Battle of Missionary Ridge Poster

The Battle of Missionary Ridge, a pivotal engagement during the American Civil War, unfolded in November 1863 as a critical part of the Chattanooga Campaign. Union forces, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, had been besieged by Southern troops commanded by General Braxton Bragg in Chattanooga. In a daring assault on November 25, Union soldiers under General William T. Sherman managed to capture the rifle pits at the base of Missionary Ridge. The following day, Grant ordered an attack on the Southern positions atop the ridge itself. In a stunning display of bravery and determination, Union forces breached the heavily fortified ridge and routed the Southerners, driving them off the high ground and effectively breaking the siege. The battle's outcome marked a significant turning point in the war's Western Theatre, enhancing Union control over the strategic city of Chattanooga and further weakening the Southern hold on the region.