Park rangers and living historians will be stationed at various areas in Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park providing programs on the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga.
Confederate and Union forces exchange fire during the Battle of Chickamauga's 150th anniversary reenactment.Programs commemorating the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga run today through Sunday, Sept. 18-21, at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe.
Throughout the four days, visitors can participate in a variety of ranger-guided walks and tours exploring pivotal occurrences and actions that took place in 1863.
In addition, Eastern National Bookstore will present author Dr. Frank Varney from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Varney will be available to sign copies of his book, "General Grant and the Rewriting of History," and will present a 45-minute program in the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center both days at 1 p.m.
Also on Saturday and Sunday, park rangers and living historians will be stationed at various areas in the battlefield providing programs on the biggest battle ever fought in Georgia and, with 34,000 casualties, the second bloodiest engagement of the Civil War (after the Battle of Gettysburg, which recorded 51,000 casualties).
Although the deadly fighting may be most associated with the term "Chickamauga," families living in the area after the conflict knew the grounds as more than just a battlefield, according to historians. By 1864, Union soldiers poured through the area on their march to Atlanta, blue-clad soldiers revisited to remove their comrades' bodies to the newly opened cemetery in Chattanooga and locals tried to pick up the pieces left in the wake of battle, many times finding themselves at odds with "Confederate" guerrillas.
For a schedule of programs, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park webpage at www.nps.gov/chch.