Late in August 1863, Maj. Gen. Wm. B. Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland crossed the Tennessee River near Bridgeport and threatened Chattanooga. On Sept. 7th, after learning that Rosecrans was moving toward his rear in the direction of Rome, Gen. Braxton Bragg withdrew his Army of Tennessee from Chattanooga to the vicinity of LaFayette to meet the Union advance when it crossed Lookout Mountain. Believing that Bragg was retreating by way of Ringgold and Summerville, Rosecrans divided his army to pursue both columns and strike Bragg's flanks, sending Thomas' 14th Corps through Stevens' Gap into McLemore's Cove west of LaFayette, McCook's 20th Corps toward Summerville, and Crittenden's 21st Corps toward Ringgold. By the 12th, Rosecrans realized his error, but his flanks were widely separated, leaving Thomas alone in front of Bragg's whole army. A hasty reconcentration began but was not completed until the night of September 17th. Meanwhile, Bragg's effort to crush Thomas and Crittenden in turn failed for want of strong leadership. That failure forced Bragg to fight Rosecrans's reassembled army near West Chickamauga Creek on the 19th and 20th. Although Bragg won the Battle of Chickamauga, two days of desperate fighting left his losses almost nullifying the victory.

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: Dale K. Benington