The Chickamauga Campaign (Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland) Review

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The Chickamauga Campaign (Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland) ReviewFought on September 19-20, 1863, near Chickamauga Creek in northern Georgia, the Battle of Chickamauga was the last major victory of the South in the Civil War and the first victory of its much-beleaguered Army of Tennessee. The Army of Tennessee was commanded by General Braxton Bragg, unpopular among the troops and the subject of a great deal of infighting among his subordinate generals. General William Rosecrans commanded the Union Army of the Cumberland, but he was dismissed after the near-disastrous battle. Chickamauga is best remembered for the heroics of Union General George Thomas. After Longsteet had breached the right of the Union line, Thomas protected the retreating army by his stand on the Union left at Snodgrass Hill. He became known forever as the "Rock of Chickamauga".
The Civil War in the West frequently gets less attention than the eastern theater. To remedy this situation, Steve Woodworth, a Professor of History at Texas Christian University and a prolific writer on the Civil War, is editing a series of books consisting of essays by scholars of the major events in the western theater. The first book on the Shiloh campaign appeared last year. The Shiloh Campaign (Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland) This book on Chickamauga is the second of the series and consists of eight detailed essays by as many different writers on aspects of the Chickamauga campaign. The book also includes a short background essay by Woodworth together with a set of serviceable maps.
Although I learned a great deal about Chickamauga from this book, many of the essays are limited in focus and specialized. They will have their greatest appeal for readers with a special interest in the Chickamauga Campaign who have already read a great deal about it. Thus, although Thomas's stand must be at the center of any discussion of Chickamauga, none of the essays in this book focus on it. Instead, the essays seem to presuppose the reader's knowledge of it. There surely is much to be said about Thomas even in a book about Chickamauga written for knowledgeable readers. Similarly, there is little in this book about the aftermath of the Battle. I would have been interested in an essay discussing whether a more aggressive pursuit of the Union Army could have been successfully mounted. The collection of essays suffers from a lack of focus. They mirror the Battle of Chickamauga itself in their shifting, piecemeal, and confused character.
With that said, the essays offer interesting perspectives on Chickamauga. The lengthy opening essay by Ethan Rafuse "In the Shadow of the Rock" discusses the activities of the other Corps commanders of the Army of the Cumberland, McCook and Crittenden. It follows their activities throughout the campaign and thus might serve as an overview of the battle for those readers unfamiliar with it. Stephen Woodworth's own contribution, discusses the Army of Tennessee's lost opportunity at McClemore's Cove on September 10 and 11, 1863. Rosecrans had divided his forces in the mountain passes and Bragg had the opportunity to attack and destroy the Union Army in detail. Bragg realized this but his efforts failed. Woodworth explores the reasons for this lost Confederate opportunity.
Five of the essays involve the activities of specific generals. Alexander Mendoza's essay on Confederate General D.H.Hill also explores McClemore Cove and discusses as well Hill's failure to follow Bragg's orders on the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga. Hill was among a group of senior officers who disapproved of Bragg and whose conduct during his tenure verged on insubordination. Lee White's essay on Confederate General A.P. Stewart focuses upon an attack on the Union center on September 19, a high point of Confederate leadership during the confused battle. John Lundberg's essay discusses the gifted Confederate General Pat Cleburne who had the misfortune of leading a rare night attack on the Union lines the evening of September 19. David Powell's essay "Negley at Horseshoe Ridge" tells the story of a Union Commander who retreated precipitously and ignominiously during the course of Thomas's defense. And William Robertson's essay "Bull of the Woods" takes a critical and measured look at James Longstreet's role in the battle. He concludes that Longstreet frequently is given more credit for the Confederate victory at Chickamauga than he deserves.
The book's final essay "Henry Van Ness Boynton and Chickamauga" by Timothy Smith deals with the commemoration of the battle. Boynton served under Thomas at Chickamauga and went on to a career as a journalist. In the late 1880's he became convinced of the importance of establishing a national military park at Chickamauga and worked tirelessly towards that end. The establishment of the Park became a joint project of former soldiers from both sides as Chickamauga became a model for parks established at Shiloh, Vicksburg and Gettysburg.
This book will appeal to readers with a strong background and interest in Chickamauga and the Civil War in the West. I am looking forward to further volumes in the "Civil War in the Heartland" series.
Robin FriedmanThe Chickamauga Campaign (Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland) Overview

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