When North and South met among the desolate mountains of northwestern Georgia in 1863, they began one of the bloodiest and most decisive campaigns of the Civil War. The climactic Battle of Chickamauga lasted just two days, yet it was nearly as costly as Gettysburg, with casualties among the highest in the war. In this study of the campaign, the first to appear in over thirty years and the most comprehensive account ever written on Chickamauga.

My dear general, you are thoroughly outdone --Golden moments are passing -- I have never felt so glad to be a soldier -- A glimmer in the twilight -- We are in a ticklish place here -- Sounds of ill omen -- Withdraw if not already too late -- They are coming like a pack of wolves -- We shall soon be in it -- Give help where it is needed -- A bellyful of fighting -- They skedaddled in fine style -- We bury our dead -- The night seemed to quake and tremble -- If I could only drown this terrible sound -- God grant it may be so -- If they begin it, we will end it -- The left must be held -- To fire at those breastworks seemed foolish -- Gentlemen, I hold the fatal order of the day -- All was a sickening confusion -- No more show than a broken-backed cat -- The signs grew rapidly worse -- They can kill us, but whip us never -- Give us a position to hold -- Thomas is having a hell of a fight -- A few are holding out up yonder -- I never saw better fighting -- Don't waste any cartridges now, boys -- The storm broke loose -- God help me to bear it aright -- Denunciations fierce and strong -- Appendix: The opposing forces in the Chickamauga campaign.