The 150th anniversary of the Civil War, particularly the celebration around Chattanooga to be observed in the next few weeks, is not just about Chattanooga, said Jim Ogden, head ranger of the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, when he spoke to the dinner meeting of the Signal Mountain Lions Club Tuesday evening. The six-month period for the latter part of 1863 is part of the four years of the Civil War, but it was a really important part of the story.
Mr.
Ogden, a gifted narrator, told in detail about the part Signal Mountain and Walden's Ridge had in the battles for Chattanooga and Chickamauga. "Where we are sitting tonight was the front line of the war 150 years ago tonight." The oncoming Union forces covered a wide area from Huntsville to about Pikeville and then came over the mountain to Chattanooga, much of it through Sequatchie Valley and across Walden's Ridge.
Mr. Ogden then talked about the various programs that will be going on from now through November. He called special attention to 150th anniversary events at the Chickamauga battlefield Sept. 14-15, which will provide information as a preview for the special programs at the battlefield on the actual dates of Sept. 21-22.
Information provided by Mr. Ogden included a map of the battlefield and a park newsletter, "The Battlefield Dispatch." Copies of these publications are available at park headquarters. The Dispatch gives an outline of the programs. For program information contact Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, P.O. Box 2128, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742, 706/866-9241.