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September 18-20, 1863: The Battle of Chickamauga

On September 18-20, 1863, Union and Confederate forces engaged in the Battle of Chickamauga, a bloody Civil War battle fought near the Chickamauga Creek in Georgia. The battle ended in a victory for Confederate forces and resulted in 34,000 casualties. It marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia known as the Chickamauga Campaign. It is widely considered to be the second deadliest battle of the Civil War, following the Battle of Gettysburg.  

In the summer of 1863, Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans led his Union Army of the Cumberland from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, towards Chattanooga, 140 miles to the south. Chattanooga was an important rail junction for the South. The goal was to use the Federal army of about 60,000 to surround the city and cut off escape for Gen. Braxton Bragg and his Army of Tennessee numbering about 40,000.

As the Union Army approached Chattanooga in early September, Bragg and his army abandoned the city and retreated to Chickamauga Creek, just 12 miles away. There they awaited reinforcements. More than 30,000 Confederate troops poured in, boosting morale.  Now on the offensive, the Confederates set out on the morning of September 18, 1863, to cross two bridges on the Chickamauga Creek. They encountered Union infantry and cavalrymen armed with Spencer repeating rifles blocking the way. Skirmishes ensued but Bragg’s army eventually made it across the creek.

As evening approached, the Confederates encountered Union troops north of Lee and Gordon’s Mills. Rosecrans huddled with George Thomas, a Union general, to strategize and hold open a path of retreat back to Chattanooga for Union forces. Thomas gathered troops and marched through the night to extend Union lines northward and guarantee safe passage. After marching all night, the weary and thirsty soldiers stopped to prepare breakfast near a farm owned by Elijah Kelly. Thomas soon learned that an isolated enemy force was nearby in the woods. He sent a division of his men eastward to contend with them. Fighting broke out in earnest and intensified as it spread across an area covering four miles.

The battle raged throughout September 19th. Confederate forces pounded away at the Union line but were not able to break it, leaving both sides exhausted. As night fell, temperatures dropped, and soldiers endured a night of freezing temperatures. The dead and wounded littered the fields including Merritt J. Simonds of the 42nd Illinois, Company K. He lay wounded on the battlefield for nearly a week before being attended to. On October 8th, he wrote his father a letter saying he had been severely wounded but was optimistic for recovery. He wrote a second letter on October 27th saying, “My leg is now mortifying above the knee and doctors say I cannot live more than two days at the longest. You must not take this to heart but look to a higher source for God’s comfort, for it is God’s will and I feel resigned to my fate…I would like to have my body taken home and buried beside my mother.” Simonds died shortly after and his remains lie in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

The morning of September 20th, Bragg planned a dawn attack against Union forces but a breakdown in communication delayed the first engagement until 9:30 a.m. This allowed Federal soldiers time to organize and set up a defense. In the late morning, incorrect information was transmitted to Rosecrans stating that a gap had developed in the Union line. While attempting to shore up the gap, he inadvertently moved units and created an actual gap. Confederates quickly exploited the weakness and surged through and pushed 1/3 of the Union army, including Rosecrans, off the field. Union soldiers began to retreat. Some of them, however, created a defensive line on Horseshoe Ridge near the farm of George Snodgrass. They held the ridge until evening allowing more Union soldiers to retreat, but the Confederates earned the victory. If you would like to learn more about the Battle of Chickamauga or other Civil War battles, search our Fold3 Civil War collection today!

147 Comments

  1. VALERIE BRODZINSKI says:

    I was a history major and knew of thisbattle but not to this extent. It was horrifying to realize how much the solders on both endured. It made me very sad.

    • Hugh Plylar says:

      My great grandfather, a Confederate soldier was wounded on the second day of battle. He had fingers shot off. He was given a Convalescent leave.

      I have his billfold and his leave papers showing the amount of money he was given while on leave.

      He returned to fight in almost every major battle until General Lee surrendered. My great grandfather walked from Virginia to Alabama adr was pardoned

  2. Had the honor of visiting this site a couple of years ago. Sacred ground for sure. Thank you for a great summary of the battle, wish I would of had it to read before my trip.

  3. Michael Davis says:

    I had two great-great-uncles with the 2nd Minnesota there on Snodgrass Hill. They later fought at Chattanooga and one died in Jan. 1864 after re-enlisting. I believe he died in Nashville while heading home on the furlough given to the troops who re-enlisted. His brother, who didn’t re-enlist must have stayed in the Chattanooga area and lived to return to Minnesota in July 1864. A third brother, my great-grandfather, served with the 4th Minnesota until being discharged due to disability in Nov. 1862. He had fought at Mills Springs, KY. A fourth relative, a man who would marry the brothers’ sister after the war and become another great-great-uncle was a sergeant in the 4th and in July 1863 he transferred to become an official in a U.S. Colored Troops regiment.

    • I wouldn’t be so proud of being associated with invaders engaging in an unconstitutional attack against sovereign states ( which was the general consensus of 90 % of everyone in the nation). Their desire for glory and to prove their superiority over those in the south led to 750,000 deaths on both sides , the mutilation , disability and subsequent deaths of several hundred thousand more and the destruction of many hundreds of thousands of families including mine. The boys of the south were fighting the second revolution defending their lands against oppression and subjigation. I lost two gg and ggg grandfathers, uncle’s, and cousins ( one that I know of at this battle) so it is a touchy subject. I had some yankee ancestors on one side but I hate to even think about it as one famous surgeon in Stonewall’s command said.

    • Mike Harmer says:

      Michael Davis, Who were your great uncles.? Have you looked up to see if they are listed in the “History of the Minnesota Valley”?

    • Michael Davis says:

      They were George and Abram Chadderdon, ggg-grandsons of the Michael Chatterton who farmed Chatterton Hill where the Revolutionary War Battle of White Plains took place on. The family brought the family to the Belle Plaine area of the Minnesota River valley from NY in about 1855. The father, Jonathan, served in the MN legislature 1859-60. I’ve heard of the work you mentioned but haven’t seen it.

  4. John Nyman says:

    The famous muddled order of Chickamauga brought about the defeat of the Union Army but immortalized Thomas as the Rock of Chickamauga because he organized the forces that covered tje Union retreat. Later the Union defeated the Confederates in the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge that secured Cattanooga for North.

    • Michael says:

      Yes, it is not allowed to celebrate a victory, so a nanny nanny has to repeat the obvious. We Southerners are aware that the South lost the war. And it was the end of united states and the beginning of the Federal Government, our ruler.

  5. Fred Staff says:

    A well-done summary of the battle and one that any history buff should read. I was taken back at what appeared the calmness of the young man dying. I figure that this was somewhat redone if not, it is amazing!

    • Thomas Jj Henderson says:

      I read that a Confederate Soldier was passed for dead by a detail sent out to bring in the wounded. He was passed over because he had been shot in the chest at the heart area. Some time passed and moaning was heard from the battlefield. Troops went out and recovered the man. It was determined that his heart was not on the left side but almost in the middle of his chest. The bullet had missed his heart completely.

    • Lani Bennett says:

      I was also amazed at the young mans faith…in the face of death…he had surrendered his life and situation to his Creator…and seemed at peace with his fate…brave soldier he was.

  6. chester smith says:

    I hope that you follow up with a summary of the Battle of Missionary Ridge. My great grandmother’s brother, Sgt. Daniel Moore, survived Chickamauga, but was “grievously wounded” with the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry during their charge up Missionary Ridge. He died of his wounds perhaps ten days later & is buried at the Chattanooga cemetery.

    • Judy F says:

      My 2nd great grandfather, Isaac Thomas Barry, aka Tom Berry, also fought with the 9th KY Inf.,Co. H, at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. In late April of 1864 he and 99 others, including George Grainger who was in the same company, were transferred to the Confederate Navy and ordered to Macon, Georgia. It seems likely they served as part of the Savannah River Squadron. Tom went on to a long career as a steamboat engineer after the war, even serving as 2nd engineer on the “Robert E Lee” during the famous race with the “Natchez”. He died at age 73 in 1900.

    • chester smith says:

      Turns out that my Ggrandmother’s brother was in the Union Army 9th KVI. Both the Confederate & the Union 9th Regiments fought at Stone’s River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. A bit confusing some times!

    • James McLin says:

      My great great grandfather was a corporal in Company C 27th Mississippi Infantry. He fought at Missionary Ridge where he was captured on November 25, 1863. He was held prisoner at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois till June 18, 1865. Rock Island Barracks was considered the Andersonville of the north but he survived and I’m proud to be his ancestor.

    • Do you know if he was related to the Moore’s of South Carolina? Probably not closely, as most local units remained together. My gg grandfather Gabriel Cannon Moore was retained at Petersburg during the Gettysburg campaign, but was wounded there, probably from the tunnel explosion and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital. The report said he suffered from “ambustion.”

  7. Steven Desens says:

    Just visited Lookout Mountain in June, while on a trip to GSM to scatter mother’s ashes.. Had passed thru (and stopped) with family as a kid back in the 1960’s, but rode the incline up this time. Chickamauga was mentioned in the small theatrical center presentation they had at the visitor’s center/gift shop. One of my great-grandfathers then went on with Sherman’s march to the sea.

  8. My ancestor fought with the 15th WI infantry at this battle. He was taken prisoner and went to Libby prison. The commander of his regiment was Col Hans C Heg who was killed in action at Chickamauga. His statute stands on the Capitol square in Madison, WI.

    • Russ says:

      Thre are two other identical statues dedicated to Col. Hans Christian Heg. One is located in Norway, Wisconsin just northeast of the Village of Waterford where Heg lived and raised the 15th up (only regiment in either army where commands were given in Norwegian and they also had 87 Ole Olson’s in the regiment!). The other one in Oslo, Norway where Heg was born.

  9. Felecia Boyd says:

    My maternal grandfather lost both his maternal and paternal grandfathers at the battle of Chickamauga. Family history says they were buried in the same grave.
    Thanks for the information.

  10. Kim D says:

    My great, great grandfather was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. He survived and endured months of recovery. He went on to finish his service and was paroled in April 1865. He fought with the 1st Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (Colms’). After much research, I learned he also was a prisoner of war, held in a camp in Indiana. It is amazing that he survived years of this horrible conflict.

  11. Robert Hendrick says:

    My great grandfather’s brother Martin Duke Hendrick died there fighting on the Confederate side.

    • Jack Hendrick says:

      Robert,

      My greatgrandfather also had a brother killed in this battle.
      John (Jack) Hendrick born about 1842 in Chesterfield County, SC and died in battle in Sept.1863. I miss emails from Will Hendricks keeping us all coordinated.

      Jack

  12. Carl gooden says:

    My great grandfather missed the battle (Michael weese union soldier) from Chattanooga area and was captured at Rogersville Tn and sent to Andersonville prison in Ga and died of starvation,such a waste and sorrow for the family at least he and his 18 year old son have a tombstone

  13. Bitsy McHugh says:

    I transcribed a letter Bryan Morel Thomas, my 2nd great grandfather, wrote his aunt who became his mother when his mama died. Very interesting details were included in his letter from this time.

  14. Will Peadon says:

    My 3rd great uncle, George W. Iler was killed at Chickamauga on Sept, 19th 1863. He was possibly the first killed on that day. I still have not been able to determine where he is buried.

  15. Rick Rigdon says:

    My great grandfather arrived after the battle there. He wrote in his log “the river was red with the blood of the wounded and dead”. It must have been awful. He served in the SC Second Rifles.

  16. Marge Richey says:

    I was fortunate to have the opportunity to tour the Chickamauga battleground a few years ago. My great grandfather, Nathaniel Holmes, fought there. He was a member of Wilder’s Lightning Brigade, who were mounted infantry. He enlisted in the Union Army at the first call for volunteers, survived the war, and lived to be ninety years old.

  17. Paul Kinser says:

    My 3rd G. uncle, Isaac Flick, 38th Indiana Vol. Infantry Co. I. was wounded Sept. 19th 1863 at Chickamauga. He lay on the bare ground for 3 weeks, then sent by rail to Libby Prison. He was in prison for 24 hrs. then sent to the hospital for about 3 months. From there he was sent to City-Point Va. from there to Annapolis for 2 months, from there to Indianapolis In. for 4 or 5 months then discharged.

  18. Barbara says:

    I visited the site a few years back. It is one of the best sites to see how a battle unfolds. They have turned the area into 1 big history lesson. I was so pressed. It is one of the best Civl War sites I’ve ever visited

    • Michael Davis says:

      I agree. Outside of Gettysburg and Antietnam, it is probably one of the best preserved battlefields untouched, mostly, by development encroachment. The staff is very helpful. The walking tour is a must, and the audio tour for your car is helpful. (Not sure that today’s cars without a CD player or cassette player can use the tour. Perhaps they have developed it for bluetooth use.)

  19. Wally says:

    So glad to see so many keeping track of their family’s heritage, it’s so important for future generations to understand what our forefathers endured for us to have this great country we have. I knew nothing about my family history until I started my Ancestry.com account and have learned so much. Thank you, Fold3 for these great articles.

  20. Am looking for any information on my great grandfather, Lawson Charles Williams. He was in the Confederate Army from Texas. I would like to know where he served and if he if he was in any of the battles with the Union.
    Thanks, Roger Williams Email: [email protected]
    At times he was called, Lawcy or Lawson or Charles

  21. Cheryl Proctor says:

    My gr-gr-gr grandfather Reuben Binkley was captured during Chickmauga while returning to his unit, Indiana 81st. Also captured was the pack train and other supplies. There were about 200 prisoners captured the day on the 19th and marched to Libby Prison, in Richmond [?]. Every thing my ancestor endured gives me courage and endurance. He has become a real hero of mine.

  22. Cheryl Proctor says:

    My gr-gr-gr grandfather Reuben Binkley was captured during Chickmauga while returning to his unit, Indiana 81st. Also captured was the pack train and other supplies. There were about 200 prisoners captured the day on the 19th and marched to Libby Prison, in Richmond [?]. Every thing my ancestor endured gives me courage and endurance. He has become a real hero of mine.

  23. Steve says:

    Well done. Chickamauga is not easily condensed. We use this battle as a leadership and team study for management teams. It holds a rich palette of lessons regarding such topics as personal leadership, or the correlation between internal culture and external performance. And an outstanding example of a high-performance team in Wilder’s Lightning Brigade! Glad to see the feature on Chickamauga!

  24. Michael Davis says:

    Thomas earned the nickname “Rock of Chickamauga” and Rosecrans was forever, perhaps unfairly, disgraced for riding back to Chattanooga to organize the defense from the broken units streaming back there from the Union right, shattered by Longstreet’s attack through the gap in the lines. However, some responsibility should have been shouldered by Thomas for his constant pleas sent back to Rosecrans for reinforcements to be sent to his sector. That led, in part, to the Union right sliding to the left. Additionally, there is evidence, sometimes disputed, that the unit that moved thus creating the gap was led by a general who had earlier been chewed out by Rosecrans and that he knew there was no gap for his unit to close, but moved anyway, perhaps either out of spite or to avoid another tough-lashing from Rosecrans.

    • Michael Davis says:

      Additionally, the first day’s battle began on the north end of the field and progressed to the south and southwest with each side feeding in units that tended to catch the enemy in the flank. Because of the thick underbrush of the battlefield, it was often difficult to see beyond 50 to 100 feet, thus enemy units ran into each other in a series of flanking attacks progressing south – with Confederates hitting the right flank of Union units and Union units hitting the left flank of Southern units. My great-great-uncles 2nd Minnesota took part in the opening attacks of the battle at the northeast end of the field.

  25. Eric Guenther says:

    I often wonder what those who lived at the time of the Civil War (War Between the States) would think of the state of the US today. So many on both sides were non-citizen immigrants fight for something they could not receive from their homelands. Whether North or South or the product of later immigration, one must recognize what they endured. History is just that, History.

    • John Kimbrell says:

      You may be right, and I have often wondered the same thing; although my conclusion is that the North had the bulk of fresh immigrates, as they recruited directly from Ellis Island. My understanding is that the North was fighting for the concept of the Union as a whole, while the Southerners were fighting because they were protecting their farms from a Northern invasion. It infuriates me that modern scholars, who should know better, are so eager to disgrace all Southerners as fighting to preserve slavery when the majority did not own slaves and probably hated the slave-holding aristocrates for bringing on a Northern invasion as much as the Abolitionists hated them for owning slaves.

    • Charles Young says:

      Many with History backgrounds and or degrees understand most of the South fought for States Rights. I am one of them.
      I also had family who fought on both sides, Irish immigrants from NY who fought in the 164 th NY Infantry, Corcoran’s Brigade, and from the South who fought with the 2nd Confederate Cavalry and other Southern units. Very few of my relatives owned slaves.
      I have to shake my head when i hear about the alturistic North. There were anti draft riots in several Northern cities and many in the North owned slaves at one time. The Triangular Trade, manufacured goods from Europe to Africa, then Slaved to the Americas and Sugar, Rum from the Americas to Europe often was financed by NY and Boston financiers. The Civil War was a fairly complex event. It cannot be explained or described by simply stating North=Abolition, South =Slave Holders.

  26. Vernon A McDannald says:

    My GGGrandfather was Pvt Thomas Hamilton Adkisson Co E 38th Alabama Infantry CSA Army Of Tennessee he was wounded twice and was in the service from June 1862- may1865 a native of Pulaski Co Georgia moved to Leon Co Texas in January of 1873 and buried in Old Dublin Erath Co Texas cemetery in May 1915

  27. Sue Moenius says:

    Great article! I now my g-g-grandfather fought in E Company of 10th Indiana Volunteers. At Springs Mills, at this battle, and his company listed as forefront of Missionary Ridge charge in Chattanooga.
    I read the Union generals really desired a feint to draw out the enemy but ended up with their men trapped/exposed in front of ridge taking fire. They’d had it, so charged uphill to survive. Surprised the generals, who had to back them up with troops and supplies! Of course this was taken from 10th IN record book.
    My ancestor came home to IN to be mustered out as a sergeant, then re-enlisted in the Calvary. Served about a year, then all were mustered out. I suspect Thomas Ellis was glad to say goodbye to it all!
    G-g-grandpa actually walked the grounds of a civil war arsenal in Indianapolis where I attended high school in the 1960s, (Arsenal Technical HS). My four years were easier than his!

  28. Sue Moenius says:

    (Second sentence is “know” instead of “now”. Ooops. )

  29. Bob says:

    I had two great grandfathers fight for the union army. One was my namesake, and he fought for Pennsylvania. The other on my mothers
    others side fought for Wisconsin. There are others that fought for the confederacy. I have no hatred for either side and I’m deeply offended that confederate statues are being removed or torn down by liberal confederates. Leave history alone, especially from you people that don’t have a clue what it means! At some point we will fight against liberal tyranny. Just. Keep. Pushing.

    • John Kimbrell says:

      Thank you. That was well said, and true. College kids presently have it pumped in their heads that the war was all about slavery and are urged to go out and change the world to conform with their newly indoctrinated and flaming Liberal beliefs.

  30. Carl says:

    Amazing that the story doesn’t mention that Lee sent Longstreet’s Corps from the Army of Northern Virginia to help Bragg win the battle. Lee was a master tactician, seeing things that others didn’t. Used the railroads to great advantage, keeping the Union off balance by shifting troops around.

  31. Barbara A. Wyly says:

    I had three half brothers in my family who fought each other at Chickamauga. Two other brothers had already been captured or wounded in earlier campaigns, but three still were fighting at Chickamauga. Until 4 years ago I did not know about the one brother who fought for the Confederacy, as the rest were Union. Seeing the severity of the battle, how close it was to home for these men from Tennessee, and the utter humiliation it must have been for the Union brothers, I now understand why we did not know about the Confederate brother until we verified his family through DNA. We knew there was another brother from census records, but the family never spoke of him.

  32. Great history here but… freezing overnight temps in northern GA on Sept 20th??? I very highly doubt that!

    • Hugh Plylar says:

      I live in north Alabama and we have had frost and freezing weather and remember snow first of October

  33. JIm Meerpohl says:

    I hav visited many Civil War Battlefields. have donated $ to preserve same. I was at Chicamaugua in May 2018. The staff was so responsive, while I watched the movie in their thetre, a young lady researched my relatives that fought in the Civil War and gave me a wonderful detailed accounting of their rank, unit, etc. when I was finsihed watching the story of the Battle of Chickamaugua. I highly recommend visiting this battlefield

  34. N Mattis says:

    My great-great grandfather George
    Quincey Gardner (Wisconsin regiment) fought in this Battle.

  35. Jim Strange says:

    My paternal Ggrandfather and his brother, were in Co K 42nd Ill infantry. His brother died here. My maternal gGrandfather and two brothers fought for the South at this battle, one brother died, and another lost a leg. In history discussions at family gatherings, this battle is reverently “off limits”. I think this might be the case in a lot of US families. The Civil War was hell.

    • John Kimbrell says:

      The rulantance by our ancestors to discuss the war is a very good observation, and almost universal. I should think that my grandfather would be proud that his grandfather spent the entire war in Lee’s army, rose to the rank of 3rd sergeant, and was paroled at Appomattox…but he never said a word. I am 56 and from South Carolina, and I remember Confederate car tags that read, “Forget Hell”; but no one wanted to talk about it. Moreover, my best friend was a black kid who lived in a house provided by my grandfather in exchange for his family’s help on the farm. We had cattle and peaches, and we all drank from the same water dipper. Although the work was hard, it remains my fondest memory of childhood. There was no hint of racism, and we knew nothing about a war, nor slavery, we enjoyed a symbiotic relationship.

  36. Ed Snelling says:

    While visiting this battlefield years ago I discovered a small hill that had been occupied by an Indiana Artillery Battery. They repelled three frontal assaults by the Confederates and took almost 50% casualties but held the hill! The commander of that battery was CPT Eli Lilly the founder of the company that bares his name today!

  37. Joan Girdler says:

    I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I do have a relative who fought in this battle but do not know much. His name was McAmis and after reading the comments, I will try to do some research. Thank you all for the information that has spurred me on. Joan C. McAmis Good

  38. Why, Joan Girdler, are you a bit embarrassed to have a relative who fought in this battle? There were brave men who fought, injured, and died in this war from all backgrounds. North and South fighting over the South wanting to remain as their own sovereign entity. Lots of great stories about the ones who fought. My 5th great grandfather Pvt. Mitchell Spencer was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. His brother, a surgeon, Captain John Spencer, fighting, and tending to the medical needs of the 44th Battalion. I’m proud that they showed such bravery and valor.

  39. Lowell Bailey says:

    I had a gr., gr., gr. Uncle David C. Jennings with the 31st Ohio Infantry Company D, who at age 18, was killed at Chickamauga. I visited the battlefield in April 2009 and was directed by a helpful park employee to the monument near where he died. In touring the battlefield, I was stunned by the brutality of the close range conflict and the huge amounts of casualties. On the other side of my family were soldiers at Bull Run, Gettysburg, and other battles, but David was the only family member killed in the conflict.

  40. Karen Buckley says:

    I worked at Fort Devens in Massachusetts for many years. The Army post was named after Brevet Major General Charles Devens who was an abolitionist lawyer from Worcester , Mass. He was a Union soldier wounded at Chickamagua. He was later named U.S. Attorney General under President Rutherford B. Hayes.

  41. Lester Oliver says:

    My great Uncle Owen Oliver was killed at Chickamauga on September 20th 1863.

  42. John Kimbrell says:

    Anyone who wishes to wishes to read a great, descriptive short story about the battle of Chickamauga, written by a Union solder, Ambrose Bierce, who later vanished in Mexico, can access it at the following link: http://www.inf.fu-berlin.de/lehre/pmo/eng/Bierce-Chickamauga.pdf

  43. John Kimbrell says:

    My gggrandfather Gabriel Cannon Moore arrived with Hood’s division too late to late to take part in the Confederate victory at Chickamauga; but I visited the battlefield in 1997. In terms of human history, it was not that long ago. I found the South Carolina monument in a remote area. It is a real shame that we do not have Federal laws protecting all such monuments for future generations.

  44. Both my paternal and maternal great grand fathers were in Indiana units. We still have 3 pieces of furniture made by one of them. They were not in these particular battles but marched unbelievable distances in short times.
    I just wanted to say it is heartening to see so many informed and polite comments with none of the ill informed political nonsense and name calling common on the Trivia Today threads.

  45. Terry Sirmans says:

    My g uncle, Casper Shoupe was killed at Chickamauga fighting with the 45th Alabama.
    Have been trying to locate where he was buried since 1958. No luck.

  46. Michael Davis says:

    To Charles Belser,
    Looking over my post you replied to, I fail to see where I expressed being proud. You need to get over it. Almost no one except you took this as an opportunity to refight the war and make it political. Sad.

  47. Loran Bures says:

    Jenny Ashcraft,

    You misidentified Gen. Braxton Bragg’s army as the Army of the Tennessee. The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army named for the Tennessee River. Bragg’s army was the Army of Tennessee.

  48. Charles Young says:

    Charles Belser
    I would be interested in reading the source of the 90% information you reference.
    I also had relatives fight on both sides. As a History major i would have to step back from the claim you make about unConstitutionality of the Union’s stance.

  49. Kathy Arth says:

    My great-grandfather Col John Lafayette Camp was in this battle and was shot in the leg. His manservant King Beasley (known as a mulatto) saved his life by stopping the bleeding with a hot iron.

  50. Evangeline McPherson says:

    My research concerning my MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER’S FATHER has not been sufficient to develop the kind of information so many have shared in this Fold3 blog. PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN POINT ME TO THE CORRECT PATH, OR EVEN SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAN WHO WAS MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, a young man from Alabama who fought on the side of the Confederates, and died from wounds sustained in battle. His name was Samuel Lawrence Whaley. His only known child was Hester Ann Whaley, my grandmother, who was two years old when her father died.

  51. Jerry says:

    To Charles Belser: Amen

    I have been there a few times and it seems so controlled for the Union side.
    Guess that happens when the other side wins. Very sad for the loss of life.
    I live only 60 miles from the battlefield.

    • Mary says:

      I don’t understand

    • James Stoffers says:

      “It seems so controlled for the Union side. Guess that happens when the other side wins.” I’m assuming when you write “the other side” that you’re talking about the side that defeated the forces of industrialized slave labor in the South that sold people like cattle or pigs.

    • Blacks sold black slaves in Africa to the Arabs and had black slaves as did some freed blacks in America. Get off your high horse where the south is concerned. My white ancestors in Pomerania were enslaved when their tribe was defeated in the 4th century. Their descendants were baptized in the 6th century and went on to get the von and became one of the oldest German aristocratic families the von Mach family, which had a long military history as officers right up to a general in NATO, my cousin the late Dr. Niki von Mach.

    • Linda Hillyer says:

      I am with you. I hate the fact that they are on their high horse about slavery when even blacks had black slaves also. It is part of our history. We may not like it, but it is still history none the less. Everyone just needs to read up on it. Stop taking down the monuments and etc,

  52. My g-grandfather Marquis D. L. Price (Co. C, 17th/18th Texas Cavalry Dismounted) was in the front lines at Chickamauga. His regiment suffered a lot of casualties and commander Gen. James Deshler was killed. My ancestor also served in Cleburne’s Whitworth Sharpshooters.

  53. Norma Thronburg says:

    Sgt. John Chisum Bonner, Co G 35th Tennessee Inf. C.S.A, was killed at Chickamauga on the last day of battle. My maternal grandmother wrote that her father, John’s older brother Lt. C. C. Bonner, and a black man named Edmund buried Sgt. Bonner on the battlefield somewhere in the vicinity of Brotherton Cabin where he reportedly died. According to the park rangers at the visitors center, remains of the Confederate dead were disinterred after the war and buried in a mass grave at Marietta, GA.

    • christian belena says:

      Marietta is the site of a national cemetery. Every year we (my dauther’s American Heritage Girls troop) lay wreaths on the graves of the war dead.

    • Norma Thronburg says:

      Thank you for sharing. Hopefully the girls learn more about the the wars in which the dead were a part and understand both sides of the conflict. Perhaps they have ancestors who have served in the military and will ask relatives about them. It is also important to know how the conflicts affected the families and everyday life. Sadly, we adults must try to reconstruct much of their lives if people with first hand knowledge are no longer living.

    • Kristin says:

      I would call Kennesaw Historical Society and ask them for more information

  54. Marjorie Moore Hamlin (Dolly) says:

    My great, great uncle, Robert A. Moore, Company C, Mississippi 17th, was killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga. He kept a pocket diary in four volumes eventually published in the late 1950’s entitled Life for the Confederacy.

    • Linda Hillyer says:

      I just ordered the book for my Kindle. Thanks for letting us know about the book. I am looking forward to reading his accounts of the war.

    • Marjorie Moore Hamlin (Dolly Hamlin) says:

      Thank you, Linda. I hope you enjoy it

    • Kristin says:

      I’ll be ordering my copy for Kindle momentarily

    • Linda Hillyer says:

      So far it is a very interesting read. I am glad that I ordered it for just $2.99 for my Kindle. Can’t wait to finish the book.

  55. Judy Kriss says:

    My Ancestors Col William T Beatty and Capt W.S.B. Randall were part of the Ohio Regiment that held Snodgrass Hill through the night. Both of them were captured the next morning when Longstreet arrived.
    W.S.B. Randall was sent to Libby Prison in Richmond. He and several others were successful in escaping. They were memorialized in the book “Escape from Libby Prison”.
    W.T. Beatty was set in free in error. He was one of the original settlers of the town of Gibbon NE in 1872. He died in 1903 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon NE. W.S.B. Randall returned to Ohio and died in 1903 in Springfield Ohio and is buried with other Civil War Soldiers in Fern Cliff Cemetery.

    • Joyce Bullivant says:

      Interesting! My great great uncle was in Libby prison also, I’ll have to find that book! He was released when the name of another prisoner was called out for parole….my uncle stepped up after no one came forward, he posed as the person and was released. 15th Connecticut Regime.

  56. Earle A Franklin says:

    My Gr.Gr. Grandfather 2nd Lt. Philip P. Lash Co.F 30th Indiana Infantry was wounded in the thigh and captured but escaped back to his unit. Was wounded again at Kennesaw Mt., released on surgeons certificate.

    • Ronald Stout says:

      Hi Cousin Earle , I have been researching our G.G. Grandpa Lash as well. I too am a Civil War history buff . Keep up the good work.

  57. John L. says:

    I tend to agree with the Southern view that the terms of the U.S. Constitution were being violated prior to the Civil War, and that the Southern states should have been able to legally secede from the Union if they wanted to. Certainly Lincoln drastically changed the nature of our federal system… it is tempting to say he wrecked it, yet if we had not had Lincoln, and had not strengthened the federal government, who can say how much worse things might have played out over the years? We cannot run out the various scenarios to find out.

    While there were a few vindictive “Radical Republicans” after the war, I don’t have much sympathy for those who complain that the South has been treated harshly. I can’t think of any civil war or rebellion in any other nation, at any point in recorded history, where the losing rebels were treated half as leniently as the former Confederates were treated after the American Civil War. Genocide? No… take your horses home with you for plowing. Mass execution of leaders? No… you can keep your swords.

    In my opinion slavery was an embarrassing and nearly fatal flaw in our United States Constitution… a horrible compromise that had to be made to allow the formation of our nation. The Civil War was probably inevitable, and I personally take great pride in both sides of the war. I love them both. Up to that point the USA was regarded as a bunch of hillbillies by the Europeans, but what other nation on Earth could have fielded not just one but TWO tremendous armies, armed them in many cases with weapons which were the prototypes of things 50 years ahead of their time, and marched them off to fight with such steely nerve and bravery?

    As long as they do not overtly or directly promote racism, I hate to see Confederate monuments being permanently destroyed by some temporary wave of political fashion. The Veterans Administration provides grave markers for Confederate graves, and I think we would all be doing well to take a cue from them. The rebels are once again our countrymen.

    • Carl Sell says:

      That’s so nice of you! Nobody helped the South rebuild after the war. Blacks and whites did it together with the sweat of their brows. Suggest you read about the “Readjusters” party in Virginia in which poor people banded together so as to escape from a mountain of debt after the war. There was no Marshall Plan, or GI Bill. or low cost government loans. People who worked hard brought our nation together. Now. there are those who wish to tear it apart. The Know Nothings are back!

    • I agree. I have often thought that such a ferocious conflict could only have been fought by American vs American, be they in gray or blue. They are all Americans in my book, with courageous men on both sides. And yes slavery is an absolute evil that tore us apart, but we all eventually emerged on the other side of this war, much stronger and more dedicated to our future greatness as a nation.
      You are probably correct that the south had aright to leave the Union if they wished, but the two halves resulting would have become the weak sisters, targeted by other nations for domination. Instead we ended up together and forged the greatest nation the world has ever seen.

    • John L. says:

      Richard Florey,

      As Lincoln pointed out, we could not physically separate North from South. Imagine the border, with fanatical (and morally correct) Abolitionists no longer having any reason to restrain themselves from breaking Southern laws, vs. Yankee-hating Southerners who no longer had any reason not to make those Abolitionists simply disappear. It could have been a real mess, and like you said would have left us weak.

      I guess my heart is for more of a confederate type of government, but my head agrees with Lincoln. But… although I’ve never smoked marijuana in my life, I have to say I have taken great pleasure in watching the states finally grow some spine and rebel against federal idiocy on the legalization issue. I hope that signals a move towards a better balance of power generally, in the future.

    • Jack Ellis says:

      Slavery was the sin and stain. Our early nation and its wealth (in the pockets of a minority) was built on free labor. 600,000 souls paid for that sin. The Civil War was a test for our Constitution. Today those statues have morphed into symbols of racism, sadly. There is that viewpoint those men portrayed in those statues were traitors to these United States. That is a harsh label. But the base issues in the balance of our Civil War were harsh—namely the continuation of free labor.

    • Jerry says:

      You have to go deeper than today.

      1. Thomas Jefferson, George Washington had many slaves.
      2. Many Southern Plantations lost money and went broke due to
      cheap sugar from Cuba. Tariff was issued!
      3. The so called cheap labor was not cheap. A real challenge to work these folks.
      4. Slavery was a sign of the times during 1700-1865. Many slaves were in worse
      condition after being freed.
      5. Some black obtained a great deal of wealth in the Baton Rouge River area and
      also had slaves.
      6. Slaves in Africa were being slaughtered by their neighbors and chose to board the ships to America.

      Much More! Study plantation life and history more!

    • Judy says:

      I have ancestors that fought on both sides, the North and the South, in the Civil War. They were so brave and hard fighting. I’m glad the North won though and ended slavery. The Confederate soldiers were treated fairly when the war ended. It was after that the troubles started with those who could not accept how things turned out.
      Unfortunately, racial repression continued with the harsh jail sentences for blacks, basically free labor. Up to our present day the black men are the vast majority in our judicial system. We have to correct this injustice in order to go forward as ‘a more perfect union’.

    • Sharon F Treumann says:

      I agree with this comment. My family had people in both sides of this war. Both seriously believing they were right. Both sides involved in fighting for their side. It’s over. We are fortunate that this country has been able to survive and become what we are today. God bless America!

    • James Stoffers says:

      To Jerry(again) – So, your “digging deeper” has made some astounding discoveries:
      1. Washington and Jefferson had slaves — which makes slavery in America fully understandable and even patriotic! 2. Southern plantations went broke because of cheap Cuban sugar — which means Plantation owners, not the slaves, were the ones who suffered! 3. “The so called cheap labor was not cheap. A real challenge to work these folks.” — Yes, you acually had to feed these “folks” food so they wouldn’t die and provide shacks to house them! THIS COST PLANTATION OWNERS MONEY! (ALSO SOME OF THESE DAMN SLAVES DIDN’T WANT TO BE SLAVES! THIS MADE A PLANTATION OWNER’S LIFE A LIVING HELL!) 4. Slavery was a sign of times thru the Civil War, and many slaves were in worse shape after being freed! — yes, because slavery was widespread throughout the South, that makes slavery all right! (Besides if you free your slaves God Only Knows what terrible things would happen to them!) 5. Some blacks got wealthy in the Baton Rouge area and also owned slaves — yes, anyone who owned slaves and had free slave labor could become wealthy, which makes slavery so understandable. 6. “Slaves in Africa were being slaughtered by their neighbors and chose to board the ships to America.” Yes, black Africans were actually fleeing Africa and couldn’t wait to board 1st Class accommodations on slave ships to America so they could be separated from their families, sold as slaves, and pick cotton on southern plantations and, if they tried to escape, were hunted down like animals and, if they were lucky, were returned to their beautiful shacks, to be whipped (literally) back into free labor.
      Yes, indeed, “study plantation life and history more!” and be amazed what you can ignore!

    • Jerry says:

      Oh Jim, out of context. You need to study more. Must be a democrat!

  58. Karen Schebler says:

    I was amazed at the loss of life. 34,000 casualties.
    How sad.

  59. Glad my Confederate ancestors won some battles but not the War between the States. My ancestor Orville Betts fought w the South Carolina Regiment 1 and signed up in Nashville in 1861. He was in prison from 1865 til 1873 for not recognizing the Union. His ancestor Thomas Betts was an English sailor who came to Jamestwn in 1619. His descendants fought against the British in the American Revolution s did my Connecticut yankee ancestors on my father;s side whe ancestors came to New England in 1624.

  60. Cliff Schott says:

    The article states “they endured a night of freezing temperatures” – I doubt this, as the nights in South Tennessee and North Georgia on September 19, are more in the 50 to 70 degree range. I have visited this site many times, and climbed up in Wilder’s Tower to take a look at the surroundings. Always liked Chattanooga. My mother had Irish cousins here that worked in the foundry, and also a Dan Connely, that owned the Studebaker Dealership. Dan lived on Signal Mountain. Liked the way they call the tunnels through the mountains “tubes” – this is more Irish or English than American in nature.

    • Hi Cliff, the weather during the battle was unseasonably cold. Soldiers describe frost on the battlefield and water freezing in canteens. I found one account of soldier whose bleeding wound caused him to freeze to the ground. Historic newspapers describe temperatures in the 40s but based on personal diary accounts it may have been even colder. Some soldiers defied orders and built campfires to keep wounded comrades from freezing to death.

  61. Kimberly Feldman says:

    My ggrand uncles diary was used to write a book about the battle. I have a copy of the book signed. I think it’s out of print now.

  62. Chester Smith says:

    This thread has inspired me to think about the differences between the “causes” of the war and the motivation of individual soldiers to join and fight. My Ggrandmother’s brother was a sergeant with the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Union) and was at Chickamauga. He was wounded grievously and died after Missionary Ridge awhile later. His letters make it clear that the preservation of the union was extremely important to him. They also are clear that he was against the emancipation proclamation and disturbed with President Lincoln. I am a Viet Nam War era veteran. I certainly wasn’t pondering the particulars of the advance of communism in Southeast Asia when I chose to join the army. My country called and I answered the call.

  63. My wife’s great-grandfather, Henry Vessey of the 2nd Minnesota, was wounded in the leg during the last day of fighting at Chickamauga and thus was unable to join the Union retreat. Along with hundreds (thousands?) of other POWs he was sent by train to a Confederate prison in Richmond. Later he was transferred to a prison in Danville, VA. In April 1864 he and 11 other Union prisoners escaped. In an epic journey of several hundred miles that took almost a month and saw them nearly recaptured several times, Henry and a companion made it to the front in SW Virginia as a battle – Cloyd’s Mountain – was raging. They took shelter in the basement of a house that was soon converted to a battlefield surgery. Afraid to come upstairs, not knowing who was in control of the house, they waited until the quiet of the following morning. When they emerged they found they had made it back to the Union lines. Most of the other escapees also reached the Union army of Gen. Crook. Henry and his friends’ incredible saga was documented in a St. Paul, MN, newspaper in 1864. He also dictated a personal account in the 1920s.

    I feel an affinity for these heroes of our history Four of my grandmother’s great uncles served in the same artillery battery (16th Ohio) during the war, and one of them, battery captain James A. Mitchell, was killed at the Battle of Champion Hill, MS. Since Mitchell’s heroic action of bringing his guns down in front of the infantry on a hillside was instrumental in checking a key Confederate attack, and the battle subsequently turned the Union’s way, I like to think that this was the turning point in a battle that was a turning point of Grant’s Vicksburg campaign, which itself was a turning point in the war. After his defeat at Champion Hill, Pemberton withdrew his army into Vicksburg, where Grant laid siege and eventually forced the surrender of the last CSA stronghold on the Mississippi and Pemberton’s entire army.

    • Judy says:

      John Schlosser, that is a most interesting bit of historic account. Thank you for sharing in such detail.

  64. Ralph Davis says:

    My great grandfather was in the union army and fought in the Battle of Chickamauga at the age of 16

  65. Patsy L. Jay says:

    My Tennessee family was 60% Confederate, 40% Union, which is fairly usual for our state. I am pleased that my direct paternal ancestor fought for the Union at Franklin and Nashville. Less pleased that the maternal side had Confederate representatives there as well. The battles were horrendous, no matter how some Southerners want to make the war glorious and honorable. To me it was about a bunch of slave owners using their poorer neighbors under the guise of regional loyalty, to keep themselves rich. Think about it logically, if the South had won, would the South have been as forgiving? Somehow, I don’t think so, and it is scary to imagine were we would be today. I am a Southerner proud of my Union Cavalry soldier great-grandfather and consider my Confederate loving relatives as misled. Robert E. Lee’s wife was apparently of my opinion, as well and tried to dissuade her husband from joining the South. Her I admire, him I consider a traitor to his country and his oath.

  66. MY GREAT GRANDFATHER,CASSIUS M. CASE FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA WITH THE 6TH INDIANA REGIMENT.TRUE THE UNION DID NOT FAIR WELL.AT THE BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA THEY MADE UP FOR IT AT THE BATTLE OF CHATTANOGABY DRIVING THE REBEL’S OFF OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.

  67. Maureen Lancaster says:

    We often forget the dynamic that was playing out besides the battles of war. The north was becoming very industrialized, the south had goods and crops needed to stoke the industrialization.

    North wanted the goods South wanted a fair exchange. North didn’t want to deal or enrich the South. That was one of the components that separated our nation. Slavery by today’s standards is unconscionable however it had been a norm in Europe for centuries with both black and white cultures enslaved by the conquerors

    Let us learn from the past, and Never repeat its horrors. Treat everyone as You would want to be treated. Respect our ancestors for their struggles and accomplishments and appreciate our enlightenment

    • james stoffers says:

      This is an incredibly simplistic notion of the North and South in the Civil War. Yes, the North was much more industrialized, but the idea that the South “wanted a fair exchange” for the goods they were producing (on the backs of slave labor!) was not, as you so glibly describe, “one of the components that separated our nation.”
      What the South wanted was to continue to enslave human beings so they could continue to enrich themselves with free slave labor. In addition, the immorality of the South’s vast slave “business” was unconscionable not just by “today’s standards”, but in the nineteenth century as well. It caused our nation’s great cataclysm, the Civil War.

    • John L. says:

      We need to bear in mind that slavery legally existed under the United States Constitution for far, far longer than under the Confederate States Constitution. The Northern states where lucky that plantation-style farming did not work out as well there… I presume because of the costs of feeding all those idle slaves through the much longer non-productive winters? Slavery legally existed in Northern states such as New York, but around the time of the Revolution they mostly started on gradual programs of emancipation. But they were gradual, and slaves were still held in the North until the 1830’s or later.

      But to act like the North or the Union was somehow pure and free of sin is not right. Slavery was part of our country from the beginning, and something we all had to deal with together in the end.

      Also, today we Americans spit out the word “state” with almost the same sense or feeling we would have for the words “county” or “township”… a subdivision of some central government. Of course this is not actually right; the word “state” is synonymous with “nation” and that is how many if not most Americans saw things before the Civil War. I certainly feel primary patriotism towards the USA and view my state government as sort of a nanny organization to take care of boring domestic matters, but that is not how Lee or his contemporaries would have viewed things. Those folks were born into a different world, and grew up with slavery all around them. It is not entirely fair to judge them with our 20/20 hindsight.

  68. William Fowler says:

    I’m searching for information about a receiving and shipping hospital at Catoosa Platform (not the woodshed) following the battle and would be pleased to hear from anyone with information.

  69. Carol Mackey Shaffer says:

    Very interesting write-up. Thank you! Coincidentally, my 2XGG, Capt. John A. Mackey–Tennessee 2nd Infantry Regiment–fought against my husband’s 2XGG, Pvt. James Shaffer (Shafer)–11th Indiana Battery–in the Battle of Chickamauga and TEN other Civil War battles. Both sustained injuries at various times during this war, but both survived and lived long, relatively healthy lives well after.

    • Farrell Mackey says:

      Carol
      what is your Grand Fathers Family Tree

    • Julian Combs says:

      Hello – I’m writing a biography on my gg grandfather who was s major general. His name was William B Bate and he was Col of the 2nd Tennessee until Shiloh and later the regiment was attached to his division at the end of the 100 days battle (Atlanta Campaign). Do you have any personal correspondences from and too Captain Mackey?

  70. bo says:

    A thorough research of Lincoln’s biographies will certify that he was initially
    concerned with the preservation of the union. He even toyed with the notion
    to colonize Compensated slaves in south America. He was a consummate
    politician and espoused abolition only when it became politically advantageous.
    This isn’t offered in criticism. It’s simply true.

    After the war, “Reconstruction” foundered because it wasn’t appropriately enforced. The north won. They dictated the peace. But they were weary and
    hadn’t the will to follow through and stay with Reconstruction.
    You don’t overturn a (southern) culture by simply winning a war. This can only
    be accomplished over time – most likely generations! “Reconstruction” may seem harsh, but failing it’s prosecution, look what developed and the aftermath
    we live with yet today!
    harsh

    • John L. says:

      I think Lincoln was always opposed to slavery in his heart, but as you say his political goals were more modest or practical. In fact if we look closely at what he actually believed about race, he would appear to be a horrible racist by modern standards! In opposing slavery, he did not necessarily regard blacks as equal to whites, or desirable to have around.

      Lincoln’s ideas about shipping the blacks back to Africa, etc. were not really that far removed from Lee’s views that blacks were unready to be free citizens at that time. If you look at what Lee said on the subject, he implies that at some future point blacks could be educated and then ready to vote intelligently and so forth. Of course Lee viewed slavery as a means of gradually bringing blacks up to speed, while in fact slavery purposely kept them ignorant, so he was overlooking reality in that respect.

  71. Glenda France says:

    Two of my 2nd G-granddads were in Longstreet’s contingent. They had a long march from Virginia and arrived late. This is the only time they did not fight for Robert E. Lee. One was in the 13th MS Regiment and the other was in the 18th MS Regiment. Neither was wounded in this battle so that was good. They did send those Union troops running for Tenneessee.

    • Dolly Hamlin says:

      My great, great uncle with the MS 17th also was with the Army of Northern Virginia and made that trek with his Company from Virginia to the battlefield of Chickamauga where he was killed in battle. U am so glad your ancestors survived.

    • The hammer blow at Chickamauga, just as at 2nd Manassas and the Wilderness, was delivered by Longstreet and his men. Too bad for the Confederates that Longstreet was “missing a boot” (Pickett’s division) on the 2nd day at Gettysburg, when his corps, minus Pickett, came pretty close to turning the Union left.

  72. Joe says:

    My ancestor was there with the 10th Ky US infantry. He said the river ran red with blood.

  73. Arthur K Canaday says:

    My great-great-grandfather Enlisted as a Private in CSA Army, Company “C”, 24th Regiment Volunteers, Capt. Appleby’s Company at George’s Station near Charleston, SC on Jan. 7, 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga, GA on Sept. 20, 1863, and put on furlough. He died at home on Dec. 11, 1863, from wounds received in battle.

  74. Elizabeth Barratt says:

    My step great-great grandfather, Abram Plunkett was a private in Company 1, Third Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry under General Joseph Wheeler. In his journal he described going into battle, he wrote, “We whipped the Yankees badly. We could have captured the whole Yankee Army if we had just crowded them a bit more. Some of them just threw down their guns and ran like hell. General Bragg did not press them. Thus they escaped. We were fighting nearly every day. it was winter. On the 17th of January, 1864, I was pretty badly wounded. I was shot through the right arm. I was patched up and sent to White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, where I stayed all winter.” During the Battle of Chickamauga, Plunkett accompanied General Wheeler and 4,000 men and went on a raid in back of the Union Army. They captured wagon trains, beef cattle, and other army stores. This venture took 32 days and they were about 100 miles back of their command. They were apprehended by about 30 Yankee guerrillas and chased for miles, but avoided capture. In 1868 Plunkett and his family moved from
    Arkansas to Gilroy, California. Every year until he died in 1931, he would don his Confederate uniform and ride at the head of the Memorial Day Parade through the town and out to the cemetery for the observances. Accompanying him was a neighbor who, like him, every year donned his Union Army uniform and rode alongside him at the head of the parade. For as long as they lived, the two men went to the public schools to share their Civil War experiences and to lecture to the students on the perils of war and the importance of finding peace.

    • John L. says:

      That is an awesome story about the two men riding side by side. That is how it should be… we were enemies, we fought like hell, we are not enemies any longer.

  75. Warren says:

    My 2 great-great uncles Noah & Jabez Smith with the 1st Ohio were captured in that battle. They both died in Andersonville Prison in July 1864.

    • Linda Hillyer says:

      I have a distant Ancestor that died at Andersonville Prison in 1864. His name was Corson Morris.

  76. Bill Engstrom says:

    Merritt Simonds was mentioned in the narrative. He was close friends with my great uncle Sherwin King, 1st Sgt, Co K, Illinois 42nd Inf. King was also killed at Chickamauga. I have all of King’s letters and Simonds diary. He writes about laying wounded on the battlefield for three days. My great uncle’s family had the means to have his body returned to his hometown, DeKalb, IL, where it is buried.

    • Jim Strange says:

      Your great uncle was my gGrandfather’s sgt . Pvt. James Aaron Strange from Cairo, Ill. At Shiloh/Pittsburgh Landing, he was taken POW and then released on furlough until an exchange could be arranged. Family legend says the Furlough was due to his membership in the Masons. Do you have any documentation or mention of how the Masonic order had influence in the Illinois 42 inf?

      Jim Strange
      McIntosh, Florida

    • Bill Engstrom says:

      No, I don’t any information on that. If I happen to locate any I will forward to you

  77. Linda says:

    The first slave owner in the America was a black man! The war was an important part of our history whether weight or black. They should not be destroying the southern monuments and for that matter they should no be removing Gods 10 commandments. They need to be posted all over the place. So many people do not know them and therefore cannot follow them. To bad the slave owners did not understand them either for they should have been treating the blacks the same way they wanted to be treated.

  78. James Strange says:

    PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…. History, especially family history should be discussed without political correctness or condemnation. We are here to discuss and share information about a desperate and bloody battle. Each and every soldier, Union or Confederate fought for (or died for) deeply held convictions. The outcome of that war was decided over 150 years ago, there is no need to rekindle the conflict. Every soldier was a hero in his own right (or wrong), let us honor them as such.

    “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
    The evil that men do lives after them;
    The good is oft interred with their bones;
    So let it be with Caesar. “

  79. My GGGgrandfather, Hampton Combee, originally of the CSA Florida Cow Cavalry, then mustered into militia, was wounded at Chickamauga, along with several other battles. He lost everything to the war. When he returned home to Polk County, Florida, his home was destroyed, all his livestock was taken. He found his wife and children abiding among the palmettos, exposed to the elements, snakes, gators, etc. His wife, Sarah, was a pastor’s daughter. Hampton was a man of God. He made it known his God would restore his family. His prior lifestyle was returned to him 2-fold, through hard work and strong faith. He was truly a hero to me.

  80. Janet Perkins says:

    I have been to this battlefield. When I walk it, I can feel what happened there. Major. Gen. Patrick Cleburne commanded and led his brave troops. This is also the battle where Gen. George H. Thomas earned his nickname the Rock of Chickamauga. Oh I do wish he had pledged his allegiance to Virginia.

  81. Susan Doran says:

    The Civil War was a bloody time in our nation’s history. We as Americans will never agree on all of the issues of that time period, just as we will not always agree with the issues today. There were good and bad happening on both sides, and unless we learn to recognize that this country could be doomed to repeat history. That would be a terribly sad thing, especially for our children. It’s easy to hate those who don’t agree with you, but harder to look beyond those disagreements to love them. I know this struggle myself. May we all learn from our history, and do better for our future generations.

  82. Jim Strange says:

    Well said !

    I had relatives on both sides of this battle. Two died (one from South and one from North) I love and identify with both families. Judgement is for the past, knowledge of the past will mold our future

    God Bless America!

  83. Sandy says:

    My ancestor was captured during this battle, was sent to Andersonville prison, became ill and was transferred to NC Salisbury prison and died in route.

  84. Luwana Nueiti says:

    Very true and understable. If you don’t have any clue about the beginning and the end of the warzone back in the day’s. Please start reading and know who you are and the men and women that sacrificed for our country! Thank you. Peace be still!