Chickamauga

Western ACW Books

The Battle of Chickamauga was a crushing defeat for William Starke Rosecrans and his Army of the Cunmberland. At the same time, it was also an unfulfilled victory for Bragg and his Confederate Army of Tennessee (including two divisions of Longstreet's Corps from the Army of Northern Virginia). From the Union Cavalry's delaying actions at Alexander's Bridge, to the vicious and confused fighting in the forests on Day 1, and finally to Thomas' heroic last stand on Horseshoe Ridge, Chickamauga had a ton of drama. You had Wood's Division pulling out of the Union line and opening a gap right where Longstreet's veterans were poised to strike. There was Rosecrans fleeing the battle and losing his reputation while "Pap" Thomas stood firm. And finally and most unfortunately for the Confederate cause there were Bragg's subordinates urging him to push forward after the fight and complete an overwhelming victory, while the comander himself dawdled and eventually lost a golden opportunity.