From September 2015

I Press On

Yesterday was the Ironman Triathlon in Chattanooga.  Over 3,000 people entered the race to swim 2.4 miles in the Tennessee River, bike 116 miles along the base of Lookout Mountain, and then run 26.2 miles in downtown Chattanooga.  Each stage of the race has time limits and shutdowns.  If you do not complete a stage …

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Wilder’s Lightning Brigade

In this week’s edition of Civil War History in a Nutshell, I am going to talk about a group of soldiers instead of a battle movement:  Colonel John Wilder’s Lightning Brigade.  John Wilder was among the best of the volunteer officers in the Union Army.  Before the war he owned a successful foundry (a factory …

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Hiking on Lookout Mountain

Yesterday Tom and I took part of the day for hiking on Lookout Mountain.  Lookout Mountain is a wedge-shaped ridge and Point Park is on the tip of it.  The National Park Service also owns the sides of Lookout Mountain for about 15 miles from the tip.  When we work in the Visitors Center, we …

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Cloudland Canyon

Cloudland Canyon State Park is located on the ridge that is Lookout Mountain but it is farther southwest than Point Park.  It is the closest State Park to where we are staying and a place of great beauty.  Last week we went hiking there with our RV Volunteer partner Judy and her dog Sam. Cloudland …

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Lou Gardner

Lou Gardner died last night.  Surrounded by love and prayers, she went back to God who sent her to us so long ago.  Lou was a member of the church I served for 21 years and she was a memorable character, but of a type that everyone who attends a church will recognize. Lou’s mother …

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The Tullahoma Campaign

The Tullahoma Campaign was one of the most brilliant military maneuvers during the Civil War, but very few people outside Tennessee have ever heard of it.  Why?  Because only 600 men were killed.  The Fall of Vicksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg were taking place at the same time and so the Tullahoma Campaign was …

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Point Park

Point Park is located at the northern end of Lookout Mountain just before the ridge plummets 1,500 feet to the Tennessee River below.  Point Park was the site of the Battle for Lookout Mountain and it is also home to one of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Visitor Centers where we work.  We …

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