The Battle of Chickamauga, Again

Last week, Civil War reenactors commemorated the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga, which occurred September 18-20, 1863. Over 3,000 Infantry and Calvary reenactors represented the Union and Confederate forces at Chickamauga clashing for the control of Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was among the 300 civilian reenactors camped adjacent to the armed forces. 

The Trust of Chickamauga Catoosa County and Walker County, Georgia September 18-20, 1863, states that the Confederate army secured a decisive victory at Chickamauga but lost 20 percent of its force in battle. After two days of fierce fighting, the Rebels broke through Union lines and forced the Federals into a siege at Chattanooga, ending in a Confederate victory. 

After disastrous Confederate losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the triumph of the Army of Tennessee at Chickamauga was a well-timed turn-around for the Confederates, but it came at a great cost. Chickamauga was the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War, ranking only behind Gettysburg, and was by far the deadliest battle in the Western Theater.

The small city of Chattanooga, with 2,500 inhabitants, lay on the banks of the Tennessee River where it cut through the Appalachian Mountains. It was the crossroads for four major railroads. President Lincoln knew that if his army could capture Chattanooga, vital Confederate supply lines would be severed, and the war would be closer to an end.

In the summer of 1863, the Confederate army was reeling from a string of losses. Union forces targeted Chattanooga. Union General Rosecrans outmaneuvered the Rebel army and forced Confederate General Braxton Bragg to relinquish control of the critical transportation hub without a fight. Rosecrans assumed that Bragg’s demoralized army would retreat further south into Rome, Georgia. So, Rosecrans divided his army into three corps and scattered them throughout Tennessee and Georgia. But Rosecrans made a mistake. Bragg had in fact concentrated his men at Lafayette, Georgia, where he was expecting reinforcements. When Bragg’s troops crossed Chickamauga Creek, the Federals had a fight on their hands.

Although Bragg’s original plan was the destruction of the Army of the Cumberland and the recapture of Chattanooga, the results of two days of bitter fighting at Chickamauga stalled him. He decided to occupy the heights surrounding Chattanooga and lay siege to the city instead.

Just two months later, the reinforced Federals drove the Army of Tennessee from their positions around Chattanooga, permanently securing Northern control of the city. With that loss, the Southern victory at Chickamauga was turned into a strategic defeat.

But last week there was no smell of defeat in the air, as Confederate canons mounted on the hill, and reigned over the valley. The Union canons took a position on the hill across from them.  As the civilian reenactors assembled with the modern-day spectators, the Calvery from each force stood ready. When the appointed time arrived, a shot was fired and the Confederate canons began to blast in succession. Ten canons roared, and smoke filled the air. Union canons returned fire. Soon the valley was so dense with smoke that sight of the infantry forces exchanging rifle fire in the valley were all but lost.  

A Union bugler sounded “Charge” and the soldiers in blue coats atop their gallant steads emerged in military file, galloping out of the smoke and into the fray. Their charge was met by the Confederate force, some men in gray, others in an array of mismatched uniforms, and in no file, but all yelling the rebel battle cry. The sound of battle was deafening as they drew their sabers, rode toward one another, and engaged in a clash of steel.

Suddenly a union soldier waved a bright orange flag and the fighting came to an immediate stand still. The guns and canons were silenced and the horses stood motionless.  An ambulance with its lights flashing rolled onto the battlefield. Two EMT’s emerged and assisted a gentleman dressed as a Confederate soldier into the ambulance and slowly drove off the field. The battle resumed, lasting another 20 minutes or so. It ended with all the calvary members riding past the spectators. Since the Confederates were victorious, they rode by first holding their sabers held high, followed by the “captured” Union soldiers who proudly followed with their sabers holstered. What could not go unnoticed was the fact that several women reenacting both Union and Confederate forces were counted among the Calvary as well as the canon crews. They were not obvious, nor easily spotted and kept the composure and continence of male soldiers throughout the reenactment. 

One Sunday afternoon, some years ago, after the park had closed, the battle had been fought and won, we were packing up. Members, of the Ladies Union Aid Society of which I am a member, asked to take training on the canons. The soldiers from the Turner Brigade obliged. Not wanting to get dirt, grease, or black powder on our dresses, we removed them and our hoops and worn only our white wrappers, knowing they could be bleached if soiled. We also knew that there was no chance of any of us ever being accepted on a canon crew. But women who have recently served in our US Armed Forces or grew up on horseback have successfully infiltrated the hobby of reenacting civil war military. Times have changed.

What has not changed is the portrayal of civil war civilians. Women of proven virtue were commissioned by the troops to do laundry, cook, and provide nursing aid to the soldiers. The Ladies Union Aid Society were also present to provide aid in the form of knitted sleeping caps, scarves, cotton handkerchiefs, wash cloths, towels, homemade soap, and dancing partners at the Saturday evening ball held at every reenactment, where men in both Union and Confederate uniforms take to the dance floor. 

Civilian camp is awakened by the sound of revelry being played in the troop’s camp at 4:30 AM when the troops begin their day. The troops have a morning scrimmage (rehearsal for the days battle usually held at 2 PM). The women spend their day gathering wood for cookfires for meal and bonfires in the evening. We carry water to our campsites, all the while dressed in hoops and gowns. We set up our own little white, civil war era tents and sleep in them regardless of the temperature.  Last weekend the temperature fell to the low 50’s, although I have slept out in temperatures much lower.

When asked why I became a reenactor, my answer is always, “to make history come alive.”