Why is the battle of chickamauga significant?

Answer 1

It was one of the bloodiest battle fought during the Civil War.

The Union casualties were: 11,613 died and wounded, 4,757 prisoners, about the 20% of the force engaged, that is about 58,000 men

The Confederate casualties were: 18,947 died and wounded and 2003 prisoners and missing, about the 25% of the force engaged, that is about 66,000 men

It is worth remembering that the Battle of Solferino, fought in 1859 between the Austrian army of about 100,000 men and the French-Piedmontese Army of comparable size, which is considered the most bloody battle fought in the XIX century in Europe, cost the lost of about 20,000 casualties (20%) to the Austrians and about 11,000 casualties (11%) to the Allied engaged force.

Furthermore, Chickamauga was an other example of the superiority of the defense over the attack, given by the rifled guns and artillery fire.

That happened especially in the evening of Sept. 20th, when the Confederates attacking units were not able neither to break through nor to outflank the Union's last stand entrenched position on their right, defended by battered and outnumbered troops.

Last but not least, though the battle ended in a decisive victory for the Confederates, his Field Commander Gen. Bragg did not exploit the sounding success refusing to cross over the Tennessee, as suggested by Longstreet, and seize Chattanooga, thus wasting the advantage gained because:

1 - The Union Army, though heavy weakened had not been destroyed.

2 - The strategic goal, Chattanooga, had not been reached, leaving intact the Union Front of the Tennessee.