The staff and volunteers of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will commemorate the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga with a series of ranger-guided tours, hikes, lectures and living-history demonstrations beginning Friday, Sept. 13, through Sunday, Sept. 22.
Beginning Sept. 18, 1863, Union and Confederate forces clashed along the banks of West Chickamauga Creek. At stake was the transportation hub of Chattanooga. For three days the armies struggled through the woods and fields, leaving behind the broken dreams and lives of thousands of young men cut down in the prime of life. Despite the Confederate victory at Chickamauga, the Union Army regrouped in Chattanooga, where a Union victory marked the "Death Knell of the Confederacy."
Following is the schedule through Wednesday, Sept. 18; the remainder will appear in the Thursday, Sept. 19, edition of Chattanooga Now.
RANGER-GUIDED TOURS
Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 14-15
* The Fight for Viniard Field: Meet at Visitor Center, 9:30 a.m., 12:30 and 3 p.m.
Caravan to the Viniard Farm for a 45-minute program with a park ranger exploring the fight for Viniard Field on Sept. 19, 1863.
* Car Caravan Tour of Chickamauga Battlefield: Meet at Visitor Center, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Two-hour car caravan tour of the battlefield with a park ranger.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
* Car Caravan Tour of Chickamauga Battlefield: Meet at Visitor Center, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
* The Fight for Reed's Bridge: Meet at Visitor Center, 11 a.m.
One-hour caravan tour to Reed's Bridge, site of some of the opening shots of the Battle of Chickamauga.
* The Crossing of Alexander Bridge: Meet at Visitor Center, 1 p.m.
On Sept. 18, 1863, rebel forces began crossing Chickamauga Creek at a series of bridges and fords. Join a ranger for this one-hour car caravan to explore the fight for Alexander Bridge.
HIKES WITH PARK HISTORIAN
Jim Ogden will lead these hikes examining, in detail, specific actions and locations during the battle. Tour will last between 90 minutes to 3 hours and usually involve more than a mile or more of walking through uneven terrain and unmowed fields. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring a water bottle, wear sunscreen and insect repellant. For evening hikes, bring a flashlight.
Saturday, Sept. 14
9 a.m. "The Advanced Line Gave Them One Volley: Croxton's Brigade Opens the Fight on Sept. 19," meet at the Brotherton Road picnic area
Noon "Starkweather's Morning Fight Sept. 19," Brotherton Road picnic area, 2-hour, 1.5-mile walking tour on the role of John Starkweather's brigade in the battle
3 p.m. "The Place We Held Was Much Exposed to the Enemy's Fire: Benning's Georgia Brigade on Sept. 19," meet at the Viniard Field (tour stop 5) for two-hour, 2.5-mile walking tour
7 p.m. "Toward Evening I Received Orders to Support General Johnson: Baird and the Twilight Attack," meet at Brotherton Road picnic area, learn about the role of Absolom Baird's division in the closing action of Sept. 19 on this two-hour, 1.5-mile walk
Sunday, Sept. 15
9 a.m. "John Beatty and the Union Left Sept. 20," meet at Visitor Center, two-hour, 1-mile tour on how John Beatty and his small brigade became part of Gen. George Thomas's efforts
Noon. "We Encountered the Enemy in a Position Naturally Strong and Strengthened by Fortifications: S.A.M. Wood's Alabamians and Mississippians Attack on Sept. 20," meet at Battleline Road just south of tour stop 2, explore experiences of Sterling Wood's brigade in two-hour, 1.5-mile walking tour
3 p.m. "The Whole Line Seemed Perfect and as if Moved by a Single Mind: Kershaw's South Carolinians Enter the Fight on Sept. 20," meet at Poe Road (just before tour stop 3), two-hour, 2.5-mile walking tour
Wednesday, Sept. 18
2 p.m. "Occupied After a Brief Skirmish: Buckner Siezes Dalton and Thedford Fords," meet on Viniard-Alexander Road (follow the Special Event signs), three-hour, 3.5-mile walking tour to examine fords over which Simon Buckner's troops crossed Chickamauga Creek. This program will involve lengthy walks across grassy fields and along narrow trails.
7 p.m. "Wilder's Brigade and Its Noble Stand at the Crossing of the Chickamauga," meet at the intersection of Alexander Bridge Road and Viniard-Alexander Road (follow the Special Event signs), 90-minute, one-hour walk.
LIVING HISTORY PROGRAMS
Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 13-14
* Bite the Bullet: Myths and Realities of Civil War Medicine, at Snodgrass Cabin (tour stop 8), 11 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m.
The Union Army turned George Snodgrass's farm into a hospital during the battle. Join local historian Dr. Anthony Hodges to learn how surgeons, doctors and stewards waged their own battles to keep men alive.
Saturday, Sept. 14
* Lightning Strikes at Chickamauga: Wilder's Brigade, Wilder Brigade Monument (tour stop 6), 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
Col. John Wilder's "Lightning Brigade" were some of the most elite troops to take the field at Chickamauga. Armed with the latest in weapons technology, the deadly Spencer repeating rifle, they commanded the south end of the battlefield throughout the engagement. Programs will feature mounted living historians and Spencer rifle demonstrations.
Sunday, Sept. 15
* Lightning Strikes at Chickamauga: Wilder's Brigade, along Glenn-Viniard (look for Special Program signs), 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. Repeat of Saturday's program.
Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 14-15
* Artillery Demonstrations: Visitor Center, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. .
A complete program schedule is online at https://www.nps.gov/chch/chickamauga156.htm