The Battle of Chickamauga

Did you know that the second-largest battle of the Civil War in terms of casualties took place near a small creek in Georgia whose native name means “River of Death?”

The Battle of Chickamauga claimed more casualties (dead, wounded, captured, and missing) than any other Civil War battle except Gettysburg, yet it is not well known. Chickamauga did not change the tide of the war. Though it was a Union defeat, it did not really slow down Union plans for the collapse of the Confederacy in the Deep South.

The list of generals who fought at Chickamauga is filled with well-known names. There were Confederate Generals James Longstreet, Braxton Bragg (considered by many to be the worst Confederate Army commander of the war), and Nathan Bedford Forrest (the Rebel “Wizard of the Saddle” who chafed under Bragg’s incompetent orders). And on the Union side, there were Generals William Rosecrans (whose bright military career ended at Chickamauga), George Henry Thomas (the Virginian Union man who became known as the “Rock of Chickamauga” for his stand there), and Colonel James Garfield (who would be propelled to the presidency of the United States in 1880 due to his actions at Chickamauga).

In this highly readable introduction to the Battle of Chickamauga, you’ll discover:
How the primitive state of communications and an incorrect observation on the battlefield changed the outcome of the battle not once but many times
How both Union and Confederate commanders committed a series of errors
How fortunate/unfortunate timing led to the Confederate victory and Union defeat
That not only average families were divided by the Civil War. Mary Lincoln’s brother-in-law and the friend of the president fell at Chickamauga while fighting for the Confederates.
And much more!