Near Rossville in Walker County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
McFarland's Gap
The Battle of Chickamauga Ends in Retreat
Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails
Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 20, 2019
1. McFarland's Gap Marker
Inscription.
McFarland's Gap. The Battle of Chickamauga Ends in Retreat. By nightfall on Sunday, September 20, 1863, more than two-thirds of the surviving Federal “Army of the Cumberland” had retreated from the Chickamauga battlefield through this narrow gap in Missionary Ridge. One of the Federal army's necessities during its fight at Chickamauga was to protect communications with its base at Chattanooga. Two routes they needed to hold leading through McFarland's Gap were the Dry Valley and McFarland Gap's roads. Losing access to the gap could result in disaster for the Federal army.
Shortly after 12:00 noon on the 20th, commanding Union Major General William S. Rosecrans decided the Battle of Chickamauga was lost following the routing of the Federal right and center. Upon reaching McFarland's Gap he spoke with survivors of Major General James S. Negley's division, who said Negley was farther north “rallying stragglers.” This news heightened Rosecrans fears that his army had been badly defeated. Around 1:00 pm weary and often wounded Federal soldiers began streaming through McFarland's Gap. Overturned wagons, abandoned caissons and the like littered the road. Just north of the gap many demoralized infantrymen encountered the 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known as the “Anderson Cavalry." They had orders from Rosecrans to stop stragglers. The Pennsylvanians halted a large number of men before being ordered to the rear.
Many men rested on the farm of Xzanders G. and Lucy Ann B. McFarland, about a mile north. Unlike the ground between the Chickamauga battlefield and McFarland's Gap, which was “broken, rugged and densely-wooded,” according to General Negley, the McFarland farm offered “the first open ground where the troops could be collected and reorganized.” Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis and Major General Philip H. Sheridan also reorganized some Federal troops. Davis rallied over 1,000 men from his division while Sheridan brought some 1,500 survivors from the battlefield through the gap.
By 3:00 pm the Federal panic waned, as officers continued reorganizing some semblance of an army. General Davis ordered an artillery battery positioned to protect the gap, and fear about a possible attack by Confederate cavalry subsided. Around 4:00 pm, Generals Negley, Davis, Sheridan and Lieutenant Colonel Arthur C. Ducat of General Rosecrans' staff, met at the McFarland's home to discuss a course of action. A "heated discussion” ensued, reported Union Captain Alfred L. Hough, a member of Negley's staff, but they “could come to no agreement for common action.” Some decided to return to the Chickamauga battlefield with their commands via McFarland's Gap to reinforce troops still to the fighting on "Horseshoe Ridge” under Union Major General George H. Thomas. None arrived in time.
General Thomas began withdrawing his troops from the Chickamauga battlefield around 5:30 pm. Almost all trudged along the McFarland's Gap road before funneling through McFarland's Gap. Last to leave the battlefield, around 10:00 pm, was Colonel Daniel McCook, Jr's brigade, also passing through the gap. By the next morning both McFarland's Gap and the McFarland farm were nearly deserted. The bulk of the Federal army had reached Rossville safely, and eventually Chattanooga.
By nightfall on Sunday, September 20, 1863, more
than two-thirds of the surviving Federal “Army of the
Cumberland” had retreated from the Chickamauga
battlefield through this narrow gap in Missionary
Ridge. One of the Federal army's necessities during its
fight at Chickamauga was to protect communications
with its base at Chattanooga. Two routes they needed to
hold leading through McFarland's Gap were the Dry
Valley and McFarland Gap's roads. Losing access to the
gap could result in disaster for the Federal army.
Shortly after 12:00 noon on the 20th, commanding
Union Major General William S. Rosecrans decided
the Battle of Chickamauga was lost following the
routing of the Federal right
and center. Upon reaching
McFarland's Gap he spoke
with survivors of Major
General James S. Negley's
division, who said Negley
was farther north “rallying
stragglers.” This news
heightened Rosecrans fears
that his army had been
badly defeated. Around
1:00 pm weary and often
wounded Federal soldiers
began streaming through
McFarland's Gap. Overturned wagons, abandoned
caissons and the like littered the road. Just north of the
gap many demoralized infantrymen encountered the
15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known
as the “Anderson Cavalry." They had orders from
Rosecrans to stop stragglers. The Pennsylvanians halted
a large number of men before being ordered to the rear.
Many men rested on the farm of Xzanders G. and
Lucy Ann B. McFarland, about a mile north. Unlike
the ground between the Chickamauga battlefield and
McFarland's Gap, which was “broken, rugged and
densely-wooded,” according to General Negley, the
McFarland farm offered “the first open ground where
the troops could be
collected and reorganized.”
Brigadier General
Jefferson C. Davis and
Major General Philip H.
Sheridan also reorganized
some Federal troops.
Davis rallied over 1,000
men from his division
while Sheridan brought
some 1,500 survivors
from the battlefield through the gap.
By 3:00 pm the Federal
panic waned, as officers
continued reorganizing some
semblance of an army. General
Davis ordered an artillery
battery positioned to protect
the gap, and fear about a
possible attack by Confederate
cavalry subsided. Around 4:00
pm, Generals Negley, Davis,
Sheridan and Lieutenant Colonel Arthur C. Ducat
of General Rosecrans' staff, met at the McFarland's home
to discuss a course of action. A "heated discussion”
ensued, reported Union
Captain Alfred L.
Hough, a member of
Negley's staff, but they
“could come to no
agreement for common
action.” Some decided
to return to the
Chickamauga battlefield
with their commands
via McFarland's Gap
to reinforce troops still
to the
fighting on "Horseshoe
Ridge” under Union Major General George H.
Thomas. None arrived in time.
General Thomas began withdrawing his
troops from the Chickamauga battlefield around
5:30 pm. Almost all trudged along the
McFarland's Gap road before funneling through
McFarland's Gap. Last to leave the battlefield,
around 10:00 pm, was Colonel Daniel McCook,
Jr's brigade, also passing through the gap. By the
next morning both McFarland's Gap and the
McFarland farm were nearly deserted. The bulk
of the Federal army had reached Rossville safely,
and eventually Chattanooga.
Erected 2019
Click or scan to see this page online
by Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails, Inc. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 1863.
Location. 34° 56.92′ N, 85° 17.716′ W. Marker is near Rossville, Georgia, in Walker County. It is on McFarland Avenue north of Mission Ridge Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1897 McFarland Avenue, Rossville GA 30741, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Regarding McFarland's Gap. This marker is along the Chickamauga Campaign "historic driving route" portion of the Atlanta Campaign Heritage Trail.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 20, 2019
3. McFarland's Gap Marker looking north on McFarland Avenue.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,121 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 22, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
