Arguably the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Chickamauga was fought between the Confederate Army of Tennessee and the Union Army of the Cumberland. Essentially, the Confederates drove the Union army from Chiickamauga Creek (in northern Georgia) back into Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Generals involved were Braxton Bragg and James Longstreet (Confederate), and William S. Rosecrans and George Thomas (Union). In the summer of 1863, Confederate deserters fed the Yankees false information that Bragg was retreating. Rosecrans had already forced him out of Tullahoma, Tennessee; captured Chattanooga by September; and pursued Bragg into northern Georgia, a mountainous region.
The action truly began on September 18th of 1863, when Bragg and his army marched to Chickamauga Creek, proceeding across. Rosecrans, however, had anticipated this move and his Union reinforcements were already present - thus the skirmish began. On September 19th, Bragg's army struggled to break the Union's strong line. The turning point of this battle was when James Longstreet brought in Confederate reinforcements, and General Thomas mistakenly created a gap in the Union line, through which the Confederates sauntered. While the rest of the Union retreated speedily to Chattanooga, Thomas and his corps stayed on the battlefield and ceased the Rebel attack. Someone down the line decided this steadfast action merited him the nickname, 'The Rock of Chickamauga.'
Less than two months later, the battles for Chattanooga ensued.
- Divya Sunderam
Sources:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/confederates-score-a-victory-at-the-battle-of-chickamauga
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/chickamauga.html?tab=facts
http://www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/fall-2010/fight-at-reeds-bridge.html
http://www.civilwar.org/photos/galleries/chickamauga/images/veterans-of-chickamauga.jpg
The action truly began on September 18th of 1863, when Bragg and his army marched to Chickamauga Creek, proceeding across. Rosecrans, however, had anticipated this move and his Union reinforcements were already present - thus the skirmish began. On September 19th, Bragg's army struggled to break the Union's strong line. The turning point of this battle was when James Longstreet brought in Confederate reinforcements, and General Thomas mistakenly created a gap in the Union line, through which the Confederates sauntered. While the rest of the Union retreated speedily to Chattanooga, Thomas and his corps stayed on the battlefield and ceased the Rebel attack. Someone down the line decided this steadfast action merited him the nickname, 'The Rock of Chickamauga.'
Less than two months later, the battles for Chattanooga ensued.
- Divya Sunderam
Sources:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/confederates-score-a-victory-at-the-battle-of-chickamauga
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/chickamauga.html?tab=facts
http://www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/fall-2010/fight-at-reeds-bridge.html
http://www.civilwar.org/photos/galleries/chickamauga/images/veterans-of-chickamauga.jpg