CHATTANOOGA, a city in Hamilton co., Tenn., on the Tennessee river, near the Alabama boundary; pop. '70, 6, 093-2,221 colored. The river is navigable for steam boats about eight months in the year, and by light-dratig,ht boats at all times. Four railroads center at Chattanooga, and afford easy communication in all directions. The city is one of the most important shipping points in that section of the country. The region is rich in coal and iron, and there is abundance of water-power. At this point, in Oct., 1863, occurred one of the most important conflicts of the war of the rebellion. After the retreat of Rosecrans from the field of Chickamauga, in Sept., the confed erates under Bragg sent a cavalry force across the Tennessee above Chattanooga, and seized several points on the railroad in order to cut off his supplies. Shortly after wards, Grant relieved Rosecrans and assumed command of the department of the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Ohio. Thomas was appointed commander of the depart ment of the Cumberland, Sherman was assigned to the department of the Tennessee, and Hooker, with the 11th and 12th corps, which had been transferred from the army of the Potomac, was sent across the river to make a flank movement against Bragg, while a force under William F. Smith was thrown across the river at Brown's ferry, below Chattanooga, to seize the points of Lookout mountain that commanded the passage of the river. These measures, which were executed Oct. 27, 28, and 29, were
successful in restoring the connection between the union army at Chattanooga and its depot of supplies. Sherman's army having arrived, the movement against the confed erates was begun Nov. 23. Thomas's troops attacked and carried the enemy's first line of rifle-pits at 2 P.M., and held it during the night. The next day the attack was renewed along the whole line. Thomas strengthened himself in his advanced position, repelling every effort of the enemy to recover the lost ground. Sherman succeeded in carrying Missionary ridge, and Hooker, after partially carrying Lookout mountain, intrenched himself in a strong position, compelling the abandonment of the mountain by the enemy during the night. On the 25th the battle raged from dawn till dark. Missionary ridge, Lookout mountain-top, and all the rifle-pits in the valley, were carried by desperate fighting. The confederate army was routed, and pursued by Sherman and Hooker back to Georgia. The union loss was between 6,000 and 7,000 in killed, wounded, and missing. The confederate loss in killed and wounded is estimated at 2,500; in prisoners, 6,000. The effect of this battle was to cut off Bragg from communication with Long street, and to force the latter to abandon the siege of Knoxville and retreat into Virginia.