Existing comment:
Confederates Cross the Creek
Confederate columns crossing Reeds Bridge turned south here
On the afternoon of September 18, 1863 - the day before the main battle - Confederate forces pushed across Chickamauga Creek. They crossed at Reeds Bridge (3/4 mile east of here to your right), and at several shallow fords. Union units offered some resistance, but were outnumbered.
The Confederates who crossed at Reeds Bridge turned south down the road behind you to attack the Union left at Lee and Gordons Mills. As twilight approached, the last Confederates crossed the creek and marched past this point. Union Col. Dan McCook spotted the enemy soldiers and captured some stragglers. He then burned Reeds Bridge and reported that an "isolated" Confederate brigade was trapped on this side of the creek.
McCook's men settled down for the night near this spot. At dawn they hoped to be reinforced and destroy the "trapped" Confederate unit. |