Sunday, 20 September 1863

Both Union and Confederate forces were lined up at the conclusion of the fighting yesterday, knowing pretty much where each other were and had been readying for action all during the night, cutting trees and setting up temporary fortifications. They both also knew that today would brings things to a head and likely settle the matter. The fighting was essentially toe to toe from one end to the other until, due to a mistaken or faulty order, Union troops right in the center under General Thomas J. Wood were pulled out of position. In the Confederate center were the forces of General James Longstreet, who knew exactly what to do with such a gift and lost no time exploiting this opening. The Union line nearly quickly melted, then the right side completely dissolved, except for native Virginian General George Henry Thomas. Gathering his men on a rise called Snodgrass Hill they formed a defensive line that held all afternoon, garnering for Thomas the nickname “Rock of Chickamauga.” After dark, under orders, Thomas withdrew to rejoin the rest of the Union army in Chattanooga. General Braxton Bragg had won his battle.

The general report submitted this date by Lieutenant Commander J.P. Foster, commanding the second district of the Mississippi Squadron, to Rear Admiral David D. Porter, illustrated the restrictive effect gunboat patrols had on Confederate operations along the Mississippi. Foster had taken command of the Donaldsonville, Louisiana past the mouth of the Red River section of the Mississippi in mid-August. From Bayou Sara he wrote: "Since taking command of the Lafayette I have made a tour of my district and find everything quiet below Bayou Sara and very little excitement between this place and Red River, no vessels having been fired into since the rebels were shelled by the Champion [30 August]. The disposition of this ship, Neosho, and Signal, I think, has had a beneficial influence upon the rebels, insomuch as they have not shown themselves upon the river banks since I have been down here."

Lieutenant Earl, of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, in command of a squad of forty cavalry, marched from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as far as the Comite River, and reported capturing fourteen prisoners, with their arms, horses, and equipments. Among the prisoners were Colonel Hunter and Captain Perry, notorious guerrilla chiefs.

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