Battle of Chickamauga
Catoosa and Walker counties, Georgia
What happened
Union General William Rosecrans fought the Confederate army of General Braxton Bragg, with James Longstreet leading the decisive attack and Union General George H. Thomas holding the last line. Rosecrans was pushing to capture Chattanooga, Tennessee, an important railroad hub, and the armies met along Chickamauga Creek in Georgia. On the third day, a mistaken report of a gap in the Union line led Rosecrans to move troops, which opened a real gap. Longstreet's soldiers poured through and drove much of the Union army from the field, but General Thomas held Snodgrass Hill until dark, letting the rest of the army escape.
Why it matters
Result: Confederate victory. Leaders: William Rosecrans / George H. Thomas against Braxton Bragg / James Longstreet. Why it matters: It was a major Confederate victory in the western part of the war. However, Bragg did not destroy the Union army, which held on in Chattanooga.
What came next
The Confederates besieged Chattanooga, and Rosecrans was replaced by Thomas. In November 1863, Ulysses S. Grant's forces broke the siege at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.
Did you know?
General Thomas was born in Virginia but stayed loyal to the Union, and his stand here earned him the nickname 'the Rock of Chickamauga'.
Timeline
- September 18, 1863Fighting begins along Chickamauga Creek.
- September 20, 1863Longstreet breaks through a gap in the Union line; Thomas holds Snodgrass Hill.
- November 1863Grant's forces break the siege of Chattanooga.