The 15K is the signature, traditional event of The Chickamauga Chase. It is the oldest continuously held road race in the Chattanooga area, and is one of America's oldest 15Ks.
The certified 15K course (USATF GA07007WC) is a circular, clockwise loop around the park.
The 15K begins on Glenn-Viniard Road in the southeast corner of the Park. As the gun sounds, runners will curve up a slight hill behind the Wilder Brigade Monument.
This imposing 85-foot tower honors Union Col. John Wilder and his brigade of mounted infantry, who occupied this part of the battlefield when Confederate General Longstreet's troops broke through the Union line on
September 20th. Armed with seven-shot Spencer repeating rifles, Wilder's 2,000 man brigade poured deadly fire into Longstreet's veterans but were unable to stop them. The platform at the top of the Wilder
Monument affords an excellent view of the battlefield and the surrounding area. Runners head north on Viniard-Alexander Road, and looking to their right at Mile 1 is a hilly field marked with a monument at
the site of Union General Rosecran's Army of the Cumberland headquarters. The course turns east onto Dyer Road and Water Stop 1. At the intersection ahead, the 15K, 5K, & Scenic Walk split. 15K runners turn
left onto Glenn-Kelly Road. This flat stretch is very scenic, with a beautiful view on the hilltop on the left near Mile 2 of the South Carolina monument.
At Water Stop 2, on the runners left, is a road that leads
to Snodgrass Hill. When General Longstreet's attack struck the Union center some Federal troops fell back and made a stand on this hill. Here they held there ground against repeated assaults, earning Union Major
General George Thomas the nickname "Rock of Chickamauga." Just before Mile 3, the course crosses Lafayette Road, an important thoroughfare at the time of the battle, and often it became a battle line of sorts
during the fighting. Please use extra caution and follow the Park Rangers safety instructions when crossing. Runners will head southeast on Alexander's Bridge Road for a very slightly rolling stretch passing
Battleline Road. Unlike other Civil War battles that were fought in open fields, Chickamauga was fought in mostly thickly wooded terrain. Generals had trouble keeping track of their troops, much less directing
them. The final day of the battle opened near this spot. That morning Confederate troops under Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk attacked Major General Thomas' federal corps lined up behind log barricades. This attack
caused Union forces to shift troops to Thomas' aid. This weakened the Federal right flank and set the scene for General Longstreet's important breakthrough. At about Mile 4 on the right is the gravesite of
Private John Ingraham, a local boy who died in the battle and was buried where he fell. His grave is the only marked soldier's grave at Chickamauga, among the thousands of casualties. Runners head east turning
onto Brotherton Road and Water Stop 3. Slightly rolling and continuing through Winfrey Field, this is where much of the fighting took place on the first day of the battle. Including a rare and confusing night
battle. Near Mile 5 runners pass the entrance to the site of Confederate General Braxton Bragg's headquarters, the commander of the 43,000 strong Army of Tennessee. Runners turn right and head south to Mile 6
and Water Stop 4 on Jay's Mill Road. A brief and slightly uphill stretch on Alexander Bridge Road at the 10K mark. Please use extra caution and safety in this area. Turning to the right and west again onto
Viniard Alexander Road, runners now face a series of rolling hills known as the "3 sisters" to local runners. This is a heavily wooded stretch encompassing most of miles 7 & 8 with Water Stop 5 just before Mile 8.
Again runners will intersect Lafayette Road, and on their left will view Viniard Field, where the Union right flank was massed at the beginning of the battle. Please once more use extra caution and safety while
on this highway. To the right, is Glenn Field, the largest open stretch of land during the battle. Typical of the makeup of the armies at the time of the battle, Hans Christian Heg commanded a brigade at
Chickamauga after previously leading the 15th Wisconsin. Heg and the 15th Wisconsin were primarily Norwegians, with a few Swedes and Danes. At Chickamauga, Heg was mortally wounded on the first day, and his
monument lies in this field. Curving through the woods, runners pass Mile 9 and approach the finish line turning into the field below the Wilder Brigade Monument.
