After Lookout Mountain fell, Bragg asked William J. Hardee and John C. Breckinridge whether to retreat or stand on Missionary Ridge. Hardee favored withdrawal, while Breckinridge advocated fighting from what appeared to be strong ground. The ridge could have been formidable, but the Confederates had only begun preparing it after occupying the area for weeks. Choosing to remain therefore converted a potentially powerful position into a battlefield gamble without adequate defensive works.
Notable Point · 1:08:15-1:09:19
Missionary Ridge was strong ground left badly prepared
Bragg chose to fight on Missionary Ridge despite weeks of neglected preparation that had left the potentially strong ground without adequate defensive works.