Bushwhacking on a grand scale

[NH Civil War Gal]

The "Emerging Civil War Series" Series: Bushwhacking on a Grand Scale - Emerging Civil War

When I began to write the story of the battle of Chickamauga in what became Bushwhacking on a Grand Scale, it presented a unique challenge as it was one that I had told a thousand times, either on battlefield tours or in presentations for Civil War Roundtables, etc. I decided the route I would...

emergingcivilwar.com

I read this article and wondered if other people more familiar with Chickamauga agree - was it bushwhacking on a grand scale?

 

[th'anchoriticsybarite]

Are you serious? Look up the definition of bushwhacking. Given the fact that at Chickamauga 2 armies lined up parallel to each other and smacked into each other from one end of the field to the other. One side won because the opposing general was idiotic enough to deliberately open a hole in his line a herd of buffalo could have stampeded through.

The only other significant aspect of the battle was that one Union commander rallied his troops on top of a very steep hill and repulsed the enemy's repeated attacks allowing the rest of the army to run away safely and eventually reconstitute as an organized force to protect their base. But even that gallant effort would have been for naught had the Confederate commander been smart enough to ignore the hill and vigorously pursue the escaping army, not allowing it time or space to reorganize, capturing many many many more, but most importantly at the end of the day being able to retake their ultimate goal, Chattanooga with almost no cost. Thomas and his men would have been trapped with no supplies, behind enemy lines, in enemy territory, no feasible line of retreat, their only option surrender. At the end of the day Rosecrans's army would have ceased to exist, Chattanooga would again be in Confederate hands, and worst of all a year and a half of campaigning to seize Chattanooga and open up the road to Atlanta would have been negated. Back to square one.

 

[uaskme]

Lee White is a Ranger at Chickamauga. It is a good short read. He has written a few books. Led many battlefield walks. Knowledgeable. Below is the beginning of his prologue. Tells us where his title comes from. Chickamauga was the first National Battlefield. Dedicated to the common soldier.

 

[carptrash]

I am not familiar with the battle but, if the above account is more or less accurate, fail to see what the term "Bushwhacking" has to do with it.

 

[uaskme]

Battle was 3 days.

18th Federal dismounted troops, Minty and Wilder opposing Confederates crossing West Chickamauga creek, often called river. 19th Both armys moving north in a zipper effect, Federals turning to the East, Confederates turning West to oppose each other. These movements were in wooded areas and ended up being brigade movements which were eventually flanked. Command and Control broke down because of these smaller movements. So this is what Turchin phrases as Bushwacking. During the evening of the 19th, both armys concentrated into distinct battle lines. Much different battle on the 20th. Most recognize the Breakthru and Horseshoe Ridge as the defining portions of Chickamauga. Actually it as the finality of about 10 days of Troop movements.

 

[carptrash]

I see it now (though not "real" bushwhacking. I've got he West Point Atlas of American Wars (only vol. 1, but that's enough for the CW) and it has 6 pages on Chickamauga, 3 text and 3 maps. Looks like quite a mess.

 

[th'anchoriticsybarite]

I really don't want to be pedantic but words have meanings. The battle of Chickamauga and the word bushwhacking cannot be more antithetical to each other.