We'd been in the south for several days, but this was the first Civil War battlefield we'd visited. The divisions in our country (then and now) had been visible in our peripheral vision as we toured high points and natural National Parks, but this really brought it to the fore.

You can read about Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, but the TL;DR is that Chattanooga was a major supply hub and when the Union took it it was described as "the death-knell of the Confederacy." (I'm neither a historian or a lawyer, so make up your own mind.)

Lilly and I visited both Lookout Mountain high above Chattanooga and the fields of Chickamauga. As with other visits to Civil War sites, it seemed incomprehensible that battles occurred in these places. Our enjoyment of a mild afternoon together viewing history was incongruous with the story of the site. The benefit of distance, I guess.

Our visit was brief because, of course, we had another park in another state to visit before heading to our final hotel (and <work>) so we got our stamps, saw the things the rangers told us to see, and headed west into... Alabama?

📍On the lands of the Miccosukee people.