Summary of Battle of Chickamauga in Harpers Weekly, September 26, 1863
Chattanooga is ours without a struggle, and East Tennessee is free. Our move on the enemy's flank and rear progresses, while the tail of his retreating column will not escape unmolested. Our troops from this side entered Chattanooga about noon. Those north of the river there are crossing. W. S. Rosecrans, Major-General.
DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR.
Dispatches dated Chattanooga, September 9, say:
Generals Wood and Wagner entered this city at eleven A.M. The enemy's rear-guard—Pegram's cavalry—left an hour before. We have taken two steamboats, one horse-boat, and thirty pontoons, very few stores, and no artillery or prisoners, The rebel works are very strong. The casualties of the whole expedition are just one man killed. Bragg discovered the flanking movements of McCook and Thomas on Monday night, and immediately began
to withdraw his troops upon the road to Rome. Johnston had reinforced him with two divisions.
CHATTANOOGA, September 10.
General Rosecrans entered this city to-day. Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, is celebrating mass in the cathedral at his request. Nearly all the citizens left three weeks ago, with their household goods. Very few returned.
Letter Home from Chickamauga
Parents,
I don't have a lot of time to write this and I want to keep it short. The battle has been very bloody and I am lucky to have survived the battle. A bullet almost grazed my jacket; it could have shredded my arm. It was a long march to Chickamauga, Georgia from Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Bragg was the Army of Tennessee’s commander and we were pursuing his army into Georgia where we were meet by General Longstreet in Chickamauga Creek. Bragg’s army and Longstreets’s army combined and were ready to fight us. There were about 126,000 men there. We suffered about 16,000 casualties. Our cavalry were the first ones to start fighting they were attacked by the Confederates cavalry and infantry. Our battle was 2 days and the South won the Battle of Chickamauga. I wish this war would just end and I would return home. Keep me in your prayers.
Yours Truly,
John R. Williamson
DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR.
Dispatches dated Chattanooga, September 9, say:
Generals Wood and Wagner entered this city at eleven A.M. The enemy's rear-guard—Pegram's cavalry—left an hour before. We have taken two steamboats, one horse-boat, and thirty pontoons, very few stores, and no artillery or prisoners, The rebel works are very strong. The casualties of the whole expedition are just one man killed. Bragg discovered the flanking movements of McCook and Thomas on Monday night, and immediately began
to withdraw his troops upon the road to Rome. Johnston had reinforced him with two divisions.
CHATTANOOGA, September 10.
General Rosecrans entered this city to-day. Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, is celebrating mass in the cathedral at his request. Nearly all the citizens left three weeks ago, with their household goods. Very few returned.
Letter Home from Chickamauga
Parents,
I don't have a lot of time to write this and I want to keep it short. The battle has been very bloody and I am lucky to have survived the battle. A bullet almost grazed my jacket; it could have shredded my arm. It was a long march to Chickamauga, Georgia from Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Bragg was the Army of Tennessee’s commander and we were pursuing his army into Georgia where we were meet by General Longstreet in Chickamauga Creek. Bragg’s army and Longstreets’s army combined and were ready to fight us. There were about 126,000 men there. We suffered about 16,000 casualties. Our cavalry were the first ones to start fighting they were attacked by the Confederates cavalry and infantry. Our battle was 2 days and the South won the Battle of Chickamauga. I wish this war would just end and I would return home. Keep me in your prayers.
Yours Truly,
John R. Williamson