Overcast, a cold, fall day. The Buick hummed as we drove north out of Atlanta. We were on the road, headed for a pivotal clash in the War Between the States. Once past the suburbs, we picked up speed- we had an anniversary to keep with a city, a battle, and the memory of 100,000 soldiers.

It was noon; we arrived in Chattanooga disguised as photographers, historians, tourists.

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We entered the city through a cut I-24 makes in Missionary Ridge, the spined height which aligns the city to the east. We took the Broad Street exit, and headed south towards Lookout Mtn, our first stop- a package store. Dave purchased a pint of whiskey, the storekeep figuring it to be something to cut the chill of the day; but we had a higher purpose in mind. Back in the Buick, our faithful road companion, we continued south towards Lookout, the Tennessee River winding alongside us and to the north.

The valley soon dropped behind us, the road curving and climbing abruptly towards the summit of Lookout. About halfway up, the road evened to a shouldered ledge and our first planned stop at The Cravens House. It was here that the fight for this mountain reached crescendo. Actually fought on November 24th, 1863, "The Battle Above the Clouds" was a thick fight fought over near impossible terrain, an eventual Union victory that was the beginning of the end to the Confederate Army of Tennessee's siege of Chattanooga.

Liquor store on Broad Street

The Cravens House

Confederate battery atop Lookout