Arthur I. Leet, a Methodist clergyman with widespread commercial interests, established a mill and large tanyard near the spring before the war. Widely used by local citizens, the site became a landmark and was used by both armies during the Chickamauga Campaign. Confederate cavalry under General John Pegram camped there on September 12, 1863, and during the night came under a surprise attack from Colonel John T. Wilder’s Mounted Infantry Brigade. Although outnumbered, the Federals had fire superiority because they were armed with repeating rifles. In intense fighting that General Pegram described as “almost hand to hand,” the Federals lost 15 men and the Confederates had approximately fifty killed and wounded. Neither side gained the advantage, and both withdrew. Confederate Corps Commander Leonidas Polk was camped nearby in the Rock Spring area with his command, and General Braxton Bragg joined him there. At 2 p.m. on September 13, General Bragg ordered General William H.T. Walker to swing his forces from right to left to strike the enemy, said to be near Leet’s Tanyard at Pea Vine Church in force, but before the order was carried out it was discovered that the Federal commander, leaving skirmishers to deceive the Confederates, had gone with his whole force toward Chattanooga. At 5 p.m. Bragg and his staff returned to LaFayette, and the following day the rest of the Confederates also left the area around the tanyard and continued on to LaFayette. A few days later Confederate forces returned, and Leet’s Mill and Tanyard became a major staging area for the coming Battle of Chickamauga. On September 17, Braxton Bragg used Leet’s Tanyard as his headquarters just before the battle and planned his strategy there. During the night of September 17, he issued important orders directing his subordinates when and where to cross West Chickamauga Creek. Although Bragg left early on the morning of September 18 to move his headquarters closer to the fighting, a Confederate military presence remained there during and after the battle. Several wounded Confederate soldiers were treated there, and the site was also used as a collection point for captured Federal soldiers before they were sent farther south.

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs

Photo: David Tibbs