Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863
The
battle of Chickamauga began on Sept. 19 when federals tried to destroy an isolated
Confederate bridge on the west side of the creek just below Alexander's Bridge, left lower
center. However, the battle guickly developed as both sides rushed more and more divisions
to the scene, Bragg moving up east bank of the Chickamauga, and Rosecrans up the opposite
side. Opposing divisions went into the line facing each other almost simultaneously,
stretching the battleline northward, until it extended almost five miles.
The fighting rolled gradually from the
south end toward the center throughout the day. At one point in the afternoon a hole
opened in Rosecran's line which, had Bragg taken advantage of it, might have put the
Yankees to rout, left center. However, Rosecran's filled it and the fight continued. A
substantial attack by Stewart nearly penetrated the enemy line, and later that afternoon a
brutal assault by Hood on Rosecran's right flank inflicted serious damage, but the blue
line held. The day then closed with a twilight attack by Cleburne at the opposite end of
the field, right center. Bragg intended a general attack the next day, starting on his
right and rolling to the left, the reverse of his Stones River plan. Breckinridge struck
first,joined thereafter by Cleburne, and the fury of their assaults led Thomas to call for
more and more reserves, especially after Breckinridge pushed around his left flank, center
right. Finally, Thomas J. Wood's command pulled out of the center of the federal line, in
obedience to confused orders, opening a massive hole just as Longstreet's men were going
in to assault, center left. The effect was electric. The whole union right collapsed and
fled for Chattanooga. The left, commanded by Thomas, pulled back under massive pressure
from three sides and held out on Snodgrass Hill long enough to cover the retreat, upper
center. Fortuitously General Goron Granger came to his aid from the north, right, and
Thomas held out until nightfall. It wasn't until then that Thomas left the flank to Bragg.
His work had been vital in saving the federals, for by that time most of the army of the
Cumberland including Rosecran's, its commander, were well on their way back to
Chattanooga.
Bragg now had the chance to completely
destroy the Union army, but perhaps partly because of the casualties his force had taken
he declined the opportunity. Instead he closed in around Chattanooga, sealed off it's
lines of supply and began the siege of the federals inside. The two-day battle produced
other, more terrible results. Rosecarns lost 16,000 casualties, and Bragg 21,000.
September 17-19. . .Reenactment, Chickamagua, GA
Mansfield, LA
