Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to attend a one-hour special program at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 that will discuss General William T. Sherman’s capture of Atlanta. Visitors should meet at Sherman Reservation, located near the intersection of North Crest Road and Lightfoot Mill Road on Missionary Ridge.
“So Atlanta is ours and fairly won” was the announcement sent by General William T. Sherman to Washington officials on Sept. 3, 1864. Sherman’s victory ended a four-month campaign of maneuvers and battles through northwest Georgia. Less than ten months before Atlanta fell this confident, victorious general stumbled at the north end of Missionary Ridge and failed to carry the ridge as General Ulysses S.
Grant had anticipated. Instead of becoming the hero at Missionary Ridge, Sherman was the goat at Chattanooga. What did it take for the loser at Missionary Ridge to become the victor of Atlanta less than a year later? This program will focus on the factors that contributed to Sherman’s defeat at Missionary Ridge and the lessons learned there that permitted him to become the victorious General at Atlanta.
Comfortable footwear, portable chairs, and water are recommended for this program.
For more information, contact the National Park Service, Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/chch.