On these fields and hills, Union and Confederate armies clashed during the fall of 1863 in some of the hardest fighting of the Civil War. The prize was Chattanooga, key rail center and gateway to the heart of the Confederacy. The campaign that brought the armies here began late in June 1863 when General William S. Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland, almost 60,000 strong, moved from Murfreesboro, Tennessee against General Braxton Bragg's 43,000. Confederates dug in 20 miles to the southwest defending the road to Chattanooga. Through a series of skillful marches, Rosecrans forced the Southerners to withdraw into Chattanooga. There Bragg dug in again, guarding the Tennessee River crossings northeast of the city where he expected Rosecrans to attack. But early in September, the Federals crossed the Tennessee well below Chattanooga and again Bragg had to withdraw southward.

Eluding his Federal pursuers, Bragg concentrated his forces at LaFayette, Georgia, 26 miles south of Chattanooga. Here reinforcements from East Tennessee, Virginia, and Mississippi swelled his ranks to more than 66,000 men. Twice he tried unsuccessfully to destroy isolated segments of Rosecrans' army. Then, on September 18, hoping to wedge his troops between the Federals and Chattanooga, Bragg posted his army on the west bank of Chickamauga Creek along a line from Reed's Bridge to just opposite Lee and Gordon's Mill.

Fighting began shortly after dawn on September 19 when Union infantry encountered Confederate cavalry at Jay's Mill. This brought on a general battle that spread south for nearly 4 miles.

The Battle of Chickamauga was considered the last major Confederate victory in the Western Theater, but it was a hollow victory as control of Chattanooga was ultimately gained by the Federals two months later.

Each year special programs (guided tours of several battlefield areas and Civil War encampments) are presented at Chickamauga battlefield and Lookout Mountain to commemorate the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. These events take place near the anniversary of the battles (September for Chickamauga, and November for Lookout Mountain). Near Christmas, a special program is held on a weekend at the Cravens House. Candlelight tours are presented at the house, which is decorated in a Victorian-era Christmas setting. Several weekends during the summer, reenactment organizations present special demonstrations and Civil War encampments at Chickamauga battlefield and Lookout Mountain. Call the park for more information about specific dates and times for these special programs.

Nearby attractions include The Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Hunter Museum of Art, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain Incline, The Battles for Chattanooga Museum, and Rock City.