November 23
Union Forces Capture Orchard Knob at Chattanooga
The rapid seizure of this forward elevation on November 23 marked Ulysses S. Grant’s first offensive move to relieve the besieged Union army and regain the initiative in Tennessee.
Summary
Following defeat at Chickamauga, Union troops under Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans were besieged in Chattanooga by Confederate forces led by Gen. Braxton Bragg occupying surrounding heights. Ulysses S. Grant assumed overall command and replaced Rosecrans with George H. Thomas. On November 23, Grant ordered Thomas's Army of the Cumberland to probe Confederate lines and seize the strategic elevation known as Orchard Knob. Approximately 14,000 Union soldiers advanced rapidly, overwhelming a small Confederate rear guard of about 600 men who fired only a single volley before retreating. The capture provided Union artillery positions overlooking Missionary Ridge and served as Grant's headquarters for subsequent operations. This action initiated the decisive Chattanooga campaign.
Context
Following its defeat at Chickamauga in September 1863, Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans’s Army of the Cumberland fell back to Chattanooga, a vital rail junction and manufacturing center on the Tennessee River. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg positioned the Army of Tennessee on the surrounding heights of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, cutting off most supply routes and threatening to starve the Union garrison into surrender.
What Happened
By mid-October, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had assumed overall command of Union forces in the West and replaced Rosecrans with Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas. After opening a reliable supply line—the so-called Cracker Line—via Brown’s Ferry, Grant turned to breaking the siege. Intelligence reports on November 23 indicated that Bragg might be detaching troops toward Knoxville, prompting Grant to order an immediate probe.
Aftermath
Approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland advanced from their lines and overran a Confederate rear guard of roughly 600 men at Orchard Knob. The defenders fired only a single volley before withdrawing, allowing Union troops to occupy the height and site artillery that could support further operations against Missionary Ridge. Grant promptly established his headquarters on the captured ground.
Legacy
The action at Orchard Knob initiated the three-day Battles of Chattanooga. It enabled successful Union attacks on Lookout Mountain the following day and a dramatic breakthrough on Missionary Ridge on November 25 that routed Bragg’s army. Chattanooga remained firmly in Union hands for the rest of the war and served as the logistical base for Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign.
Why It Matters
Orchard Knob's seizure broke the siege stalemate, enabling Union victories at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge days later. It opened supply lines, secured eastern Tennessee for the Union, and paved the way for Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, shifting momentum in the western theater of the Civil War.
Related Questions
Why was Chattanooga important to both sides?
It was a major rail hub connecting the upper South with Atlanta and served as a manufacturing center for iron and coal.
What intelligence prompted the attack on Orchard Knob?
Reports suggested Bragg was withdrawing troops, possibly to reinforce Lt. Gen. James Longstreet near Knoxville.
How many Union soldiers participated in the Orchard Knob advance?
Approximately 14,000 men of the Army of the Cumberland moved forward against a Confederate rear guard of about 600.
What immediate advantage did the Union gain from holding Orchard Knob?
The position provided artillery emplacements overlooking Missionary Ridge and served as Grant’s forward headquarters.
How did the Chattanooga campaign affect the rest of the war?
It secured eastern Tennessee for the Union, eliminated Bragg’s army as a major threat in the region, and opened the path for Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.
Related Portfolio Site
US Military Atlas: Major Civil War battle and Union victory in the Chattanooga campaign
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Sources
- Chattanooga campaign, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-07-07.
- Chattanooga Battle Facts and Summary, American Battlefield Trust. Accessed 2026-07-07.