Battles & Campaigns · 1863
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
What happened
Sherman's morning attack on the north end of the ridge stalled. In the afternoon Thomas's men took the Confederate rifle pits at the bottom of the ridge, then kept climbing and broke the Confederate line on the top. Bragg's army retreated into Georgia.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the siege of Chattanooga and gave the Union firm control of Tennessee. Chattanooga became known as the 'Gateway to the Lower South'.
What came next
Chattanooga became the supply base for Sherman's 1864 Atlanta campaign. Grant was given command of all Union armies in March 1864.
Did you know?
Eighteen-year-old Lieutenant Arthur MacArthur Jr. won the Medal of Honor here; he was later the father of Douglas MacArthur.
Timeline
- 24 November 1863Battle of Lookout Mountain.
- 25 November 1863Battle of Missionary Ridge.
- March 1864Grant takes command of all Union armies.
- May 1864Sherman's Atlanta campaign begins.