Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invite the public to three history programs scheduled Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19.
* "Because Of Them, We Won the War": A one-mile hike will depart the battlefield's Visitor Center at 10 a.m. Saturday to explore the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and its relationship to Chickamauga Battlefield.
During the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War I, women primarily served as nurses, yet some found themselves in combat situations. As World War II began, women wanted to do more than their predecessors. Chickamauga Battlefield played a major role in the involvement of thousands of women in the war effort.
* Reconsidering Braxton Bragg: Meet at the Visitor Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday for a one-hour program marking the 200th anniversary of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's birth. Participants will car caravan to Bragg's headquarters, for a discussion on Bragg's legacy.
For more than a century after the Civil War, Bragg was viewed as a commander who often quarreled with fellow officers and, at one time, even himself. He became a "poster boy" for why the South lost the war on the battlefield.
However, he was a superior organizer and the only general to invade northern territory while commanding the Army of the Mississippi (Army of Tennessee) during the Civil War. Visitors are encouraged to learn a different perspective on the Confederate general who commanded the Army of Tennessee at Chickamauga.
* Crossroads of Commerce: Highways and Waterways Converge on Moccasin Bend: A 1.2-mile walking tour focusing on the history of trade and commerce around Moccasin Bend will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. This program will take place along the Brown's Ferry Federal Road Trace on Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.
For thousands of years, the waterways around Chattanooga have been a vital means of transporting goods and people. Over time, American Indian groups, including the Cherokee, developed a series of roadways throughout the region. These roads became part of the federal road system that facilitated the nation's economic growth in the early 19th century.
In the mid-20th century, the construction of Interstate 24 placed Moccasin Bend at the center of national trade and commerce. Join rangers on the Brown's Ferry Federal Road Trace to examine how the unique geography of Chattanooga affected the movement of people and goods around Moccasin Bend, and how waterways and highways shaped the geography of Moccasin Bend.
Look for and follow the "Special Program" signs beginning on Manufacturers Road, west of Highway 27.
For all events, guests are reminded to wear comfortable shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. Bring water, portable chairs and bug spray.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, call 706-866-9241.