September 20, 1863 Sunday
Daybreak on this fall Sunday in the Georgia woods was supposed to see the Confederate drive renewed from the right, commanded by Polk. Then other divisions were to join in. There was no attack until about nine-thirty, when Breckinridge’s division moved forward. The Union left under Thomas fell back, but held at the breastworks. Neither side gained or lost much from the heavy Confederate attacks until shortly before noon. Longstreet came in opposite the Federal center, to find that by a blunder of orders Thomas J. Wood’s (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Wood [read this to find out why the order was obeyed]) Union division had been pulled out and left a gap in the Northern line. Longstreet hit, driving two divisions away, thus cutting the Federal line and causing a major portion of it to flee in considerable disorder. Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden were caught up in the retreat toward Chattanooga. Only Thomas’ corps, aided by a few other units, remained.
Thomas managed to form a new line on a rounded eminence known as Snodgrass Hill. Here the Federals held through the afternoon, repelling assault after assault. Thomas’ men, and fragments of other units joined later by Gordon Granger’s reserve, fought a great defensive battle which earned for Thomas his famous nickname “Rock of Chickamauga.” For a while it seemed as if Confederates would take the hill, so furious and desperate were the charges. However, there were not enough Confederate reinforcements. They fought until night, when, obeying orders, Thomas withdrew toward Rossville and the mountain gaps that led to Chattanooga. Splendid as the Union defensive was, the battle was a great Confederate tactical victory.
The estimated figures are 58,000 Federal effectives, with 1657 killed, 9756 wounded, and 4757 missing for 16,170 casualties; 66,000 Confederates, with 2312 killed, 14,674 wounded, 1468 missing for 18,454. The casualty rate for both sides was about 28 per cent. A dispatch from Gen Rosecrans increased President Lincoln’s anxiety for further details.
Brigadier General Benjamin Hardin Helm (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Hardin_Helm ), CSA, is mortally wounded while leading his men in an assualt on the Federal lines during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. He dies the next day, September 21, 1863. Brigadier General James Deshler (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Deshler ), CSA, is killed instantly from a Federal artillery shell while inspecting his troops prior to a Federal assault during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. Brigadier General William Haines Lytle (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Lytle ), USA, is killed while leading his command in a charge against the Confederate line, to give Federal troops time to retreat, during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia.
Other fighting included skirmishes at Hornersville, Missouri; and Carter’s Depot and Zollicoffer in eastern Tennessee; an affair on Shaver Mountain, West Virginia; and a ten-day Federal expedition from Paducah, Kentucky to McLemoresville, Tennessee. John Bell Hood, CSA, was appointed to Lieutenant General.