Battle of Chickamauga Facts
Battle of Chickamauga Facts
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The Battle of Chickamauga was a bloody battle in Georgia in 1863. The Confederates were victorious in their attempt to keep the Union from marching on through Georgia, but were not able to break the Union hold on Chattanooga, Tennessee. The battle came at a high cost for both sides as both armies had a large number of casualties.
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The battle took place on September 19 and September 20, 1863.
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It occurred in northwest Georgia and is named for Chickamauga Creek.
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The Confederates won the battle.
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The Union was under the command of Major General William Rosecrans and General Braxton Bragg led the Confederates.
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The Union had over 16,000 casualties and the Confederates had over 18,000 casualties. The only battle that had more casualties was the Battle of Gettysburg.
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It was the first battle of the war fought in Georgia.
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Rosecrans had hoped to continue with the Union offensive in the Western Theater.
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Union troops had pushed the Confederates out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Braxton wanted to force the Union out of Chattanooga and take back the city for the Confederacy.
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There had already been skirmishes between the Union and Confederates on September 18 when the Confederate cavalry and infantry fought the Union mounted infantry.
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The battle began on September 19 when Bragg's men assaulted the Union line near Chickamauga Creek, but the Union men held them off.
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The Army of Northern Virginia arrived in support of Braxton's army and forced one third of the Union troops off the battlefield. Rosecrans was among those forced to retreat.
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Some Union troops under the command of General George Thomas held off a siege on Horseshoe Ridge, allowing the remainder of the Union army to safely retreat.
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Thomas was given the nickname "The Rock of Chickamauga" for his actions at Horseshoe Ridge.
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Thomas was actually from the South. He was from Virginia, but stayed loyal to the Union when Virginia seceded from the Union.
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Even though the Confederates won the battle and the Union was temporarily halted in its attempt to get through Georgia, the Union still had control of Chattanooga.
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