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The Necessity for Chatanooga
Described by Lincoln as a vital city for the Union cause, Chatanooga was believed to be crucial to entering and defeating the south, and contained useful manufacturing plants. The Union Army of Cumberland headed by Maj Gen. Rosecrans, entered untouched, while the Southern Army of Tenessee, led by Gen. Bragg, evacuated and surrounded the city, while acquiring reinforcements from Longstreet and Hood. -
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The Battle of Chickamauga
The bloodiest battle of the war besides Gettysburg, Chickamauga saw 35,000 casualties, and was one of the worst defeats for the Union on the western front -
Preperation Begins
At Lee and Gordan's Mills, reinforcements from Union General Thomas Crittenden arrives, Rosecrans orders the troops to maintain a position here, where he expects to meet the newly reinforced troops from Bragg -
The Fighting Begins!
At midday, Confederate Cavalry General Nathan Bedfor Forrest fight with Union forces at woods near Jay's Mill. After drawing back, fighting begins between the infantry, and by the end of the day the Union troops are dug in at Lafayette Road anticipating attacks from the south. -
Confederates Drive The Union Back
Union Forces retreat, but hold position, under Gen. Thomas with repeating rifles on Snodgrass Hill. Bragg does not pursue, and Union forces retreat into Chatanooga unharmed. -
Too Late
Darkness falls, and the Confederates capture union lines, but not the army itself. Thanks to the lack of light, Thomas is able to withdraw his men from Snodgrass Hill to Rossville Gap -
The Bad Intel
Rosecrans learns that there is a gap and heavy weakness between the Confederate lines of Longstreet and Bragg. This turns out to be wrong, and Rosecrans actually makes the same weakness in his forces as he thought the Confederates had. Longstreet sends 3 divisions to drive out the Union forces -
The Hardship
Bragg formed a line around Rossville, but the army is in a terrible state, shattered, and split partially into Chatanooga. Both sides had severe casualties, where Bragg's army had 40% casualties.
