Fording the Chickamauga

          Around sunset on September 18, 1863, the men of Archibald Gracie’s Brigade crossed Chickamauga Creek at a place known as Dalton’s Ford. The brigade was part of the Confederate Army of Tennessee and crossing the Creek basically put the brigade in position to become involved in the costly battle of Chickamauga.

          One hundred fifty years, five months and three weeks later, your loyal blogger put his boots in the same mud as Gracie’s men did all those years ago.

Dalton's Ford, looking to the south. Gracie's Brigade
crossed Chickamauga Creek from the far side toward the
side where the photographer stood.

          This was a humbling experience, a literal step into history. Maybe a step into the muck of history. Or something like that.

          It took lots of direction from the patient park Rangers at the Chickamauga National Military Park Visitors Center, a fancy map and a wonderful spring day to make the trek pay off, but the Ford was waiting when yours truly showed up.

Muddy boots!

          The sand in the foreground of this image at the Ford is all that remains of the crossing and even this much is more difficult to see when the Creek’s water level is higher. Still, it is there to be seen on the southern end of the Park’s portion of the battlefield.

          After stomping around the area near the Ford, it was time to drive the rental car to Horseshoe Ridge. It has been two years since my last visit to the Ridge but the time between visits has allowed for study of the fighting. James Ogden, the Park’s historian, has been kind enough to help me understand a great deal of this very complicated area of fighting. Today I looked at the Ridge with a better understanding than ever before.

          For your loyal blogger, today was about fitting a little bit of book knowledge with the pure facts of the topography. New questions popped up, which always happens to me here. But brief moments of understanding also happened and those moments were thrilling.



This image shows the area between Hills 1
and 2 on Horseshoe Ridge. See how the ground
changes in both directions



          Regular readers of this blog know I begin each trip to a battlefield with detailed plans for each day and I typically blow those plans off as soon as I find something new and interesting.

          Today’s visit was disciplined. There was no plan shredding, just a careful following of the plan as outlined. I noted things I want to explore, but I left them unseen for the time being. Talk about making a sacrifice for the greater good, this was it.

          Tomorrow will be more of the same, although the goals are very different and will probably be harder to accomplish. Still, no one promised me a rose garden. Even if they did, I don’t like roses anyway.

 

          Thanks for reading.