The Chattanooga Campaign (1863)
Instead of a single battle, The Chattanooga Campaign was a series of battles in late 1863. Historians don’t much agree with the argument that this was the turning point in the war. However, there is an argument to be made that it was an important series of battles, and the reason why is simple. Without it, The Battle of Atlanta would likely not have been as easily won. Chattanooga cut off the South’s access to much of the Eastern theater and limited them to the Atlantic Coast, opening the North’s access to the Deep South.
The argument is that it completely opened up the path for Sherman’s march to Atlanta. From a strategic standpoint in the Civil War, these battles were near the middle in terms of casualties on both sides. Grant’s victory over Braxton Bragg was the last battle of Tennessee, and led to the ability for the North to finally apply significant pressure on the Deep South, which was needed in order to go on to Atlanta.
If you’re a war historian, the Chattanooga Campaign really highlights the brilliance of Grant and Sherman’s military strategy. Grant used sleight of hand to win the final battle by attacking in one place in order to distract from another, which allowed Sherman’s army to avoid a stalemate. The strategies used on both sides is utterly fascinating. By this time in the Civil War, the North and South had generals that were well versed in using military strategy to win battles.
The Chattanooga Campaign may not be the most popular choice for important battles that decided the Civil War, but it is undeniable that it was very important. Without it, the North’s access to the Deep South would have been much more difficult, and might have led to a prolonged war effort in order to gain access to Atlanta and the rest of Georgia.