Battle Of Chickamauga Essay

Soldiers would say that the interpretation of the word Chickamauga means “river of blood”. The Battle of Chickamauga began as a cavalry action but quickly became a three day blood bath resulting in over 34,000 causalities. During the summer of 1863, Major General Rosecran set out to capture Chattanooga. Rosecran maneuvered his way into Chattanooga causing Confederate General Braxton Bragg to turn over control of Chattanooga. The Battle of Chickamauga was not only blood bath, but confusion, disorder and insubordination overwhelmed both sides of the battle lines at Chickamauga Creek, causing the Union army’s most sizable defeat. The Battle of Chickamauga was a battle amongst the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of Tennessee. Major General

Thomas fought among the Union in the Army of the Cumberland. General Braxton Bragg and Lt. General James Longstreet fought among Confederates in the Army of Tennessee. The battle took place in Catoosa County and Walker County, September 18-20, 1863. There were total estimated causalities of 34,624 of which, 16,170 were from Rosecrans force and 18,454 from Bragg’s force. After Rosecrans’ success at the Tullahoma Campaign he gathered three army corps and headed towards Chattanooga via separate routes. He spread his troops out in Georgia and Tennessee and forced Bragg’s soldiers out of Chattanooga, heading south. Bragg was firm to return to Chattanooga, so on the 17th Bragg sent his forces north, with the anticipation of beating Rosecrans troops. Bragg trudged north on September 18th with his cavalry and infantry to battle with the Union. The

The writer is quoted with saying (Nytimes.com, 1863) “A few miles riding brought us so far enough on the way that we began to get glimpses of that stream of wreck; debris mingled life and mangled humanity which always flows from a battlefield. For a time we asked the news of each one we came to, and the replies filled us alternately with sorrow, with indignation, with keen apprehension, and with hopes”. He reported that one soldier said to him “the battle had been going on several hours, and our arms had met with disaster along the whole line”. And another stated that “although unsuccessful at first, our troops at length recovered their ground, and were now driving the enemy”. When staff officer comes up on a man lying on the ground and he stops to ask him if he has any news the man had his arm bandaged and was it was covered in blood. "Who are you?" said the staff officer, "Private --, of the Thirty-eighth Indiana." The brigade commanded by Colonel BF Scriberner, of the Thirty-eighth Indiana was attacked by all sides, which lead to confusion throughout the brigade. This brigade was one of the very first troops and was left predominantly exposed. Many troops were tangled in the battle and getting them into position and no small feat. The writer explains how the troops were filed into line. Gen Thomas placed his troops on the left of the line in this order: