Brigadier General St. John R. Liddell’s Division At Chickamauga:: A Study Of A Division’s Performance In Battle [Illustrated Edition]

By Major Michael R. King

Includes Civil War Map and Illustrations Pack - 224 battle plans, campaign maps and detailed analyses of actions spanning the entire period of hostilities.
This thesis is a historical analysis of Brigadier General St. John R. Liddell and his division during the Battle of Chickamauga. Liddell’s Division was an ad hoc unit, formed just prior to the battle. During the battle, the unit was involved in five different engagements over a period of three days. These engagements resulted in varying degrees of success and failure. In today’s context the performance of the division can be seen as mostly a failure, but from the American Civil War perspective the division’s performance in many ways was a success...
The thesis begins with a general summation of the battle and an introductory discussion of the structure, leadership, tactics, weapons, and training of the Confederate armies during the American Civil War. The thesis then continues with an examination of General Liddell’s life and background before and during the early part of the war. Next, the thesis discusses, as a prelude to Chickamauga, Liddell and his brigades’ experiences at the Battle of Stones River and during the Tullahoma Campaign. The thesis continues with a description of the background and combat experiences of the brigade commanders and the units that comprised Liddell’s Division. Thereafter, the thesis analyzes the performance of General Liddell and his division at the Battle of Chickamauga and draws conclusions as to the proximate causes of the performance: causes that are related to the terrain, the organization of the division, the lack of enemy information, and the tactical focus of Liddell and his commanders.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Golden Springs Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781782893967

Major Michael R. King

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Text originally published in 1997 under the same title.

© Pickle Partners Publishing 2013, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

BRIGADIER GENERAL ST. JOHN R. LIDDELL’S DIVISION

AT CHICKAMAUGA: THE STUDY OF A DIVISION’S

PERFORMANCE IN BATTLE

by

MICHAEL R. KING, MAJOR, USMC

B.A., Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1980

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

ABSTRACT 5

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 6

CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION 7

CHAPTER 2 — LIDDELL BEFORE CHICKAMAUGA 15

CHAPTER 3 — STONES RIVER AND TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGNS 26

CHAPTER 4 — DIVISION COMMAND AND THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN 40

CHAPTER 5 — THE BATTLE 55

CHAPTER 6 — ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS 71

BIBLIOGRAPHY 80

Books 80

Periodicals and Articles 81

Government Documents 82

Unpublished Materials 82

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 83

MAPS 84

I – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1861 84

Charleston Harbor, Bombardment of Fort Sumter – 12th & 13th April 1861 84

1st Bull Run Campaign – Theatre Overview July 1861 85

Bull Run – 21st July 1861 86

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 18th July 1861 87

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 21st July 1861 (Morning) 88

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Actions 1-3 p.m. 89

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Union Retreat 4 P.M. to Dusk 90

II – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1862 91

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (6-8.30 A.M.) Confederate Attacks 91

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (9 A.M.) Union Attacks 92

Forts Henry and Donelson – 6th to 16th February 1862 93

Battle of Fort Donelson – 14th February 1862 94

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 95

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 96

New Madrid and Island No. 10 – March 1862 97

Pea Ridge – 5th to 8th March 1862 98

First Battle of Kernstown – 23rd March 1862, 11 – 16:45 99

Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing) - 6th & 7th April 1862 100

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 - Morning 101

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 – P.M. 102

Battle of Yorktown – 5th to 16th April 1862 103

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 24th to 25th May 1862 - Actions 104

Williamsburg – 5th May 1862 105

Fair Oaks – 31st May to 1st June 1862 106

Battle of Seven Pines – 31st May 1862 107

Seven Days – 26th June to 2nd July 1862 108

Seven Days Battles – 25th June to 1st July 1862 - Overview 109

Seven Days Battles – 26th & 27th June 1862 110

Seven Days Battles – 30th June 1862 111

Seven Days Battles – 1st July 1862 112

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 2.30 P.M. Hill’s Attacks 113

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 3.30 P.M. Ewell’s Attacks 114

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 7 P.M. General Confederate Attacks 115

Pope’s Campaign - 24th August 1862 116

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 A.M. 117

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 6 P.M. 118

Second Battle of Bull Run – 28th August 1862 119

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 10 A.M. 120

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 12 P.M. 121

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 5 P.M. 122

Pope’s Campaign – 29th August 1862 Noon. 123

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 3 P.M. 124

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 4.30 P.M. 125

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 5 P.M. 126

Battle of Harpers Ferry – 15th September 1862 127

Antietam – 16th & 17th September 1862 128

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 Overview 129

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 6 A.M. 130

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 7.30 A.M. 131

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 9 A.M. 132

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 10 A.M. 133

Iuka – 19th September 1862 134

Battle of Iuka – 19th September 1862 135

Corinth – 3rd & 4th October 1862 136

Second Battle of Corinth – 3rd October 1862 137

Second Battle of Corinth – 4th October 1862 138

Perryville – 8th October 1862 139

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 2 P.M. 140

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3 P.M. 141

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3.45 P.M. 142

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4 P.M. 143

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4.15 P.M. 144

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 5.45 P.M. 145

Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 146

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Overview 147

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Sumner’s Assault 148

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Hooker’s Assault 149

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou – 26th to 29th December 1862 150

Stone’s River – 31st December 1862 151

Battle of Stones River – 30th December 1862 152

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 8.00 A.M. 153

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 9.45 A.M. 154

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 11.00 A.M. 155

III – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1863 156

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 156

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 157

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4.45 P.M. 158

Chancellorsville Campaign (Hooker’s Plan) – April 1863 159

Battle of Chancellorsville – 1st May 1863 Actions 160

Battle of Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 Actions 161

Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 162

Chancellorsville – 3rd to 5th May 1863 163

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 6 A.M. 164

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. 165

Battle of Chancellorsville – 4th to 6th May 1863. 166

Battle of Brandy Station – 8th June 1863 167

Siege of Vicksburg – 25th May to 4th July 1863 168

Siege of Vicksburg – 19th May 1863 - Assaults 169

Siege of Vicksburg – 22nd May 1863 - Assaults 170

Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 171

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 Overview 172

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 7 A.M. 173

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10 A.M. 174

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10.45 A.M. 175

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 11 A.M. 176

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 12.30 P.M. 177

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 2 P.M. 178

Gettysburg – 2nd to 4th July 1863 179

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Lee’s Plan 180

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Overview 181

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetary Ridge A.M. 182

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Initial Defence 183

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Evening attacks 184

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Hood’s Assaults 185

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard Initial Assaults 186

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard and Cemetary Ridge 187

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Initial Assaults 188

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Second Phase 189

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetery Hill Evening 190

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (1) 191

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (2) 192

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Overview 193

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge 194

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge Detail 195

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Johnson’s Third Attack 196

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Opening Positions 197

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – First Phase 198

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Second Phase 199

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 South Cavalry Field 200

Battle of Gettysburg – Battlefield Overview 201

Fight at Monterey Pass – 4th to 5th July 1863 202

Chickamauga – 19th & 20th September 1863 203

Chickamauga Campaign – Davis’s Crossroads – 11th September 1863 204

Chickamauga Campaign – 18th September 1863 After Dark 205

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Morning 206

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 207

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 208

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. 209

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 11 A.M. to Mid-Afternoon 210

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Mid-Afternoon to Dark 211

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Brigade Details 212

Chattanooga – 23rd to 25th November 1863 213

Chattanooga Campaign – 24th & 25th November 1863 214

Chattanooga Campaign – Federal Supply Lines and Wheeler’s Raid 215

Battle of Missionary Ridge – 25th November 1863 216

Mine Run – 26th to 30th November 1863 217

IV – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1864 218

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 29th to 31st March 1864 218

Wilderness – 5th & 6th May 1864 219

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 – Positions 7 A.M. 220

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 - Actions 221

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 5 A.M. 222

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 6 A.M. 223

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 11 A.M. 224

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 2 P.M. 225

Spotsylvania – 8th to 21st May 1864 226

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 7th & 8th May 1864 - Movements 227

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 8th May 1864 - Actions 228

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 9th May 1864 - Actions 229

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 10th May 1864 - Actions 230

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 12th May 1864 - Actions 231

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 13th May 1864 - Actions 232

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 17th May 1864 - Actions 233

North Anna – 23rd to 26th May 1864 234

Battle of North Anna – 23rd May 1864 235

Battle of North Anna – 24th May 1864 236

Battle of North Anna – 25th May 1864 237

Battle of Haw’s Shop – 28th May 1864 238

Battle of Bethseda Church (1) – 30th May 1864 239

Battle of Bethseda Church (2) – 30th May 1864 240

Cold Harbor – 31st May to 12th June 1864 241

Battle of Cold Harbor – 1st June 1864 242

Battle of Cold Harbor – 3rd June 1864 243

Pickett’s Mills and New Hope Church – 25th to 27th May 1864 244

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – 27th June 1864 245

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 15th to 18th June 1864 246

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 21st to 22nd June 1864 247

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 30th July 1864 248

Wilson-Kautz Raid – 22nd June to 1st July 1864 249

First Battle of Deep Bottom – 27th to 29th July 1864 250

Second Battle of Deep Bottom – 14th to 20th August 1864 251

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 18th to 19th August 1864 252

Opequon, or Winchester, Va. – 19th September 1864 253

Fisher’s Hill – 22nd September 1864 254

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 27th October 1864 255

Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 256

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 5-9 A.M. Confederate Attacks 257

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Afternoon 258

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Evening 259

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 4-5 P.M. Union Counterattack 260

Franklin – 30th November 1864 261

Battle of Franklin – Hood’s Approach 30th November 1864 262

Battle of Franklin – 30th November 1864 Actions after 4.30 P.M. 263

Nashville – 15th & 16th December 1864 264

V – OVERVIEWS 265

1 – Map of the States that Succeeded – 1860-1861 265

Fort Henry Campaign – February 1862 266

Forts Henry and Donelson – February 1862 267

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 23rd March to 8th May 1862 268

Peninsula Campaign – 17th March to 31st May 1862 269

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 21st May to 9th June 1862 270

Northern Virginia Campaign – 7th to 28th August 1862 271

Maryland Campaign – September 1862 272

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – First Phase – 10th to 19th September 1862 273

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – Second Phase – 20th September – 3rd October 1862 274

Fredericksburg Campaign – Movements mid-November to 10th December 1862 275

Memphis to Vicksburg – 1862-1863 276

Operations Against Vicksburg and Grant’s Bayou Operations – November 1862 to April 1863 277

Campaign Against Vicksburg – 1863 278

Grant’s Operations Against Vicksburg – April to July 1863 279

Knoxville Campaign - 1863 280

Tullahoma Campaign – 24th June – 3rd July 1863 281

Rosecrans’ Manoeuvre – 20th August to 17th September 1963 283

Bristoe Campaign – 9th October to 9th November 1863 284

Mine Run Campaign – 27th November 1863 – 2nd December 1863 285

Grant’s Overland Campaign – Wilderness to North Anna - 1864 286

Grant’s