Battle of Chickamauga

September 19–20, 1863 · Western Theater

Phases

1. 1Sep 19 — Meeting in the WoodsSeptember 19, 1863
2. 2Sep 20, 11:30 AM — The Fatal GapSeptember 20, 1863 — Morning
3. 3Afternoon — The Rock of ChickamaugaSeptember 20, 1863 — Noon to Dark
4. 4Night — Retreat to ChattanoogaSeptember 20–21, 1863

September 19, 1863

In woods so dense that officers command by sound, the armies collide along Chickamauga Creek — Cherokee for “river of death.” Thomas probes east at dawn toward Jay’s Mill and ignites a battle that spreads south all day, division fed against division across farm clearings like Viniard Field. Neither commander can see enough of the field to control it. Overnight, Longstreet arrives from Virginia with two divisions — 800 miles by rail in nine days.

• ➤Thomas’s XIV Corps — Probes east at Jay’s Mill — the battle ignites
• ➤Bragg’s Army of Tennessee — Attacks west toward the LaFayette Road all day
• ●The Union line settles along the LaFayette Road
• ●Jay’s Mill — first contact at dawn
• ●Viniard Field — seesaw slaughter astride the road