The Chickamauga Campaign: A Mad Irregular Battle: From the Crossing of Tennessee River Through the Second Day, August 22–September 19, 1863

Chickamauga, a name said to derive from a Cherokee word meaning "River of Death," was the site of a major Civil War engagement in September 1863 between the Union Army of the Cumberland and the Confederate Army of Tennessee along West Chickamauga Creek. David A. Powell examines this battle as a three-day engagement rather than the traditional two-day account, arguing that September 18 is essential to understanding the subsequent fighting. The second largest battle of the Civil War resulted in 35,000 casualties and represented one of the last clear Confederate tactical victories, temporarily halting a series of Rebel defeats and reviving hopes for Southern independence. The battle centered on control of Chattanooga, described as the "gateway to the South" and a key logistical position for operations into Georgia. This volume is the first of three installments covering the entire campaign. It includes the Tullahoma Campaign in June, which preceded Chickamauga, and extends through the second day of fighting on September 19. Powell's study draws on fifteen years of research encompassing nearly 2,000 primary sources from officers and enlisted soldiers. The work includes illustrations and examines the battle from multiple perspectives.