River of Death: Battle of Chickamauga

The Battle of Chickamauga was fought on September 19-20, 1863. Today is the 150th anniversary of the battle.  Some say Chickamauga is from the Cherokee language and means river of blood. Blood certainly ran freely during the battle as there were nearly 35,000 casualties, the second highest number after Gettysburg. The battle marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign. It was the most significant Union defeat in the Western Theater.

Confederate troops advancing during the Battle of Chickamauga; drawing by Alfred R. Waud

My husband (Easterly), sister-in-law (Moncrief)(1) and niece-in-law (Bailiff) had ancestors that fought and died at Chickamauga:

• James Monroe Bailiff (1845-1927) served in Allison's Cavalry Battalion and was wounded on 20 Sep 1863 at Chickamauga. Taken prisoner of war at Louisville, Kentucky; released in the spring of 1864.

James Monroe Bailiff and his wife Eliza. Photo courtesy of Bailiff.com

• George Adolphus Easterly (1845-1932) served with the 8th Tennessee Infantry and fought at Chickamauga.
• Rufus Harpine Easterly (1842-1919) served with the 4th Tennessee Infantry and fought at Chickamauga.
• George N Moncrief (1837-19 Sep 1863) was a corporal with the 30th Georgia Infantry. He was killed in action during the battle.
• Henry Harrison Moncrief (1842-1921) enlisted on 25 Sep 1861 as a private in the 30th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Co D. He fought at Chickamauga. In 1864 he was taken prisoner and was sent to Camp Chase in Ohio.

Henry Harrison Moncrief

• Leroy Eli Moncrief (1838-Sep 1863) was a private with the 30th Georgia Infantry. He was wounded a Chickamauga and died a few days later at a hospital in Savannah.

During our next trip to visit my brother in northern Alabama, I would very much like to visit the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

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(1)The Moncriefs discussed in this post were brothers. Their parents sent six sons off to war; I wrote about them here.