Overview
The Battle of Lookout Mountain took place near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 24, 1863, during the Chattanooga Campaign. After General William S. Rosecrans captured Chattanooga, General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate army defeated Union forces at Chickamauga and drove them back into the city. Bragg then occupied the surrounding high ground and started the Siege of Chattanooga.
Union officials sent reinforcements under General Joseph Hooker and General William T. Sherman. They also placed General Ulysses S. Grant in command of Union forces near Chattanooga and replaced Rosecrans with General George Thomas as Commander of the Army of the Cumberland. Grant improved the Union supply situation by opening the “Cracker Line” in late October 1863.
Bragg weakened his army on November 4 when he sent 15,000 soldiers under General James Longstreet toward Knoxville. On November 23, Union troops captured Orchard Knob and held the position. The next day, Hooker attacked Confederate forces on Lookout Mountain. Dense fog covered the mountain and slowed the Union assault, inspiring the nickname “Battle Above the Clouds.”
Although Hooker’s troops did not capture the mountain during the fighting, Confederate forces withdrew that night. The Union victory allowed Hooker to support the successful attack at Missionary Ridge on November 25.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Battle Above the Clouds.
- Date: November 24, 1863.
- Location: Near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: Ulysses S. Grant and Major General Joseph Hooker.
- CSA Commanders: Braxton Bragg and Carter L. Stevenson.
- Who Won: The United States won the Battle of Lookout Mountain.
- Campaign: Chattanooga Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, July–December, 1863.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: An estimated 400–650 soldiers were killed, wounded, missing, or captured.
- Forces Engaged: The Army of the Cumberland and the 11th and 12th Army Corps.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 10,000 soldiers.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: About 1,200 soldiers were killed, wounded, missing, or captured.
- Forces Engaged: The Army of Tennessee, including two brigades from Cheatham’s Division and two brigades from Stevenson’s Division.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 8,700 soldiers.
Significance
The Battle of Lookout Mountain is important to American History because it helped Union forces break the Confederate Siege of Chattanooga. General Joseph Hooker’s victory forced Confederate soldiers to leave a major position on the left side of the Confederate line. The victory also allowed Hooker’s troops to assist Union forces at the Battle of Missionary Ridge the next day. Together, these victories strengthened Union control of Chattanooga, an important railroad center that connected the upper Confederacy with the Deep South.
History
Rosecrans Moves Toward Chattanooga
On December 26, 1862, Major General William S. Rosecrans led the Union Army of the Cumberland out of Nashville, Tennessee, with orders to capture Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga was an important railroad junction that connected the upper Confederacy with the Deep South. Between Rosecrans and Chattanooga was Lieutenant General Braxton Bragg and his Confederate Army of Tennessee.
Bragg Abandons Chattanooga
The two armies clashed in a series of battles over the next nine months, and Confederates consistently retreated south. On September 9, Bragg abandoned Chattanooga and led the Army of Tennessee through the mountains into northern Georgia.
Bragg Stuns Rosecrans at Chickamauga
Although Rosecrans achieved his goal of capturing Chattanooga, he pursued Bragg’s army into Georgia. Stung by criticism that he received for abandoning Chattanooga, Bragg counterattacked at the Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–20, 1863).
Bragg Invests Chattanooga
The victorious Confederates drove the Federals back toward Chattanooga, forcing them to occupy the defensive works previously constructed by the Confederates. Bragg seized the high ground overlooking Chattanooga (Lookout Mountain, Seminary Ridge, and Raccoon Mountain) and laid siege to the city.
Changes in Federal Leadership
Reacting to the Army of the Cumberland’s dire situation, Northern authorities sent 20,000 soldiers commanded by General Joseph Hooker and 16,000 men led by Major General William T. Sherman to help lift the siege. Officials placed General Ulysses S. Grant in command of all Northern soldiers near Chattanooga and also replaced Rosecrans with General George Thomas as the commander of the Army of the Cumberland.
Cracker Line
As reinforcements arrived in late October 1863, Grant launched an operation to ease the Army of the Cumberland’s supply problems. By October 28, Grant’s men opened a narrow supply line known as the “Cracker Line,” and provisions started flowing into Chattanooga.
Longstreet Departs for Knoxville
On November 4, 1863, Bragg detached 15,000 soldiers from his army and sent them to East Tennessee under the command of Lieutenant General James Longstreet. Longstreet’s task was to dislodge Major General Ambrose Burnside and the Union Army of the Ohio from Knoxville and prevent him from reinforcing Grant at Chattanooga. Longstreet’s departure weakened Bragg’s forces investing Chattanooga.
Grant Plans to Take the Offensive
Following the opening of the Cracker Line, Grant began planning an assault on the Confederate forces. He intended to wait until Sherman’s men reached Chattanooga. Sherman’s men began arriving on November 20, but most of his force showed up later. On November 23, rumors circulated through Northern lines that the Confederate forces were retreating. Grant ordered General Thomas to reconnoiter the center of the Confederate line at the base of Missionary Ridge to determine Bragg’s intentions.
Battle of Orchard Knob
Early in the afternoon, 14,000 Northern forces under Brigadier General Thomas J. Wood easily overpowered the 634 Confederates at the Battle of Orchard Knob. Initially, Grant had directed the men to return to Northern lines, but upon seeing the ease the Union men had in securing the position, he ordered his soldiers to hold the position and to entrench.
Clash at Lookout Mountain — Battle Above the Clouds
Union forces continued their assault on the Confederate position the next day. On November 24, General Hooker’s men attacked Confederate forces on Lookout Mountain, on the Southerners’ left flank. By mid-afternoon, the Union assault had stalled, primarily because a dense fog enveloped the mountain. The thick fog prompted soldiers later to nickname the Battle of Lookout Mountain as the Battle Above the Clouds. Although Hooker’s men did not take the mountain, he correctly predicted that Southern forces would withdraw from the mountain that night.
Aftermath
Confederate casualties at the Battle of Lookout Mountain roughly doubled Union losses. The Confederacy lost about 1,200 soldiers (killed, wounded, and missing/captured) compared with 400-650 Federals (killed, wounded, and missing/captured). Hooker’s triumph enabled him to assist in the Union victory at the Battle of Missionary Ridge the following day.
Timeline
- 1862, December 26 — William S. Rosecrans led the Army of the Cumberland out of Nashville with orders to capture Chattanooga.
- 1863, September 9 — Braxton Bragg abandoned Chattanooga and moved the Army of Tennessee into northern Georgia.
- 1863, September 19–20 — Confederate forces won the Battle of Chickamauga.
- 1863, Late October — Union reinforcements arrived near Chattanooga as Ulysses S. Grant worked to improve the army’s supply situation.
- 1863, October 27 — Union forces established a secure position at Brown’s Ferry.
- 1863, October 28
- Joseph Hooker marched through Lookout Valley and left John W. Geary’s division at Wauhatchie Station.
- Union forces opened the Cracker Line and improved the flow of supplies into Chattanooga.
- 1863, October 28–29 — Union forces won the Battle of Wauhatchie.
- 1863, November 4 — Bragg sent 15,000 soldiers under James Longstreet toward Knoxville.
- 1863, November 20 — William T. Sherman’s soldiers started arriving at Chattanooga.
- 1863, November 22 — Grant received reports that Bragg might be withdrawing from Chattanooga toward Knoxville.
- 1863, November 23 — Union forces won the Battle of Orchard Knob and captured the hill.
- 1863, November 24 — Union forces won the Battle of Lookout Mountain.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Lookout Mountain (1863) — The Battle of Lookout Mountain was fought near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 24, 1863, after Union General Ulysses S. Grant opened a critical supply line and Confederate General Braxton Bragg weakened his army by sending troops toward Knoxville. General Joseph Hooker then attacked Confederate positions through dense fog on Lookout Mountain. The Confederates withdrew that night, allowing Hooker’s troops to support the Union forces at Missionary Ridge the following day.
Alignment
The Battle of Lookout Mountain is part of the following AP US History sections:
