Hardee fortifies his position

During the early weeks of November 1983, with Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee headquartered on Missionary Ridge, the army's leadership fortified its positions overlooking Chattanooga and its enemy holed up there.

Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee

Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee, having been recently recalled from Mississippi, arriving on October 31, oversaw the arrangement and positioning of his divisions. Patrick R. Cleburne, in whose division Great Grandfather Oakes is serving, along with the divisions of Walker, Cheatham, and Stevenson, held a line running from Missionary Ridge to and including Lookout Mountain. Cleburne's men held the ridge, while Walker guarded the ground from the ridge to Chattanooga Creek. Cheatham's Division held the face of Lookout Mountain, and Stevenson's men defended Lookout Mountain itself.

At this point in the siege, the Confederate leadership anticipated an attack on Hardee's position, on the left of the army. Hardee made frequent reconnaissances with Bragg and his division commanders along his line. All agreed that their position at the mountain would be very difficult to defend against a superior enemy attack. Some Confederate cavalry and a few infantry pickets were all that stood between Hardee's divisions and the enemy.

Hardee set his men to work constructing breastworks. Fearing possible attack, in the first weeks of November Hardee hurried his men to complete a line of defense. By the third week in November, he had his men working day and night.

The urgency of the task was real: Elements of Union Gen. William T. Sherman's army are not far out and will arrive to reinforce Thomas in Chattanooga on the 14th.

Source: General William H. Hardee: Old Reliable, Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes, Jr.