The line was about a mile from the town, and extended from Citico Creek, a small stream running near the base of Missionary Ridge and emptying into the Tennessee about two miles below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on the left, to Chattanooga Creek on the right.

All commanding points on the line were well fortified and well equipped with artillery.

The important elevations within the line had all been carefully fortified and supplied with a proper armament.

Among the elevations so fortified was one to the east of the town, named Fort Wood.

It owed its importance chiefly to the fact that it lay between the town and Missionary Ridge, where most of the strength of the enemy was.