News Release

Calling on President Lincoln: “The Bolts of War and Machinery"

Date: July 14, 2023
Contact: Kim Coons, 706-866-9241, ext. 139

Fort Oglethorpe, GA: On Saturday, July 29, at 11 am, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a special 60-minute, ranger-led program exploring the events surrounding the electromagnetic telegraph, which proved its value as a tactical, operational, and strategic communication medium during the Civil War. The program will begin at the Wilder Brigade Monument (Tour Stop 6) at Chickamauga Battlefield.

Assistant Secretary of War Charles A. Dana later praised the utility of the telegraph when he witnessed the Union Army of the Cumberland in action during the Battle of Chickamauga, noting that “it was one of the most useful accessories of our army.” A demonstration will be presented to the audience of how this advancement in technology impacted the deadliest war in American History.

For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch.