Why did Bragg evacuate Chattanooga?

[atlantis]

Why did Bragg not try and hold the city it was important. Instead, he falls back into Georgia then comes Chickamauga. What was his thinking. The confederacy could not avoid at this point in giving up territory without a fight, what did Davis communicate to him about Chattanooga. He had rail connection for supply and telegraph for comms at Chattanooga.

Your input appreciated.

 

[LtGenHenryWagerHalleck]

it late August of 1863 Rosecrans sent wilders brigade and much artillery to the north of the city and launched a significant artillery barrage apparently significant enough to sink some irreplaceable light draft transports docked at the city. This compelled Bragg to defend the city from that sector and aleast attempt counter battery fire. There was good reason to suspect the federal forces would move from that location as it was closer to their railroad supply. Rosecrans also deliberately sold the ruse. Instead Rosecrans crossed the Tennessee River south of the city and nearly surrounded Bragg.

While you are correct to point out that the rebels could not afford to give up ground and such a strategic point they far more could not afford to lose more soldier let alone a whole army. Especially in the west they had lost 2 whole armies at fort Donelson and Vicksburg. It is to braggs credit and an indictment of Rosecrans that Braggs army escape destruction

 

[J. Stanley]

Because it was the common sense decision.

Bragg can absolutely be criticized for his initial deployments - his cavalry was deployed so poorly that he fell for the Federal deception efforts and dismissed the main crossings as feints. Once it was realized that Rosecrans was crossing south of Chattanooga, he made the choice to evacuate and rightly so. Bragg's position was untenable. If Bragg stayed at Chattanooga, Rosecrans' army would fall on the Western & Atlantic Railroad, effectively severing Bragg's lifeline. With Burnside in Knoxville and Rosecrans south of Chattanooga, the Army of Tennessee would be encircled.

Add to the fact that the Confederacy's track record at relieving sieges was very poor (Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, Port Hudson), Bragg absolutely made the right choice. Had his cavalry been better deployed, he even stood a chance to greatly frustrate Rosecrans' crossing of the Tennessee River and even attack Rosecrans' army while it was still divided.

 

[Aaron Vinson]

Because he would've ended up surrounded like Rosecrans later, except in an even worse position.

 

[SWS]

For what it's worth it seems that evacuating Chattanooga and moving down to LaFayette gave the Army of Tennessee the best opportunities it had to overthrow Rosecrans in '63.

 

[uaskme]

Bragg called his subordinates together and told them he was going to fight for Chattanooga but from somewhere else. This is before he knew he would be reinforced. He knew he could only move once. Wilder, Minty and elements of Eli Lilly's mountain howitzers were parading up the river bank to the North of Chattanooga trying to convince him the Federals would cross the TN River in that direction. Bragg had reason to believe in would be from the North because Burnside was north of him. They actually shelled the Town. Sunk a paddle wheel steamer. Bragg will finally get intel the threat will come from the South. Columns of Federals had been seen heading toward Lookout Mtn. And so he forms into 2 columns and heads south.

Bragg had full intentions of taking Chattanooga Back.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Why did Bragg not try and hold the city it was important. Instead, he falls back into Georgia then comes Chickamauga. What was his thinking. The confederacy could not avoid at this point in giving up territory without a fight, what did Davis communicate to him about Chattanooga. He had rail connection for supply and telegraph for comms at Chattanooga.

Your input appreciated.

If I recall correctly from past reading, Bragg thought that if he stayed at Chattanooga the Union army would go into north GA and cut off his line of supplies.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

it late August of 1863 Rosecrans sent wilders brigade and much artillery to the north of the city and launched a significant artillery barrage apparently significant enough to sink some irreplaceable light draft transports docked at the city. This compelled Bragg to defend the city from that sector and aleast attempt counter battery fire. There was good reason to suspect the federal forces would move from that location as it was closer to their railroad supply. Rosecrans also deliberately sold the ruse. Instead Rosecrans crossed the Tennessee River south of the city and nearly surrounded Bragg.

While you are correct to point out that the rebels could not afford to give up ground and such a strategic point they far more could not afford to lose more soldier let alone a whole army. Especially in the west they had lost 2 whole armies at fort Donelson and Vicksburg. It is to braggs credit and an indictment of Rosecrans that Braggs army escape destruction

You may be correct. This was one of the rare instances where Bragg's judgement was correct.

 

[wausaubob]

If Bragg's army had fortified Chattanooga, wouldn't Rosecrans/Thomas have crossed the river at Bridgeport and repaired the railroad bridge?
If the US improved its logistics and occupied Lookout Mountain, the Confederates would have been in danger if Rosecrans could have explained to the cabinet the opportunity that was being presented.
I add that it seems as if the Bragg army was moving toward the expected source of reinforcements. That seems to be a sound operational method.