When did the Battle of Chickamauga take place?
The battle occurred in September 1863 with fighting beginning on the 19th day. Union troops crossed the river starting August 29 and reached the valley by early September.
The battle occurred in September 1863 with fighting beginning on the 19th day. Union troops crossed the river starting August 29 and reached the valley by early September.
Braxton Bragg led the Confederate Army of Tennessee during the engagement. He received reinforcements from the Department of East Tennessee bringing his total strength to about 69,800 soldiers.
Chickamauga Creek forms the southeast boundary of the battlefield area near northwest Georgia. The creek flows into the Tennessee River approximately 3.5 miles northeast of downtown Chattanooga.
Fighting began almost by accident when pickets from Daniel McCook's brigade searched for water near Jay's Mill on September 19. They encountered Confederate cavalrymen who waited through the night south of the mill.
Union forces suffered more than 569 casualties along the way while forcing Confederates to abandon Middle Tennessee. This occurred during Major General William Rosecrans movement southeast from Murfreesboro in the summer of 1863.