The Battle of Chickamauga took place on September 19 and 20, 1863. It was the bloodiest battle in the Western Theater of the Civil War. It was fought over a key railroad center 12 miles southwest of a small western town, Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Chickamauga, Georgia. About 126,000 met at this small town, under both armies command. The Army of the Cumberland, Union, under General William Rosecrans , advanced to Chattanooga to attack the Army of Tennessee, Confederates, under General Braxton Bragg's command. The Confederates were pushed back to south of Chattanooga. They were met by General James Longstreet with reinforcements in Chickamauga. Rosecrans pursued Bragg, finding an army waiting on the banks of Chickamauga Creek, ready to attack.
September 19, Day One
Rosecrans, with a force of about 55,000 men, on the higher ground, played a defensive strategy in this battle. Bragg, and the Confederates with about 65,000, easily out numbered the Union. Seeing this opportunity, Bragg attacked the Union defenses. Bragg repeatedly attacked the Union forces, beginning to wear down their defenses. The Confederates kept attacking, restless, through the day.
September 20, Day Two
Bragg split his army into two divisions. One led by General Leonidas Polk, and the other led by General James Longstreet. Both of the divisions would charge and try to break the Union line. Luck for the Confederates, there was a shift in the Union lines, allowing the Confederates to easily break throughout the lines. The Union army was quickly defeated, and they retreated that night to Chattanooga, ending the Battle of Chickamauga.
Aftermath of the Battle of Chickamauga
The casualties of the numbered close to 20,000 men for the Confederates, who also lost 10 generals, one of which including General John Bell Hood. The Union force lost about 16,000 men, and faced defeat of this battle. This was one of the costliest battles in the Western Theater of the Civil War.
Rosecrans, with a force of about 55,000 men, on the higher ground, played a defensive strategy in this battle. Bragg, and the Confederates with about 65,000, easily out numbered the Union. Seeing this opportunity, Bragg attacked the Union defenses. Bragg repeatedly attacked the Union forces, beginning to wear down their defenses. The Confederates kept attacking, restless, through the day.
September 20, Day Two
Bragg split his army into two divisions. One led by General Leonidas Polk, and the other led by General James Longstreet. Both of the divisions would charge and try to break the Union line. Luck for the Confederates, there was a shift in the Union lines, allowing the Confederates to easily break throughout the lines. The Union army was quickly defeated, and they retreated that night to Chattanooga, ending the Battle of Chickamauga.
Aftermath of the Battle of Chickamauga
The casualties of the numbered close to 20,000 men for the Confederates, who also lost 10 generals, one of which including General John Bell Hood. The Union force lost about 16,000 men, and faced defeat of this battle. This was one of the costliest battles in the Western Theater of the Civil War.