|
The Last Stand
 bout
12 miles southwest of Chattanooga is Taylor's Ridge/White Oak
Mountain. Its geography is similar to Missionary Ridge. There's a gap
here, about 100 yards wide, located about 1/2 mile east of Ringgold
(6 miles east of Chickamauga). Bragg's defeated Army passed through
here on the 26th and the early morning of the 27th. This was where
the Confederates would make their last stand. It was now Fighting
Joe's time to become acquainted with Patrick Cleburne.
|
Just 19
months earlier (April 12, 1862), the locomotive General had been
stolen by James Andrews and 19 Ohio volunteers. The purpose was to
burn railroad bridges between Atlanta and Chattanooga thus isolating
Chattanooga for a Union attack (by Union General Mitchel of The Army
of the Ohio). The raid failed and The General was abandoned by
Andrews just two miles from Ringgold Gap. |
 Cleburne
knew the odds were against him, his Division would receive no
support and it was facing a much superior force. In addition, escape
would be difficult because the road leading south crossed the winding
Chickamauga Creek three times in the first half mile past the ridge.
But he had no choice, so Cleburne posted his men on both sides of the
ridge concealed from view and waited.
Dreams of Glory
On the early morning of
the 27th, Hooker's Army of the Potomac was in hot pursuit of Bragg.
Spirts high after their victory two days earlier, most were expecting
additional glory by capturing most, if not all, of Bragg's Army.
Hooker had also received reports that the Confederates were
completely demoralized, many throwing away their weapons. This only
served to heighten his expectations of glory. Unfortunately for him,
these reports did not reflect the condition of Cleburne's Division.
About 8:00 am, Hooker's
advance units arrived. Cleburne instructed a small detachment
of calvary to wait in the gap, fire at the approaching Yankees, and
then retreat. The Yankees, thinking the gap was lightly guarded,
rushed in. When they were at close range, Cleburne's cannon and his
troops opened fire. The Yankees fell back but quickly regrouped. Over
the next 6 hours, the Yankees made several attempts to outflank
Cleburne, but each was repulsed.
About 1:00, Cleburne
received word that Bragg's Army was at a safe distance. This was
fortunate for the Union force facing him had grown significantly and
the enemy's artillery was arriving. By 2:00, the "Gray Fox"
and his men had slipped away. Cleburne
Shattered Dreams
The Union losses were
heavy. As a result, the pursuit of the retreating Confederates was
called off. Hooker's dreams of glory were shattered. His victory at
Lookout Mountain was now overshadowed by this defeat. His losses at
Ringgold Gap were nearly three times greater than at Lookout
Mountain. Hooker
After the Siege
On November 30, General
Braxton Bragg resigned his command of the Army of Tennessee. Bragg
In March of 1864, using
Chattanooga as his supply depot, Sherman marched out of Chattanooga
and invaded the deep South. In September, he captured Atlanta. In
November, Lincoln won reelection, largely because of Atlanta's
capture. In December, Savannah fell to Sherman. Lee finally
surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865. The remaining Confederate
Armies surrendered shortly thereafter. Abraham Lincoln was
assassinated on April 14. The war was over.
The war resulted in
640,000 Union casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) out of 2.2
million soldiers. Of the 360,000 that died, two-thirds died of
disease. There were 450,000 Confederate casualties out of 800,000
soldiers. Of the 250,000 that died, again, about two-thirds died of disease. |
