DeLong Reservation: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, National Park Service

Styles, Sean; Goetcheus, Cari; Hasty, David

DeLong Reservation, a component landscape of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park near Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a 5.25 acre parcel located along Crest Road on Missionary Ridge. Sited on a natural spur running perpendicular to the northeast-southwest trending spine of Missionary Ridge, the spur was the location of the Second Minnesota’s piercing of the Confederate line that stretched along the crest of Missionary Ridge. The DeLong Reservation is significant for its association with the 1863 Battle of Missionary Ridge and the Civil War Battle of Chattanooga. It is also important for its association with the establishment and development of the first national military park. The reservation preserves a piece of the natural landform that influenced the course of the battle. Additionally, the landscape contains features associated with park development during the early years of NPS administration at the park. Vehicular access to the site is from Crest Road via a small adjacent parking area. Pedestrian access begins at the sidewalk adjacent to the parking area and runs along a gravel footpath that leads to the only monument on the parcel, the 2nd Minnesota monument. The gravel footpath is located along the ridge of the spur with grassy slopes falling away on either side. At the base of the southern slope there are two wooden benches, and a semicircular dry-laid flagstone wall surrounds the monument. A cannon and plaque are located near the monument, and an NPS sign is located near the entry stone wall. Three additional plaques near the entry stone wall have been stolen. The majority of the site is vegetated with a continuous tree canopy and grassy understory. The only open area is along the footpath and around the monument. Currently, distant views of the ridge and the city of Chattanooga are blocked by the woodland that surrounds the crest. This is in conflict with the original design intent of the Park Commission for the commemorative landscape, which was to visually reference the broader landscape beyond the boundaries of the reservation. In 1893, a 70-foot observation tower was erected to provide unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape; it was dismantled and removed in 1941 due to structural flaws. Today the commemorative landscape retains the overall spatial organization and character established by the Park Commission and War Department despite some alterations, mostly occurring during the early years of NPS administration of the park. Revegetation and vandalism have contributed to some losses; however, when considered as part of the military park in its entirety, the site retains integrity for its association with the battle and later commemoration and developments.

DeLong Reservation: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, National Park Service

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