What began the battle of Chickamauga?

Answer 1

While General Grant encircled and attacked Vicksburg, General Roscrans Army of the Cumberland began to move through middle Tennesse towards Chatanooga while General Burnside's Army of the Ohio advanced on Knoxville. General Roscrans surveyed the land around Chattanooga and determined the best approach would be from the west. On Auguat 16, the Union troops moved toward Chatanooga. After some maneuvering, the Confederate forces evacuated Chattanooga on 7 August. The Confederates leaked out false information of mass retreat by General Bragg's army. Instead, Bragg used this time to re-organize forces arriving from Mississippi after the fall of Vicksburg.

On 9 September, Bragg surpised General Thomas corps as they moved up from the south towards Chatanooga. But due to some delays of troop movements and faulty intelligence, they could not get an advantage on the Union.

General Roscrans was slow to accept the fact that his scattered units were in danger of attack by General Bragg, so on 13th he took action to pull in his forces. McCook had to march 57 miles over mountainous terrain. By 17 September, the Union army had pulled back together.

At this time, General Longstreet's 12,000 man force began to arrive from Georgia by rail. Rosecrans became worried and requested aid from General Burnside in Knoxville. By now, the Union Army and the Confederate Army were sitting just south of Chattanoog, too close to avoid a conflict. The only thing that separated the two armies was a small stream the Cherokees had called Chickmauga---"the river of blood".

SummaryThe location of the battle was choosen by chance as two military armies maneuvered for terrain and attempts to isolate and ambush their opponent.