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Outmaneuvered
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nine months beginning in January 1863, General Braxton Bragg's
Confederate Army of Tennessee was outmaneuvered by Union General
William Rosecrans and his Army of the Cumberland. Bragg, forced to
abandon middle Tennessee, retreated to Chattanooga. In early
September, concerned about his southern supply line, Bragg again
moved his Army. This time he moved about 12 miles southeast of
Chattanooga to an area around Chickamauga Creek.
The Tide Turns
With reinforcements from
The Army of Northern Virginia under General Longstreet, the tide had
turned for Bragg and he went on the offensive. Missing opportunities
to attack Rosecrans when he was vulnerable, Bragg finally attacked on
the morning of September 19, 1863.
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The Gap
No advantage was achieved
by either side on the 19th. The deciding event occurred at 11:00 am
on the 20th. Union General Thomas Wood received orders to move his
division. The orders from Rosecrans, however, were based on incorrect
information. Wood probably knew this but earlier that morning he had
been publicly scolded by Rosecrans for not promptly following orders.
Probably because of this, Wood blindly followed the orders leaving a
large gap in the Union line. Coincidentally, Longstreet had planned
an attack on that position. The attack was launched just minutes
after Wood's departure.
Through the gap poured
11,000 screaming Confederates. In just minutes, the entire Union
right wing broke and retreated in disarray toward Chattanooga. But
the Union left wing, under George Thomas, remained intact. Thomas'
men made a stand on Snodgrass Hill allowing Rosecrans' Army to escape
to Chattanooga. This earned Thomas the nickname "Rock of Chickamauga". |
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James Longstreet |
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George Thomas |
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This was
a costly Confederate victory. After the battle, the Union's Army of
the Cumberland retreated into Chattanooga. Rather than attacking,
Bragg, ignoring the advice of his top commanders, decided to lay
siege and starve the Union forces into submission. |
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