Campaign

On Sept. 20 1863 union survivors of the Battle of Chickamauga began to steam into Chattanooga. Union commander Rosecrans was totally confused...he initially thought that the disaster of the right wing of his army had probably resulted in a total rout of his entire 58,000 Army Of The Cumberland (AoC). Later that night he would learn that six of his divisions had continued to maintain a position on the battle field most of the day.
       In spite of what history tells us ...make no mistake at nightfall of Sept. 20, 1863 George Thomas and his force was forced from the battle field...they did not retire at their leisure or at their own pace. During the night and early the next day the AoC was in various degrees of demoralization. Many statements would be made later by officers wishing to minimize the Chickamauga defeat, but contemporary accounts are pretty clear the strategic center of the Union war effort was reeling.
       When advised of the Chickamauga defeat Lincoln immediately sensed that the Union war effort was in trouble. He was faced with two very difficult problems. First the Ohio State elections where to be held on October 9 and with seeming stalemate in Virginia, repulse at Charleston S.C., the CONFEDERACY seemed to have just possibly recovered from its disasters of the summer and be on the verge of grabbing the strategic initiative.
       On Sept. 23 Rosecrans tells all that will listen that the AoC will stay in Chattanooga and to please send help, and lots of help. On Sept. 24 without firing a shot Rosecrans withdraws all elements into the inner defenses of Chattanooga. Rosecrans actions include giving up strong positions on Lookout Mountain. He does this over the objections of Thomas.
       The AoC immediately begins a frenzied effort to fortify the Chattanooga defenses within a week these defenses are declared by most Union observers to be nearly impregnable.
       On the evening of Sept. 26 Lincoln and his cabinet order Hooker with two corps(11th and 12th) from the Army of the Potomac to reinforce Chattanooga.
       Grant is ordered to have reinforcements from Vicksburg assembled in Memphis,  Tennessee for movement to Chattanooga. Burnside with some 18,000 men north of Knoxville Tennessee is ordered to move to the relief of Chattanooga. So within a matter of three days Lincoln has reacted by ordering to the aid of Chattanooga some 50,000 union reinforcements.
       On the confederate side such decisive actions are non-existent. Braxton Bragg waits a full 36 hours following the end of the Battle of Chickamauga before he advances in force towards Chattanooga. Bragg apparently believes that the AoC is frantically preparing to leave Chattanooga and Bragg seems to be willing to have them go at their leisure. Forrest recons of Chattanooga indicate that the federals seem to be preparing to evacuate the city. The fiery Forrest ask for infantry help to press the advantage but all requests are turned down by Bragg. On Sept. 24 James Longstreet proposes to Bragg that the CS Army of Tennessee (AoT) should swing to its left cross the Tenn. River and completely cut off the AoC from middle Tennessee and possibly retreat. Bragg rejects the suggestion out of hand for two stated reasons. Bragg feels that the AoT lacks the necessary transport and logistical support to make the move and he is unwilling to leave east Tennessee to the forces of Ambrose Burnside. Instead of a grand turning movement off a vigorous pursuit Bragg orders a slow and cautious approach on Chattanooga itself.
       On Sept. 26 elements of the AoT take position on Lookout Mountain and the siege of Chattanooga begins. Both armies are nearly mirror images of themselves as the siege begins at the end of Sept.1863. The AoC has a commander Rosecrans who seems to have lost his grip his communications betray such wild swings in emotions and lack of a coherent plan that they persuade Lincoln to comment that Rosecrans seems 'like a duck hit on the head'. There exist turmoil in the command structure of the AoC...two corps commanders Tom Crittenden and Alexander McDowell as well as previously highly regarded division commander Negley are relieved of command bending courts of inquiry to determine their roles in the disaster at Chickamauga. The four corps AoC is reformed into two corps with George Thomas and Gordon Granger the only corps commanders. The entire army is reorganized and many officers and units are shuffled around. The CS AoT also begins to develop discord and dissatisfaction within its officer corps. On Sept. 29 Bragg suspends two officers L. Polk and Tom Hindman for alleged failures during the Chickamauga campaign. Three days before on Sept. 26 Longstreet had written to Richmond and complained bitterly at Bragg's leadership and lack of directions. On October 1 1863 the city of Chattanooga, a dirty and muddy little settlement on the Tennessee River became the focal point of the American Civil War. At issue was perhaps the greatest prize in any war--- the strategic initiative! Which side , north or south , would dictate where and how the remainder of the war would be fought?