The Battle Above the Clouds

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Remember that beautiful scenery I posted earlier? That was from the Chattanooga part of the Chickamunga and Chattanooga National Battlefiled. It’s perched high atop the city of Chattanooga, offering stunning views today. In 1863, however, it was one of the last gasp battles of the Confederate army to hold Chattanooga. Thinking their post on Lookout Mountain was secure thanks to the steep mountain as a natural barrier, the Confederates weren’t too concerned about a possible attack. The Union, however, looking to avenge its humiliating retreat at Chickamunga, climbed up the side of the mountain like goats, surprising the Rebels. Worse, the Confederates couldn’t shoot their cannons (on display at the battlefield) because the cannonballs would have gone right over the heads of the attacking army, thanks to the steep slope of the mountain. The advancing Union army was aided by fog, giving the battle the nickname “the battle above the clouds.” The Rebels let the Union take Lookout Mountain. The next day, at Missionary Ridge, the battle for Chattanooga was over. Today the site of the battle is a gorgeous park, with the scenery being the only thing capturing anyone. The two photos show plaques listing the casualties on both sides (the National Park Service uses blue for the Union and red for the Confederacy throughout the Civil War battlefields), and the view showing both the modern beauty and the daunting task of climbing the mountain to get to the top and defeat the army.