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Many
years ago a tribe of Indians, natives of the Alabama country, were driven
northward and constantly routed by their adversaries, until they came to the Chickamauga
Valley, where they won a victory and found peace and security for their
families.
Pleased with the climate, the scenery and
abundance of game and fish, they called it Chick-am-auga, which means
"Good country." a Chickasaw word.
Missionary
Ridge was called by the Indians Missionaries’ Ridge, from the fact that the
missionaries passing from their station at the present site of "Mission
Mills" to Chattanooga, the landing place of their supplies on the
Tennessee River, crossed it, and one of the missionaries also lived on the
Ridge.
The
name Lookout is not an Indian word, but was given to the mountain by the early
settlers. The Indians used the point of the mountain, where, on clear days,
they could see the river for many miles each way, to plan their attacks upon
the boatmen. For many years it was known as Indian Lookout, then in after
years was changed to Lookout
Mountain. The Cherokee
name for Lookout Mountain did not mean an outlook, but look at, an Indian fancy
that this mountain looked at all the mountains and valleys.
Chattanooga
is an Indian name, meaning "Hawk's Nest." The first settlement of the place by the whites
was called Ross' Landing; changed to Chattanooga in 1836. From Ramsey's annals
of the Tennessee it is believed to be a Choctaw word, "Choctaw
Nooga." meaning Fishing Village. A
somewhat similar name was applied by the Cherokees to the cliffs rising
abruptly from the river above the town, derived from "Clanoowah." or
Eagle, these warlike birds making this their favorite nesting place, and hence
a name which expressed this fact and suggested that Chattanooga means eagles’ nest.
The
country about was known in early days as the Cherokee Mountains from the Indian
tribe of that name. The river was known as the Cherokee River, then as
Currokee, a corruption of the word Cherokee, meaning in the Indian language.
"Men possessed of divine fire."
There
are evidences that this country was inhibited by an industrious and intelligent
people for many years prior to the discovery of this continent.
Fine stone implements of agriculture and war
are often found. The Cherokees were fine, well-built men and women of a bright
red color. They had good homes in the valleys and made slaves of the captives
gained in wars with other tribes.
The
country remained under the control of the Indians until 1839. when John Ross, a
quarter blood Indian, with others of the Indians signed a treaty with the United States government by which Lookout and
other lands east of the Mississippi
became government property.
Taylor's
Ridge, near Ringgold, made classic by another mountain battle, was so named
because Richard Taylor, a second chief of the Indian tribe, and also a
missionary, crossed it going and coming between their depot of supplies and
missions.
Will's
Valley was named from William Webber, a settler who lived in it, and whose common
name was Will.
Brown's
Ferry bears the English name of a prominent Cherokee Indian.
Wallen's
Ridge, on the north side of the Tennessee River, is a spur of the Cumberland
Mountains. It is eighty miles long from the head of Emory's Gap to Signal
Point, and has an average width of twelve miles. It rises twenty-two hundred
feet above the sea and more than one thousand feet above the valley on either
side. Its name is derived from Captain John Wallen, who is supposed to be the
first white man to cross the Mountain, while in command of a posse of settlers
in pursuit of Indians who had captured a white girl in West Virginia. The word
Walden is supposed to be a corruption of the word Wallen.
Signal
Point is on the extreme southeastern point of Wallen's Ridge. It is 2,200 feet
above the sea and gains its name from the signal station established and
maintained there during the campaigns about Chattanooga.
Though
no battles were fought on Wallen's Ridge it was an important position. Many of the sick and wounded of the armies
were taken to hospitals there and many
wonderful recoveries took place, the many springs becoming celebrated for their
healing qualities.
History
of the Michigan Organizations at Chickamauga,
Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge -
1863
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