Compiled by Jim Hachtel, President
Gen. William T. Sherman Memorial Civil War Roundtable
September 15, 1863 - Six Confederate soldiers were killed in an accidental magazine explosion at Battery Cheves, James Island, South Carolina.
September 15, 1863 - Confederate General Braxton Bragg and Union General William Rosecrans move toward a final confrontation following a skirmish at Catlett's Gap, Georgia.
September 16, 1863 - General Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland takes up positions along Chickamauga Creek, 12 miles below Chattanooga, Tennessee.
September 17, 1863 - A skirmish between Confederate and Union forces takes place at Owen's Ford, West Chickamauga Creek, Georgia. Bragg misses his last opportunity to attack the Army of the Cumberland while the corps are still separated. Rosecrans completes his move and prepares for a major clash.
September 18, 1863 - Fighting begins across Chickamauga Creek. The Confederates outnumber the Union forces 68,000 to 58,000 men. General Bragg attempts to move his army between Rosecrans' army and the Union supply base at Chattanooga but is delayed. Rosecrans, fearing he is being outflanked, directs General George Thomas on a lengthy night march.
September 19, 1863 - The Battle of Chickamauga begins when General Thomas's XIV Corps meets General Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry on the Union left. Fighting escalates and both army commanders become consumed in directing additional troops into the hottest spots. The battle becomes a series of piecemeal struggles on the immediate front with mounting losses on both sides. That evening, General James Longstreet's I Corps arrives and General Bragg appoints Longstreet to command the left wing and Leonidas Polk to direct the right.
September 20, 1863 - Braxton Bragg plans an assault at dawn but confusion and delays stall the advance until after 9:00AM. About 10:30AM, a Southern charge on the Union center nearly pushes to the Lafayette Road. Rosecrans is mistakenly informed that a gap has formed in the center of his line and he directs General Thomas Wood's division to plug the gap. As General Wood pulls his troops out of line to fill the gap, General Longstreet's six brigades pour through, pushing the Union center and right along with General Roscrans and other officers into a full retreat.
September 20, 1863 - In the afternoon, General George Thomas establishes a strong defensive position along Snodgrass Hill. Several assaults on Thomas's position are beaten back. Union gains were realized when General Gordon Granger disobeyed General Rosecrans and rushed his Reserve Corps forward to support General Thomas. General Granger held the flag of 115th Illinois aloft throughout the heavy fighting and General Thomas stubbornly held Snodgrass Hill with determination. General George Thomas is credited with saving the Army of the Cumberland and gained the "Rock of Chickamauga" designation. Fighting ceases at nightfall.
September 20, 1863 - Fighting stopped by evening and General Thomas orders his 21st Ohio, 89th Ohio, and 22nd Michigan to hold the ridge above McFarland's Gap until his column passes through. The units are out of ammunition and hold the pass with bayonets alone. Most of the soldiers in these units were captured but only after Thomas's column passed through. The Battle of Chickamauga is the bloodiest in the western theatre with each side suffering about 28% loss through killed, wounded and missing. Confederate loss is 17,804 and Union loss is 16,179. General Daniel H. Hill called Chickamauga "A Barren Victory." Both Generals Bragg and Rosecrans suffer blows to their reputations; Bragg for his lackluster leadership and failure to pursue the Army of the Cumberland and Rosecrans for his lack of managing during and after the battle.
September 20, 1863 - Confederate General Ben Hardin Helm, President Lincoln's
brother-in-law is killed at Chickamauga. Both the President and Mrs. Lincoln mourn the loss.
September 21, 1863 - General Ambrose E. Burnside refuses to leave Knoxville to reinforce General Rosecrans even with repeated orders from President Lincoln.
September 21, 1863 - General George Thomas abandons Rossville Gap and reaches Chattanooga in good order. Confederate pursuit is lax.
