Section #1 - The American Civil War: 1861-65
Chapter 48: Bragg’s Army Escapes Through Reingold Gap
The Confederate army retreat from Missionary Ridge depends on its ability to cross the Chickamauga River and then move through a gap in the White Oak Mountain range toward Dalton, Georgia.
Bragg turns to Patrick Cleburne’s Division to keep the Reingold Gap open long enough for his troops and slow moving supply wagons to get through safely.
Cleburne has only 4,000 troops to do the job, and he distributes them at strategic points as Hooker’s four Corps (the IV, XI, XII and XV) of 16,000 men close in at 10:00pm on November 26.
The fighting breaks out around 8:00am on November 27 after Peter Osterhaus’s Division encounters the first rebel skirmishers north of Reingold Gap.
Thomas Wood is turned back by Gray General Hiram Granbury followed by John Geary’s assault on the Gap itself at 10:40am. But he too is halted by Generals Mark Lowery and Lucius Polk (nephew of Commander Leonidas Polk).
In the end, Cleburne is able to hold out for five hours while Bragg gets through Reingold and on the way to Dalton. In turn, Grant gives up the chase and orders Hooker to return to Chattanooga.
Important Battles: 1863
| 1863 | Battle | State | Winner | K/W/C | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9-11 | Arkansas Post | Ark | Union | 1,152 | Part of Vicksburg campaign |
| April 7 | Charleston Harbor | SC | CSA | 35 | DuPont tests; PGTB defends |
| April 26 | Cape Girardeau | MO | Union | 337 | Ends Marmaduke raid |
| April 30 – May 6 | Chancellorsville | Va | CSA | 24,000 | Lee’s masterpiece but Jackson lost |
| May 1 | Port Gibson | Miss | Union | 1,662 | Part of Vicksburg campaign |
| May 16 | Champion Hill | Miss | USA | 6,300 | Critical win in Vicksburg campaign |
| June 9 | Brandy Station | Va | Draw | 1,500 | Largest cavalry battle of war |
| July 1-3 | Gettysburg | Pa | USA | 51,000 | Meade stops second Lee invasion |
| May 18 – July 4 | Vicksburg | Miss | USA | 37,500 | Union takes control of Mississippi River |
| May 21 – July 9 | Port Hudson | La | USA | 5,700 | CSA fort falls after Vicksburg |
| July 18 | Ft. Wagner | SC | CSA | 1,700 | Threat to Sumter includes black assault |
| Sept 18-20 | Chickamauga | Ga | CSA | 35,000 | Thomas holds after bloodbath CSA win |
| Nov 25 | Missionary Ridge | TN | USA | 12,500 | Hooker defeats CSA “above the clouds” |
| Nov 27 | Ringgold Gap | Ga | CSA | 700 | Cleburne protects CSA TN retreat |