Near Fort Oglethorpe in Walker County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Preston's Division
Buckner's Corps
— Brigadier General William Preston —
Brigadier General William Preston.
September 20th 1863, 4:30 p.m.
Gracie's Brigade - Brigade General Archibald Gracie, Jr.
Trigg's Brigade - Colonel Robert C. Trigg.
Kelley's Brigade - Colonel John H. Kelley.
At 4 p.m. this strong Division, only one brigade of which (Trigg's) had thus far been engaged, was brought over from near the Brotherton House, where it was temporarily massed, to assist in the assault on Snodgrass Hill. Gracie's Brigade, with Kelley's on its left, assaulted shortly before 5 p.m., attacking the fronts of Harker, Stanley, and Brannan. The attack lasted over an hour. It failed in front of Harker, although Gracie obtained possession of the salient of the Union line in Stanley's center, now commanded by Colonel W.L. Stoughton, and held it for an hour, but was finally forced to retire. The troops of Kelley's Brigade bore to the left, and as they reached the crest of the ridge found themselves confronted by three Union regiments -- the 89th and 21st Ohio, and the 22d Michigan -- which had been left on the line by mistake when Granger's troops withdrew at sunset to the next ridge in their rear. Trigg's Brigade, having passed to the left of Kelley's Brigade, crossed the ridge at dusk, and turning to the right in the rear of these Regiments, and acting in connection with Kelley, captured a large portion of them. These Brigades next attempted, by a similar move, to capture Van Derveer's Brigade on Brannan's right, but they were discovered and the attempt was defeated. This was the last fighting of the battle.
The total strength in action during the assault was 4,078. Total loss, 1,336. Percentage of loss in an hour and a half, 32.71.
Erected 1890 by the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Commission. (Marker Number MT-1113.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 1863.
Location. 34° 55.588′ N, 85° 16.211′ W. Marker is near Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Walker County. Marker is on Vittetoe Road west of Glenn-Kelly Road, on the right when traveling west. This tablet is located in the national park that preserves the site of the Chickamauga Battlefield, along a park walking trail that use to be an old farm road, that runs across the south downslope of Snodgrass Hill. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Oglethorpe GA 30742, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. McLaw's Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Kershaw's South Carolina Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); Kershaw's Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); 3rd South Carolina Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 3rd Battalion South Carolina Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 58th North Carolina Infantry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kelly's Brigade (about 400 feet away); 35th Ohio Infantry (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Oglethorpe.
More about this marker. In locating this tablet I used the "Chickamauga Battlefield" map, that I purchased at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Visitor Center, to determine both the marker number for this tablet and the tablet's location in relation to the rest of the park's monuments, markers, and tablets. According to the map it provides the, "numerical listing of all monuments, markers, and tablets on the Chickamauga Battlefield (using the Chick-Chatt NMP Monument Numbering System).”
Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2018, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 17, 2018, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.