Chattanooga Features 13 Civil War Trails Interpretive Signs
CHATTANOOGA FEATURES 13 CIVIL WAR TRAILS INTERPRETIVE SIGNS
Located just north of the Georgia border on the banks of the Tennessee River, Chattanooga was a major prize for both sides almost from the beginning of the war in Tennessee. Its railroads provided links to all points in the Confederacy and were the key to any Union invasion of Georgia. After many false starts, Union forces drew close to Chattanooga in the fall of 1863 after maneuvering the Confederate army into north Georgia. Following the battle of Chickamauga, fought only a few miles south of the city, the defeated Union army retreated in disarray into Chattanooga. Confederates quickly occupied the heights above the city and cut Union supply lines. The Confederate stranglehold on the city finally was broken during a series of dramatic Union victories in late November 1864. The city then became a key supply base for Union operations in Georgia.
The Chattanooga area, as part of the Tennessee Civil War Trails program, features 13 interpretive signs. Eight of these are located within walking distance of each other, and the farthest one is 15 minutes from downtown in outlying areas.
SIGN NAME LOCATION
1. Occupied Chattanooga Coolidge Park, to the right of the Delta Queen
2. Ross’s Landing Plaza between the TN Aquarium buildings
3. Hazen’s Raid at Brown’s Ferry Riverfront Parkway to the left of the City Pier
4. Cameron Hill AT&T Field, off the circle drive on left
5. Headquarters Row Corner of 1st & Walnut Street near the bridge
6. Swaim’s Jail Corner of 5th and Lookout Streets near garage
7. Crutchfield House Corner of MLK Blvd. & Broad Street across from the Sheraton
Read House
8. Chattanooga’s Railroads In gardens of Chattanooga Choo Choo- 1400 Market St.
9. Chattanooga Creek Picket Lines Broad Street; turn right on 31st Street, turn right on St. Elmo St. & follow to end of road
10.Soldier Tourists 1110 East Brow Rd. on Lookout Mtn. near Point Park
11.Attack at Suck Creek US Hwy 27 to Signal Mtn. Road, take left to 1831 Suck
Creek Road, on right at TWRA Boat Ramp
12.Sherman Crosses The River Greenway Farms off Hamill Road in Hixson
13. Raccoon Mountain At West Hills Road entrance at Raccoon Mountain Caverns
Additional Federal Civil War sites in Chattanooga include: Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park; Orchard Knob; Missionary Ridge; Cravens House; Point Park; Lookout Mountain; Signal Point &Chattanooga National Cemetery. For more information, visit www.chattanoogafun.com/civilwar