Battle of Chickamauga Facts, Details, and Timeline

September 19–20, 1863

Chickamauga Battle facts, including dates, location, casualties, leaders, who won, and more interesting facts you might not know. This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the battle and is for kids doing research and students preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam.

Braxton Bragg, Portrait

Major General William H. Rosecrans commanded the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga. [Wikimedia Commons]

Definition

The Battle of Chickamauga was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America from September 19 to September 20, 1863, during the American Civil War.

Quick Facts

  • Date Started: The Battle of Chickamauga started on Saturday, September 19, 1863.
  • Date Ended: The fighting ended on Sunday, September 20, 1863.
  • Location: The battle took place in Catoosa County and Walker County in northwestern Georgia.
  • Who Won: The Confederate States of America won the Battle of Chickamauga.
  • Civil War Campaign: The Battle of Chickamauga was part of the Chickamauga Campaign.

Battle of Chickamauga, Rosecrans and Bragg in the Field

This illustration depicts fighting at the Battle of Chickamauga. Image Source: Library of Congress.

Interesting Facts

  • The Battle of Chickamauga was the most significant Union defeat in the western theater of the American Civil War.
  • The combined losses at the battle were the highest total for any battle in the western theater of the American Civil War
  • The battle produced the second-highest number of casualties in the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg had the most casualties.
  • The Battle of Chickamauga was the last battle of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign.

Commanders and Forces Involved

Principal Union Commander

  • Major General William Rosecrans

Principal Confederate Commanders

  • General Braxton Bragg

Union Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Cumberland

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Army of Tennessee

Casualties and Statistics

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 60,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 65,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 16,000 (killed, wounded, and missing/captured).
  • An estimated 1,657 Union soldiers were killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 18,500 (killed, wounded, and missing/captured).
  • An estimated 2,312 Confederate soldiers were killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.

Results of the Battle of Chickamauga

  • The outcome of the Battle of Chickamauga was a Confederate victory.
  • Major General William Rosecrans was relieved of his command of the Army of the Cumberland on October 19, 1863.

Timeline of the Battle of Chickamauga

This list shows the main battles and events that took place before and after the Battle of Chickamauga, and how it fits into the chronological order of the Chickamauga Campaign.

  • August 21, 1863 — Second Battle of Chattanooga
  • September 10–11, 1863 — Battle of Davis’s Cross Roads
  • September 19–20 — Battle of Chickamauga