He replaced Rosecrans with Thomas and traveled to Chattanooga, where he approved a plan to open a new supply line (the "Cracker Line"), allowing supplies and reinforcements to reach the city.

The Confederates were repulsed, and the Cracker Line was secured.

The resulting Federal victory allowed the opening of Ulysses S. Grant's famous "Cracker Line", which contributed to the breaking of the Confederate Siege of Chattanooga.

As such he conducted the engineer operations and launched the Battle of Brown's Ferry, which opened the "Cracker Line" to provide supplies and reinforcements to the besieged troops in Chattanooga.

The Union army now had its window to the outside and could receive supplies, weapons, ammunition, and reinforcements via the Cracker Line.

Thus the proposed supply line was dubbed the "Cracker Line".

The "Cracker Line" having been opened, General Hazen joyfully exclaimed "We've knocked the lid off the cracker box!"

Supplies and reinforcements were thus able to flow into Chattanooga over the "Cracker Line", greatly increasing the chances for Grant's forces.

The ferry crossing was a key to the Cracker Line which became a reliable supply route for the Union Army in Chattanooga.

The USS Chattanooga was built here and became a vital part of the famous "Cracker Line," which broke the Confederate's siege of Chattanooga in November 1863.