The Rock of Chickamauga
By
Fred Brown
One
of the most recognized names from the Civil War Battle of Chickamauga is a man,
who was an integral part of U.S. military history. With the Union defeated and
in retreat, he turned and dug in to protect the fleeing soldiers earning him
the nickname “The Rock of Chickamauga.”
Chickamauga
was not Thomas’s only enduring military achievement, but it was one stellar moment
in an army career that was as solid as they come. And although he is mentioned
in historic accounts of the vicious battle at Chickamauga, by rights one of the
deadliest of the Civil War, he is a figure who deserves a more detailed look
and attention.
The
battle pitted Union Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans against Confederate Gen.
Braxton Bragg. When the shooting around Chickamauga Creek and the great
swatches of farmland on either side of LaFayette Road stopped, Bragg had lost
18,000 of his 68,000 soldiers, or more than 7 percent of his army. And even
though the contest has been listed as a Confederate victory, Bragg succeeded in
only driving Rosecrans to Chattanooga, instead of dislodging him from the
Gateway City. The battle actually ended about where it began—Chattanooga.
Both
sides lost 34,000 killed, wounded, or missing in roughly two days of hard
fighting, from Sept. 18-20, 1863. It was a crippling blow to the Confederacy, a
battle almost as deadly as Gettysburg, Pa. Indeed, some historians refer to
Chickamauga as the “Gettysburg” of the West.
Chickamauga
can be said to be Thomas’s finest hour in his illustrious Army career. Here was
a man who stood by his nation in time of war, despite the fact that he was a
Virginian.
During
the battle of Chickamauga, his superior made a serious tactical error. Thinking
a gap existed in his line, he ordered Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood to move his men
into the presumed gap on the Federal right. Wood protested, but followed his
orders, thus opening up a gap where there had been none.
Longstreet’s
men quickly pushed through the hole in the Federal line, sweeping Rosecrans and
half of his army off the field. In a disgraceful exhibition, Rosecrans fled
toward Chattanooga. In that one moment, Old Rosy painted a dark blot on his
career.
Thomas,
lodged on Snodgrass Hill, was left to face the surging Confederates. He
deployed his brigades on the summit and stood his ground, protecting the
fleeing Union army’s rear.
Thomas
and his soldiers fought on until dusk, earning him the title of the Rock of
Chickamauga. Later, Thomas moved to Rossville Gap, holding his ground until
Sept. 21, giving Rosecrans time to reach the Gateway City. He joined his
commander in Chattanooga, which was now under siege by Bragg. Thomas would go
on to an illustrious career in the U.S. Army and would die at his desk in San
Francisco in1870.
Eric
Peterson will be portraying General Thomas at the 145th Battle of
Chickamauga. His impression is regarded as one of the most authentic in the
nation. It includes a hospital with surgeons, a female spy and ten other period
staff officers. It will be on the many-featured educational displays of the
event. The 145th Battle of Chickamauga will be held Sept. 19, 20 and
21, 2008 in Walker County, GA. It will be the biggest national event in the
west this year hosting a variety of activities that for the whole family. For
tickets and more information, you can contact the Battle of Chickamauga at
1-800-624-0281 ext. 397 or by e-mail at Chickamauga@lcs.net