Chickamauga

Early in September 1863, the Union troops had taken control of the important railroad hub of neighboring Chattanooga, Tennessee. Braxton Bragg, the commander of the Confederate forces, met William Rosecrans' Union army at Chickamauga Creek to reclaim control. The majority of the combat took place on September 19, 1863.

Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans carried up the Union offensive after the victorious Tullahoma Campaign to drive Gen. Braxton Bragg's Confederate army from Chattanooga. Bragg was ejected from Chattanooga and pressed into Georgia by Rosecrans with a series of deft marches in the direction of the city controlled by the Confederates. Bragg, who was determined to retake the city, pursued the Federals to the north, coming into contact with Rosecrans' force at Davis' Cross Roads. On September 18, his cavalry and infantry engaged Union mounted men who were armed with cutting-edge Spencer repeating rifles as they marched. On the morning of the 19th, the fighting got going close to Chickamauga Creek. Rosecrans' line was vigorously attacked by Bragg's forces, but the Union line withstood.

The next day, fighting started up again. Eight new brigades from the Army of Northern Virginia, led by Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet took advantage of a weakness in the Federal defense that afternoon and expelled one-third of the Rosecrans army, including Rosecrans himself. By defending Horseshoe Ridge against numerous assaults, just a small section of the Federal force, led by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas prevented disaster and allowed the Yankees to retreat after dusk. Thomas gained the moniker "the Rock of Chickamauga" as a result of this deed. The defeated Union forces fled to Chattanooga, where they stayed up to the end of November. One of the fiercest engagements in the Western Theater is known as Chickamauga.

Time: September 18, 1863 – September 20, 1863

Place: Georgia