150 years ago today the battle resumed at Chickamauga. It might say something about the outcome that, unlike yesterday, The New York Times did not publish any front page reports about the fighting on September 20th directly from the field. Headquarters at the Army of the Cumberland was probably pretty chaotic as General Rosecrans and much of the Federal army scrambled back to Chattanooga.
Rosecrans driving the rebel advance? (NY Times 9-22-1863)
enemy repulsed; we’re back in Tennessee (NY Times 9-23-1863)
____________________________
Victorious Confederate General Bragg did not need any more than a brief telegraph message to send a matter-of-fact assessment back to Richmond.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 22, 1863:
Important from Northern Georgia.
battle between Gens. Bragg’s and Rosecrans’s armies–two days hard fighting — heavy losses on both sides, etc.
Chickamauga River, Sept.20, Via Ringgold, 21st.
To Gen. S. Cooper,A. and I. Gen:
After two days hard fighting we have driven the enemy, after a desperate resistance, from several positions, and now hold the field, but he still confronts us.
The losses are heavy on both sides, especially so in our officers.
We have taken over twenty pieces of artillery, and some twenty-five hundred prisoners.
(Signed,) Braxton Bragg,
General.
According to the Library of Congress the following is photo of Sergeant J.J. Dackett of the 3rd South Carolina Volunteers. Apparently he was at some gathering of veterans. The hat he wore is said to have bullet holes from Chiakamauga on September 20, 1863.
Georgia on his mind
The 3rd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment did a whole lot of fighting. For example, as part of James Longstreet’s corps it went from Gettysburg to Chickamauga and was back in Virginia in time for the Wilderness.
thank goodness for General Thomas and his men (NY Times 9-24-1863)
