The Battle of Chickamauga

Today, my Southern friends, is a day to remember. This is a day where we drove the Federal's back. A day to remember...

The campaign lasted from August 16 to September 22, 1964. And the actual battle lasted from September 20 to the 22. The key point had been Lee & Gordon's Mills store. General Braxton Bragg was ready with the Army of Tennessee. General Rosecrans was ready with the Army of the Cumberland, or so he thought. Rosecrans made a fatal decision that probably coasted the Federal's a victory. General Woods as supposed to be behind the Union's right formation, but had earlier gone to aid General Negley's men. However, those men had already gone to support the left formation. Rosecrans then decided to go strengthen the right flank. General James Longstreet had been moving forward, and Rosecrans ordered Woods to "close up and support" General Joseph Reynolds.

Rosecrans had thought that Woods would move to Reynolds' right side, but Brannan already was there. Woods went in between them. At that moment, three of our troops struck the Federal line only to find a gap where Woods had previously been. We took advantage of the situation and pressed onward. McCook had tried to reinforce the gap, but he had gotten there too late.

Rosecrans withdrew along with Davis and Philip Sheridan leaving General George Henry Thomas in charge. Rosecrans later told Thomas to retreat after he had made himself a hero to the Union. the battle ended at 7:00 P.M.

The results of the battle were devastating. Thankfully, the Union defeat was significant. They lost three segments of the Army of the Cumberland. The army had sent out 58,222 men, 16,170 of which became casualties. The Army of Tennessee had received 18,454 casualties out of 66,635 men. This had been a wondrous victory for us, which will hopefully improve.

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