The battles for Chattanooga changed the outcome of the Civil War. On November 27, following the decisive victories at Chattanooga, General Ulysses S. Grant immediately instituted the Chattanooga - Ringgold campaign and followed the day of National Thanksgiving and Prayer with his announcement to the Washington war office that the rout of the Confederates was most complete. So disastrous were the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and at Orchard Knob that on November 29, General Braxton Bragg asked to be relieved of his duties and was promptly replaced by Lieutenant General W.J. Hardee. It was the beginning of the end for the South. The next spring, Sherman used Chattanooga for his base as he started his march to Atlanta and the sea.