Chickamauga, Battle of

(Sept. 19–20, 1863) Engagement in the American Civil War fought over control of the railroad centre of nearby Chattanooga, Tenn.

Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg and James Longstreet attacked Union forces under William Rosecrans. After two days of fierce fighting, most of the Union army withdrew in disorder, though troops under George H. Thomas withstood the assault until the assistance of a reserve corps made possible an orderly withdrawal to Chattanooga. Casualties numbering 16,000 Union and 18,000 Confederate troops made this one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Bragg and the Confederate force did not follow up their victory, and the subsequent Battle of Chattanooga reversed the results.

* * *