Battle of Chickamauga Postcard

The Battle of Chickamauga, fought from September 18 to 20, 1863, during the American Civil War, was one of the bloodiest and most significant engagements in the Western Theater. Southern General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee clashed with Union General William S. Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland near Chickamauga Creek in Georgia. The battle was characterized by brutal and intense fighting in densely wooded terrain, earning it the nickname "The River of Death." Despite desperate efforts by both sides, the Southerners ultimately gained the upper hand on the second day, driving a wedge between the Union forces and forcing them into a retreat toward Chattanooga. While Chickamauga ended inconclusively in terms of territory gained or lost, it inflicted staggering casualties on both armies. The battle set the stage for the Union's defensive siege at Chattanooga and the Southern defeat at the Battle of Chattanooga, ultimately opening the gateway for the Union's march into Georgia.