Lookout Mountain, a towering peak on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is etched in history as the site of a dramatic Civil War battle fought on November 24, 1863. Known as "The Battle Above the Clouds," this engagement marked a turning point in the war‘s Western Theater and helped secure a decisive Union victory in the Chattanooga Campaign. Join us as we explore the strategic importance, key figures, and enduring legacy of this legendary mountaintop struggle.
Chattanooga: The Gateway to the Deep South
By the fall of 1863, the bustling city of Chattanooga had become a vital strategic prize for both the Union and the Confederacy. Situated on the banks of the Tennessee River and surrounded by towering mountains, Chattanooga was a major railroad junction, with lines connecting the Eastern and Western Theaters of the war. As historian James McPherson notes, "Chattanooga was the gateway to the Deep South, the buckle of the Confederacy‘s belt."[^1]
The Union recognized that capturing Chattanooga would open the door for an invasion of Georgia and the heart of the Confederacy. As General Ulysses S. Grant wrote, "The capture of Chattanooga would cut the South in two, and would be decisive of the war."[^2] The Confederates, led by General Braxton Bragg, were equally determined to hold the city and prevent this catastrophic split.
The Armies Gather
In September 1863, the Union Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Major General William Rosecrans, captured Chattanooga after a series of brilliant maneuvers. However, Rosecrans was soon outflanked and defeated by Bragg‘s Confederate Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Chickamauga, forcing the Federals to retreat back to Chattanooga. Bragg seized the high ground surrounding the city, including Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, placing the Union troops under siege.[^3]
Recognizing the dire situation, President Abraham Lincoln ordered Major General Ulysses S. Grant to take command of all Union forces in the West and lift the siege of Chattanooga. Grant wasted no time, immediately ordering reinforcements to the beleaguered city, including the 11th and 12th Corps from the Army of the Potomac in Virginia.[^4]
The Battle of Lookout Mountain
On November 24, 1863, Grant launched his offensive to break the Confederate stranglehold on Chattanooga. While Major General William T. Sherman attacked the northern end of Missionary Ridge, Major General Joseph Hooker was tasked with driving the Confederates off Lookout Mountain.
Hooker‘s force, consisting of over 10,000 men from the 11th and 12th Corps, as well as divisions from the Army of the Cumberland, began their assault in the early morning hours.[^5] The Confederates, numbering around 1,200 men under the command of Major General Carter L. Stevenson, had fortified the mountain with earthworks and rifle pits, hoping to use the rugged terrain to their advantage.[^6]
As the Union troops advanced up the mountain, a dense fog settled over the slopes, obscuring the battlefield and giving the engagement its famous nickname, "The Battle Above the Clouds." Union Private Osborn Oldroyd described the surreal scene: "We were enveloped in a misty veil, which settled down between us and the enemy, hiding both armies from view."[^7]
Despite the challenging conditions, Hooker‘s men gained ground steadily throughout the morning. The fog initially concealed their movements, allowing them to surprise the Confederate pickets and advance up the slopes. By noon, the Federals had driven the Rebels from their lower defensive positions and were closing in on the Cravens House, a key Confederate stronghold on the mountain‘s northern end.[^8]
The fighting intensified as the Union troops neared the Cravens House. Confederate Brigadier General John K. Jackson, in his official report, described the fierce encounter: "The enemy, in heavy force, attacked my position, advancing in three parallel lines up the mountain. […] My command fought gallantly, repeatedly repulsing the enemy, until the ammunition was nearly exhausted."[^9]
By late afternoon, with their ammunition running low and faced with overwhelming Union numbers, the Confederates were forced to abandon their positions on Lookout Mountain. As the fog lifted, the victorious Federals unfurled the Stars and Stripes from the mountain‘s summit, a sight that boosted Union morale and signaled a major turning point in the battle for Chattanooga.[^10]
The Aftermath and Legacy
The Union victory at Lookout Mountain, combined with Sherman‘s success on Missionary Ridge the following day, lifted the siege of Chattanooga and sent Bragg‘s defeated army into retreat. The Confederates suffered over 6,600 casualties in the Chattanooga Campaign, while the Union lost around 5,800 men.[^11]
The capture of Chattanooga opened the gateway to the Deep South for the Union, setting the stage for Sherman‘s Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea in 1864. As Grant later wrote, "The battle of Lookout Mountain […] will ever be memorable in the annals of warfare. It was the grandest of spectacles, and was witnessed by thousands of admiring eyes from the plains below."[^12]
Today, Lookout Mountain Battlefield is preserved as part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in this pivotal engagement. Visitors can explore the mountain‘s trails, monuments, and scenic overlooks, walking in the footsteps of the Union and Confederate troops who clashed in the clouds over 150 years ago.
The Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center, located at the top of the mountain, features exhibits on the battle‘s history and significance, as well as the famous painting "The Battle Above the Clouds" by James Walker. The 13‘ x 30‘ canvas, completed in 1874, vividly depicts the drama and intensity of the fighting on the mountain‘s slopes.[^13]
Visitors can also explore Point Park, a 10-acre memorial park on the mountain‘s summit that offers stunning panoramic views of Chattanooga and the surrounding area. The park features numerous monuments, including the New York Peace Memorial, which commemorates the reconciliation between Union and Confederate veterans at the 1913 Battle of Chattanooga 50th Anniversary Reunion.[^14]
In addition to its historical significance, Lookout Mountain offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The mountain‘s extensive trail system, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, provides hikers and nature enthusiasts with miles of scenic paths to explore, ranging from gentle walks to strenuous climbs.[^15]
The legacy of the Battle of Lookout Mountain endures not only in the physical landscape and monuments but also in the hearts and minds of those who continue to study and honor the sacrifices made by the soldiers who fought there. As we reflect on this pivotal moment in American history, we are reminded of the courage, determination, and resilience that defined both the Union and Confederate troops who clashed above the clouds on that fateful November day in 1863.
[^2]: Ulysses S. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, Vol. 2 (New York: Charles L. Webster & Company, 1886), 25.
[^3]: Peter Cozzens, The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles for Chattanooga (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994), 81-82.
[^4]: Ibid., 141-142.
[^5]: Ibid., 207.
[^6]: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 31, Part 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1890), 191.
[^7]: Osborn H. Oldroyd, A Soldier‘s Story of the Siege of Vicksburg (Springfield, IL: H.W. Rokker, 1885), 187.
[^8]: Cozzens, The Shipwreck of Their Hopes, 209-210.
[^9]: Official Records, Series I, Vol. 31, Part 2, 191-192.
[^10]: Cozzens, The Shipwreck of Their Hopes, 213-214.
[^11]: Ibid., 393.
[^12]: Grant, Personal Memoirs, Vol. 2, 83.
[^13]: James Walker, The Battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863, 1874, Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center, Chattanooga, TN.
[^14]: "Point Park," National Park Service, accessed April 15, 2023, https://www.nps.gov/chch/learn/historyculture/point-park.htm.
[^15]: "Hiking," National Park Service, accessed April 15, 2023, https://www.nps.gov/chch/planyourvisit/hiking.htm.
