Number of casualties at the Battle of Chickamauga 1863

The Battle of Chickamauga took place between September 18 and 20, 1863, near Chickamauga Creek, just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Confederate General Braxton Bragg had been driven from the city earlier in the month by the Major General William Rosecrans' Union forces, and Bragg then became determined to re-take the city. After Gettysburg, the Battle of Chickamauga was the deadliest battle of the American Civil War.

The Battle of Chickamauga

Following a few light skirmishes on September 17, the battle began taking form the following day, with many more skirmishes (most noticeably between mounted regiments) before the battle intensified on the morning of the 19th. On this day, the Confederate forces repeatedly assaulted the Union lines, but could not break through. The fighting resumed in similar fashion the following day, however some miscommunication in the Union camp caused a gap to open for Confederate troops to push through, dispersing as much as one third of the Union forces. The Confederates continued to attack the remaining Union forces at a high cost, however the Union forces, now commanded by Major General George H. Thomas, held out until nightfall when they then retreated to city. 

Legacy

In the immediate aftermath of the battle, Bragg's forces then proceeded to besiege the city for over one month, until relief forces, commanded by Ulysses S. Grant, dispersed the Confederate forces and sent them into retreat. After the three days of battle, just under 4,000 men fell, and a further 25,000 were wounded, with the Confederacy sustaining a larger share of the casualties than the Union.