Weekend programs recall Battle of Chickamauga on 153rd anniversary
The Civil War’s Battle of Chickamauga, fought Sept. 18-20, 1863, will be commemorated with special programming this weekend, Sept. 17-18, at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
In a news release, park historians explain that the Battle of Chickamauga “was not a chess piece battle of generals moving men in an orderly fashion across a map. For the soldiers, this tested their resolve and dedication. Should they press on into the unknown, against an unknown foe, or should they hold fast and organize? Soldiers on both sides overwhelmingly chose to press on against all odds, with no guarantees of victory or survival.”
Visitors to the park on this 153rd anniversary weekend will be challenged to ponder that decision in programs that highlight stories of the men who fought here and the choices they made in the face of overwhelming odds.
Program participants are reminded to dress comfortably for the weather and to bring a bottle of water. The park’s Visitor Center is at 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
For more information, call 706-866-9241, 423-8217786 or visit www.nps.gov/ chch.
CAR CARAVAN TOUR
Learn about the Battle of Chickamauga in a two-hour car caravan tour with a park ranger.
When and where:
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Meet inside Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center.
‘A MOST UNSATISFACTORY PLACE’ ARTILLERY DEMONSTRATIONS
See and hear an artillery battery along the ridge line from the perspective of the attacking Confederates and retreating Union soldiers in this 45-minute program. The program’s title is a reference to Chief of Artillery John Mendenhall’s artillery line along Dyer Field, which stood virtually alone to stem the Confederate advance as the Union Army’s center and right disintegrated on the final day of battle.
When and where:
10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Meet along Glenn-Kelly Road. Special Event signs will be posted.
‘TELL MY PA I DIED RIGHT’ WALKING TOUR OF HORSESHOE RIDGE
As the Confederate Army assaulted Horseshoe Ridge on the afternoon of Sept. 20, scores of Confederates fell dead on the slopes of Snodgrass Hill, including Richard Kirkland, the famed “Angel of Marye’s Heights,” whose last words were “Tell my pa I died right.” In this program, visitors can follow in the footsteps of Kirkland and the 2nd South Carolina Infantry as they advance on Snodgrass Hill and can meet living historians portraying the men who made the charge.
When and where:
9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The program begins at the South Carolina Monument. Meet the group there, or park at Tour Stop 8 on Snodgrass Hill and walk over with a ranger. The program lasts 45 to 60 minutes and requires moderate walking.
‘ECHOES OF AN UNENDING BATTLE’ SOLDIER TALK
Throughout the weekend, the sound of cannon will echo across Chickamauga Battlefield. But for the men who fought here, the sounds and feelings of battle echoed long after the shooting stopped. Meet a Civil War soldier at the Visitor Center to learn about how the war affected men in the generations after the conflict ended. Program lasts 30 to 40 minutes.
9 and 11 a.m., 3 and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Meet at the Visitor Center.
When and where: BIKE THE BATTLEFIELD
Take a bicycle tour of the battlefield with a park ranger. Bring your own bike and helmet, or call 706-866-9241 to reserve a loaner bicycle from Outdoor Chattanooga.
When and where:
9:30 a.m. Saturday. Meet in the lower parking lot at the Visitor Center.