn Express
Friday, October 9
8:00 AM Depart for Chickamauga National Military Park & Continue Tour
5:30 PM Arrive Back at Holiday Inn Express
Saturday, October 10
8:00 AM Depart for Chattanooga & Begin Tour of the Siege of Chattanooga
4:30 PM Arrive Back at Holiday Inn Express
Base Location & Lodging: We will be based at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Chattanooga, 1441 N. Smith Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412 where we have reserved a block of rooms at the special nightly rate of $84.95 + tax – Single or Double. The hotel offers a complimentary hot breakfast daily to all hotel guests. To reserve a room under our block, call 423-308-0111 and identify yourself as a registrant for the CWEA tour. Notes: From Chattanooga Metro Airport (CHA) to the Holiday Inn Express, cab-fares are $16 one-way.
Directions:
· From I-75 N: use Exit 1-B, Turn right. After exiting ramp, travel 2 blocks.
- From I-75 S: use Exit 1, Turn right. After exiting ramp, travel 2 blocks.