Chickamauga: Bloody Battle In The West

by Glenn Tucker

Two and a half months after the Confederate Army’s drive into Union territory had been checked by the Federals at Gettysburg, the two armies met near Chattanooga, Tennessee, to dispute control of the west. Here they locked in the bloody battle of Chickamauga, one of the most hotly contested engagements of American history, and one of the most extraordinary.

For two days —September 19 and 20, 1863 — 125,000 men struggled for the prize city of Chattanooga in terrain more like a jungle than a battlefield. All regarded the battle as decisive. On its outcome depended, for the South, the fate of Atlanta and all Georgia. For the North, it promised the one opportunity to cut the Confederacy through the middle and possibly end the war before Christmas. For the courage they displayed, these men surpassed any in the wars of western civilization.

It was, perhaps above all else from the strategist’s point of view, a battle of strong personalities. Leading the Federals was William Starke Rosecrans, of German ancestry, hot-tempered and sometimes vacillating. Opposed to him was the hard-fighting, brave and resourceful Braxton Bragg, a martinet who could be slow moving and careless in supervising the execution of his orders. Possibly most outstanding of all was the Union General George Henry Thomas, whose remarkable courage and tactical skill saved his side from overwhelming defeat and earned him the sobriquet of “Rock of Chickamauga."

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Nonfiction, Military History, Civil War Western Theater

545 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Todd Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tucker has written an account of a battle that has been greatly neglected in the history of the American Civil War. The Battle of Chickamauga was a massive engagement, second only in scope to the revered Gettysburg, and surely the greatest battle of the Western theater of the war. Yet, it was such a confusing conflict that didn’t adhere to the more easily outlined movements of troops in other battles, that most historians have chosen to ignore it. I can appreciate this from personal experience, as during my undergraduate days I lived mere minutes from the Chickamauga Battlefield and became as familiar with its terrain as just about anyone could from my countless visits. However, knowing the battlefield as intimately as I do, Tucker’s recounting is the first cogent and largely comprehensive study of it that I have ever read. I can’t help but find myself wishing someone would write an account of it similar to Noah Trudeau’s “Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage”, which has become my litmus test for Civil War battle works. However, Tucker clearly chose to write this book from the vantage point of ordinary soldiers and smaller units(brigade and regiment level), which is appropriate to the manner in which the battle was fought and events unfolded. Overall, Tucker has written a very good account of the Battle of Chickamauga, and I highly recommend it as a first rate history of the battle.

[Anthony Cleveland · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good book for the avid student of the American civil war. However, the writing style is complex and not easy to follow ... perhaps due to the overwhelming data the author offers in support of historical accuracy?

[Jason Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, but I found the text in the drier side and a little choppy. It made it harder to read, but was still a thoroughly well researched work and great to read to learn about this important battle.

[John Maag · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read and good introduction to the battle.

[Steve Switzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just completed this book .. old style narrative history which gives you a feel for all the characters. Initially slightly distracting in that each time we come across a commander (down to some regt commanders) the other interrupts the narrative to give you a history of the person including his personal life . Once you get used to this technique it brings you into the armies though i didnt understand some of the american references particularty the political ones.
Good solid account of the bloody fight at chickamauga which longstreet won , Bragg threw away and thomas saved from a complete disaster
3 stars by the way means i like the book
4 stars its really enjoyable
5 stars it blows my mind (in the words of d bowie rip)
So 3 stars is not a bad review

[Tom Mach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was amazed at the amount of information this book has on one important Civil War battle--Chickamauga. I visited that battle site and relied on this book as well as others to give me a vivid description of this battle so I could write about it in my novel entitled "All Parts Together" My only suggestion for Glenn Tucker in improving this book would be to include a synopsis of the campaign somewhere in the book.

[Robert Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tucker's style of writing makes him one of my favorite Civil War historians. This and his book on Gettysburg are probably the two best Civil War histories I've read. Thorough and accurate work in covering these battles.