Battle of Chickamauga Battlefield Pictures Maps Paintings History Facts Summary Essay Events American Civil War List Confederate Union Soldiers Killed Wounded Captured Battle of Chickamauga Campaign

Maneuver for Position: Chickamauga Battle Campaign

Bragg was aware of the isolated positions of the Union Army, and he saw an opportunity to strike his opponent in detail, one corps at a time, while they were not in supporting distance of each other. He issued orders to Maj. Gen. T. C. Hindman and Lt. Gen. D. H. Hill to strike Maj. Gen. James S. Negley's division of Thomas' corps, which was in an advanced position at McLemore's Cove, but Hill failed to carry out his order. Bragg ordered Buckner to join Hindman which he did on September 10. Instead of attacking Negley, the two Confederate commanders decided that a different plan was needed for the situation and sent their recommendation to Bragg. While this correspondence passed back and forth, Negley withdrew and rejoined the rest of Thomas' corps. The Confederates had now lost their opportunity to strike and possibly destroy this division.

Two days later a similar situation arose with the same result—loss of the opportunity to strike another corps in detail. This time Bragg ordered Polk to move his and Walker's corps to Lee and Gordon's Mills to strike Union General Crittenden's divided force. Two of Crittenden's divisions had marched toward Ringgold; one had moved to Lee and Gordon's Mills. Polk, instead of attacking, went on the defensive and asked for reinforcements. For the second time in 3 days, subordinate Confederate commanders allowed a Union corps to regroup.

Rosecrans now realized Bragg had concentrated and reinforced his army, and that his own force was in danger of annihilation in its divided condition. Accordingly he ordered General Granger, commanding the Reserve Corps in the vicinity of Bridgeport, Ala., to Chattanooga; General Crittenden to position at Lee and Gordon's Mills on Chickamauga Creek, some 12 miles south of Chattanooga; and General Thomas to move northward toward Crittenden as soon as he was joined by General McCook's Corps, which had been commanded to make haste in joining the other corps.

In the hurried concentration of the Army of the Cumberland, McCook withdrew from Alpine and chose to retrace his way by crossing over Lookout Mountain, thence up Lookout Valley where he had to recross the mountain to join General Thomas. It took McCook approximately 5 days (September 13 to 17) to complete this movement, greatly to the consternation of Rosecrans who had expected McCook to follow the shorter route on top of Lookout Mountain or roads through McLemore's Cove. Some of the troops, however, such as the Second Division, did forced marches in some instances of 25 miles in a day.

Bragg made no effort to prevent this concentration of the Union forces, and during the night of September 17 the three corps were within supporting distance of each other. The Union left was at Lee and Gordon's Mills, and from there the line extended west and south through McLemore's Cove to Stevens Gap through Lookout Mountain

The Battle of Chickamauga: September 18, 1863 Battlefield Maps

On the morning of the 18th the three advanced brigades of Longstreet's Corps from Virginia arrived at Ringgold. One brigade immediately joined Bushrod Johnson's division as it prepared to cross Chickamauga Creek at Reed's Bridge. Union cavalry under Col. Robert H. G. Minty and mounted infantry under command of Col. John T. Wilder, guarding the bridges, offered stout resistance and delayed the crossing of the southern troops for several hours. During the skirmishing, Minty's men dismantled Alexander's Bridge and forced Walker to proceed to Lambert's Ford, a half-mile downstream. The Confederates used other fords and crossings throughout the late afternoon and night as all of Bragg's forces, except three divisions, crossed to the west side of Chickamauga Creek.

The Union forces were not idle, and during the night Rosecrans moved Thomas' corps northeastward above and back of Crittenden, so that Bragg would not outflank the Federal line. Negley's Division remained near Crawfish Springs (now Chickamauga), Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds' Division near Widow Glenn's, and Brigadier Generals Absalom Baird's and John M. Brannan's Divisions covered the roads leading to Reed's and Alexander's Bridges. General McCook's Corps moved to position in McLemore's Cove.

The situation at dawn on the 19th found the two armies facing each other over a stretch of several miles along the banks of the Chickamauga. Rosecrans had been able in a short rime to maneuver the Army of the Cumberland into position so that it interposed between Bragg and Chattanooga. His Reserve Corps under General Granger was at McAfee's Church, near Rossville. Thomas' Fourteenth Army Corps composed the Union's left a few miles south of Granger, and formed a southwesterly line to Crawfish Spring where it joined McCook, forming the right in McLemore's Cove. Crittenden's Twenty-First Army Corps remained concentrated at Lee and Gordon's Mills, somewhat in front of the other two corps, to protect the Union center.

TABLE 1.—Union Army at Chickamauga Army of the Cumberland—MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS Fourteenth Army Corps——MAJ. GEN. GEORGE H. THOMAS      1st Division—Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird      2d Division—Maj. Gen. James S. Negley      3d Division—Brig. Gen. John M. Brannan      4th Division—Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds Twentieth Army Corps—Maj. GEN. ALEXANDER McD. McCOOK      1st Division—Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis      2d Division—Brig. Gen. Richard W. Johnson      3d Division—Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan Twenty-first Army Corps—MAJ. GEN. THOMAS L. CRITTENDEN      1st Division—Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood      2d Division—Maj. Gen. John M. Palmer      3d Division—Brig. Gen. H. P. Van Cleve Reserve Corps—MAJ. GEN. GORDON GRANGER      1st Division—Brig. Gen. James B. Steedman      2d Division—Col. Daniel McCook Cavalry Corps—BRIG. GEN. ROBERT B. MITCHELL      1st Division Col. Edward M. McCook      2d Division—Brig. Gen. George Crook

TABLE 2.—Confederate Army at Chickamauga Army of Tennessee—GEN. BRAXTON BRAGG1 Right Wing—LT. GEN. LEONIDAS POLK      Cheatham's Division—MAJ. GEN. B. F. CHEATHAM      Hill's Corps—LT. GEN. DANIEL H. HILL           Cleburne's Division—Maj. Gen. P. R. Cleburne           Breckinridge's Division—Maj. Gen. J. C. Breckinridge      Reserve Corps MAJ. GEN. W. H. T. WALKER           Walker's Division—Brig. Gen. S. R. Gist           Liddell's Division—Brig. Gen. Sr. John R. Liddell Left Wing—LT. GEN. JAMES LONGSTREET      Hindman's Division—Maj. GEN. T. C. HINDMAN      Buckner's Corps—Maj. GEN. SIMON B. BUCKNER           Stewart's Division—Maj. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart           Preston's Division—Brig. Gen. William Preston           Johnson's Division—Brig. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson      Longstreet's Corps—MAJ. GEN. JOHN B. HOOD           McLaw's Division—Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw           Hood's Division—Maj. Gen. John B. Hood,                     Brig. Gen. E. McIver Law      Corps Artillery2—COL. E. PORTER ALEXANDER      Reserve Artillery, Army of Tennessee—MAJ. FELIX H. ROBERTSON      Cavalry—MAJ. GEN. JOSEPH WHEELER           Wharton's Division—Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton           Martin's Division—Brig. Gen. William T. Martin           Forrest's Corps—Brig. Gen. N. B. Forrest           Armstrong's Division— Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong           Pegram's Division—Brig. Gen. John Pegram 1 General Bragg's army was composed of Polk's, Hill's, Buckner's, Longstreet's (Hood's), and Walker's (Reserve) Corps of infantry, and Wheeler's and Forrest's Corps of cavalry. For the second day's fight the army was divided into two wings, General Polk commanding the right and General Longstreet the left. 2 In transit, did not take part in the battle.

Bragg's Army of Tennessee, except three divisions was concentrated on the west side of the Chickamauga from Reeds Bridge almost to Dalton's Ford, near Lee and Gordon's Mills. The divisions had been shuffled around during the night, and remained so for the first day's battle. Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry held the right flank at Reeds Bridge; then, in succession toward the left (south), were Walker's Corps; Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham's Division (Polk's Corps); Longstreet's Corps (under Maj. Gen. John B. Hood); and Buckner's Corps. On the east side of the stream and forming the right were Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne's Division (Hill's Corps), preparing to cross at Tedford's Ford; Maj. Gen. T. C. Hindman's Division (Polk's Corps) opposite Lee and Gordon's Mills; and Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge's Division (Hill's Corps) forming the extreme left opposite Glass' Mill. Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler's cavalry, stationed at the upper fords of the Chickamauga, held the left flank.

Neither army knew the exact position of the other as they maneuvered for position during the night. The densely wooded area, covered with tangled undergrowth, brambles and cedar thickets, prevented easy movement or good observation, and many of the officers had difficulty keeping in touch with their own commands.

The armies were so close to each other, in some instances only a few hundred yards apart, that it was inevitable a clash would soon take place, but at what point no one could say.

The Battle of Chickamauga: September 20, 1863 Pictures

 

Lt. Gen. James Longstreet. Courtesy National Archives.

Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk. Courtesy National Archives.

Longstreet's attack hit Wood's and Brannan's Divisions on their exposed flank and drove them from the immediate field of battle. On the other side of the gap the Confederates struck Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis' Division, which was marching up to take Wood's place in the line, and Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's Division in flank. In a very short time the entire Union right flank was in disorder and driven from the field. Wilder's brigade on the extreme right made a valiant stand for a while, employing to good effect the heavy fire power of the Spencer repeating carbine with which it was armed. Nothing, however, seemed to daunt the onrush of the Confederates, and Wilder withdrew for fear of being cut off from escape.

The routed divisions from the Union right withdrew northwestward through McFarland's Gap to Rossville. Generals Rosecrans, Crittenden, and McCook were caught in the breakthrough and fled the field. General Thomas was now in command of the Union forces left there.

The altered conditions of the battlefield now dictated a change in Confederate strategy. The original plan of enveloping the Union left changed to a sweep from the Union right to the left. A pause in the fighting enabled Thomas to form a new line quickly to his rear on Snodgrass Hill, almost at a right angle with the Union left. From this vantage point he met the onslaught of Longstreet's troops with such stubborn and determined resistance on that Sunday afternoon that he earned the name "Rock of Chickamauga."

The Union line on Snodgrass Hill was composed of Brannan's Division with fragments of Wood's, Negley's and Van Cleve's Divisions. Longstreet vigorously assaulted the line again and again and nearly succeeded in enveloping Brannan's right. Confederate success seemed assured as Thomas' troops were hard hit and were short of ammunition, but at this moment unexpected reinforcements reached General Thomas.

General Granger, without orders and following the sound of battle, had hastened to the aid of Thomas. He arrived at Snodgrass Hill at a very opportune moment and just in time to stop the Confederates from enveloping Brannan's right. A fierce engagement took place as Brig. Gen. James B. Steedman's Division of Granger's Corps forced the southern troops from the crest of the hill.

The Battle of Chickamauga. Scene from diorama in the Museum, Park Headquarters Building.

Midafternoon found Longstreet once again attempting to wrest the hill from Thomas' troops, using McLaw's, Hindman's, and Bushrod Johnson's Divisions, and again he was repulsed. Later in the afternoon, Longstreet asked Bragg for reinforcements but was told none were available and that the right wing "had been beaten back so badly that they could be of no service" to him. Longstreet determined to make one more effort. He formed a column of such troops as were available and again assaulted the hill. The fight was desperate and lasted until nightfall. The Union troops repulsed some of the Confederate charges with the bayonet as their ammunition was nearly exhausted. Finally, Longstreet pushed Steedman back to the next ridge and occupied the ground to the right of Brannan.

The left of the Union line around Kelly Field spent a relatively quiet afternoon compared to their comrades on Snodgrass Hill. However, a bout 4 p.m., the divisions of Hill's corps and part of Walker's again assaulted the Union positions there. By 6 p.m., Cheatham's Division had joined the attack. This attack succeeded in enveloping the Union left, and the road to Rossville, through Rossville Gap, was cut off for the moment.

In the meantime, Thomas received orders from Rosecrans to "Assume command of all the forces, and with Crittenden and McCook take a strong position and assume a threatening attitude at Rossville." Although Thomas received these orders with little delay, it was late afternoon before he sent instructions to Reynolds to begin the withdrawal and move into position to cover the retirement of the other troops on the left. In executing this movement, Reynolds was forced to drive off the Confederate troops who had begun to envelop the Union left. The Union army withdrew in relatively good order. The troops holding Kelly Field moved out first, followed by those who had stubbornly resisted Longstreet's attacks upon Snodgrass Hill.

Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, Reserve Corps, Army of the Cumberland, at Rossville Gap. The house was built by John Ross, Cherokee Indian Chief who lived in it until 1832. Ross gave his name to the village in the gap.
From Elson, The Civil War Through the Camera.

While the retreat from the battlelines may have been in "good order," General Beatty's description of the march to Rossville amply describes the scene: "The march to Rossville was a melancholy one. All along the road, for miles, wounded men were lying. They had crawled or hobbled slowly away from the fury of the battle, become exhausted, and lain down by the roadside to die." Beatty reached Rossville between "ten and eleven" and reported, "At this hour of the night (eleven to twelve o'clock) the army is simply a mob. There appears to be neither organization nor discipline. The various commands are mixed up in what seems to be inextricable confusion."

Nevertheless, Thomas placed his forces at Rossville Gap and along Missionary Ridge in preparation against further attacks. The morning of the 21st found the Union Army of the Cumberland more or less reorganized. With the exception of some skirmishing, the Union forces were not molested.

The losses on both sides were appalling and the percentages surprisingly equal. The following tabulation of casualties at the Battle of Chickamauga is based on Thomas L. Livermore's Numbers and Losses in the Civil War in America, 1861—65:

Army	Total Strength	Total Casualties	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Percent Casualties
Union	58,222	16,170	1,657	9,756	4,757	28
Confederate	66,326	18,454	2,312	14,674	1,468	28

Wartime view, Lee and Gordon's Mills, Chickamauga Battlefield.
Courtesy National Archives.

 

Sources: James R. Sullivan, CHICKAMAUGA and CHATTANOOGA BATTLEFIELDS (Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia-Tennessee): National Park Service Historical Handbook Series No. 25, Washington, D.C., 1956 (Reprinted 1961)