On August 16th, the Union army started their forward movement. Thomas
and McCook moved their corps down to the Tennessee River at Bridgeport.
Crittenden moved down the Sequatchie Valley, having troops from just
north of Jasper to a point above Pikeville. A part of the latter’s
corps, (Wilder’s and Wagner’s Mounted Infantry) took positions along
Walden’s Ridge and Signal Mountain where they were in plain view of the
Confederates in Chattanooga. Numerous demonstrations were made at these
points to attract the attention of the Confederates and to make them
believe they were attempting to cross the river at some point above the
city. They would beat on empty barrels to imitate the rolling of supply
wagons. They also built huge bon-fires and would march back and forth in
the flare of them. Buglers were placed at distant points where they
would strike a few notes at regular intervals. They even sawed planks,
boards and pieces of logs to float down the river to give the
Confederates the impression they were building a pontoon bridge at some
point above the city. On August 21st, a part of Wilder’s brigade
advanced to Stringer’s Ridge where they shelled Chattanooga with
artillery. One shell landed in front of the First Presbyterian Church at
Seventh and Market streets, while services were being conducted. Some
reports claim that a little girl had her leg broken by a piece of shell.
However, according to the report of Confederate Gen. D. H. Hill, several
women and children were killed. Today, Chattanooga’s tallest building,
the Hamilton National Bank, stands on this site. The shelling of the
city showed that the Union troops were on the immediate front of the
Confederates. As a result, Cleburne’s division was sent to Harrison, and
then distributed at every ford and ferry between the mouths of the
Chickamauga Creek and the Hiwasee River—a distance of at least 50 miles.
These troops were so placed in order to guard against any possible
crossing by the Union troops. All of these positions were covered by
rifle-pits and batteries. With the Confederates’ attention drawn in this
direction, the main body of the Union army effected a crossing of the
river at Bridgeport, 30 miles below Chattanooga, between August 29th and
September 4th, unmolested. Thomas crossed over the Sand Mountain to
Trenton, Georgia, after much difficulty.
When Bragg learned that the Union army had crossed the river below him
he evacuated Chattanooga during the 8th and 9th of September, moving 26
miles southward to LaFayette, Georgia, behind the Pigeon Mountains. This
movement was made in order that he could protect his line of
communications and his base of supplies, his base being Atlanta. As the
last of Bragg’s army was leaving the city on the morning of September
9th, the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry made a reconnaissance on Lookout
Mountain. They then entered the city. Crittenden’s corps followed the
railroad to Ringgold, then westward to Rock Springs in pursuit of the
Confederates. At this latter point, Crittenden was directly between
Bragg and Chattanooga.