Lookout Mountain
a high point in the ridge of mountains running through northwestern Georgia and adjacent parts of Tennessee and Alabama. It overhangs the Tennessee river near Chattanooga and from the top, 1,600 feet above the river, seven States can be seen. It was here that, during the Civil War, the famous "battle above the clouds" took place Nov. 23-25, 1863, between the Confederate force under General Bragg, holding the mountain, and the Union forces under General Grant. The latter scaled the almost precipitous sides of the mountain, and surprised the enemy, dislodging them and compelling them to retreat after a desperate conflict. This victory gave the Union army unimpeded navigation of the river to Chattanooga, relieved this city and forced Longstreet to give up his siege of Burnside at Knoxville and to retreat to Virginia.