Honoring History on Lookout Mountain
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park honored Memorial Day with a full day of historical programming.
At Point Park on Lookout Mountain, visitors gathered throughout the day for live artillery demonstrations.
The programs highlighted the story of Captain James Garrity’s Alabama Battery, a Confederate artillery unit that played a significant role in the Battle of Lookout Mountain, part of the Union campaign to secure Chattanooga during the Civil War.
Known as the “Battle Above the Clouds,” the fight marked a key turning point, opening the door for Union advances into the Deep South.
That evening, the remembrance continued at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with a solemn torchlight tour. Beginning at 8:45, guests were able to walk through the Civil War section of the cemetery, where thousands of Union soldiers are buried.
Chartered by President Lincoln in 1863, the cemetery served as a fitting backdrop for the evening’s tribute offering a quiet moment to reflect on the sacrifice of those who fought and died more than 160 years ago.
President Lincoln viewed Chattanooga as vital to the Union war effort, every bit as important as taking Richmond. Its strategic value later inspired the creation of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in 1890. As one of the nation’s first military parks, it was established to preserve and honor the critical battles that took place in the area.
