Union Soldier - Chickamauga National Battlefield - Fort Oglethorpe, GA - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

County of sign: Catoosa County
Location of sign: Lafayette Hwy & Post Rd., Visitors Center Chickamauga National Battlefield
Sign erected by: National Park Service

This Union soldier kneeling behind a breastworks, loading his muzzle-loading rifle, awaiting another Confederate attack.

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Sign Text:

UNION SOLDIER At daybreak a breastwork of logs and rails was commenced which was taken up on my right and left....
Brig. Gen William B. Hazen, U.S.A.

THE MOSTLY WOODED TERRAIN on which the Battle of Chickamauga was fought encouraged the construction of simple but effective field fortifications. Union Soldiers, fighting mostly on the defensive September 20, stacked limbs, logs, rocks, and fence rails and also used the few available axes to cut down trees to erect breastworks. Rarely taller than knee to waist high, these "log works", or "log barricades", provided protection to soldiers lying, kneeling, or crouching behind them. The works allowed Union troops to repulse most Confederate attacks. The advantage of the field works, however, soon became mistakes in command by senior Union leaders.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Union Soldier Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Unknown Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 2002 Materials used: Plaster, wood, cloth Location: Chickamauga National Battlefield Visitors Center

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