The group began the first day's tour inside the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center. Friday was cool and wet, and the "wet" would plague us throughout the tour. Here, our two Chickamauga Campaign "walking encyclopedias," Dave Powell and Jim Ogden, 2nd & 3rd from left, discuss the day's events and use maps to give the group an understanding of what is to come.

The Visitor Center large campaign map came into use to trace the movements of Wilder's Brigade which the group would be doing first hand this day. We learn that Union General William S. Rosecrans had very little cavalry in front of his army as it approached north Georgia, so Wilder's mounted infantry, with their seven-shot Spencer Repeating Rifles and Eli Lilly's Light Artillery Battery, was utilized as both cavalry and infantry. As a fighting force, they had no equal.

Our first stop after leaving the Visitor Center by bus was the Western & Atlantic Railroad depot at Ringgold. This 1830s-era depot has been restored and is currently used for various civic, social & private events. The original stone work can clearly be seen here.

Confederate General Bragg's army had fallen back from Chattanooga early in September 1863. Wilder's Brigade, in advance of Crittenden's Corp, approached the Ringgold Depot on September 11th and ran into Confederate cavalry under J. Scott. However, the outnumbered and outgunned Scott packed up and headed south along the railroad. Soon, there would be a smoldering Ringgold Depot and several destroyed railroad bridges.

With the southern end of White Oak Mountain as a background, the group seeks cover from the rain while hearing about Wilder's forward movement past this depot toward and through Ringgold Gap following the railroad south. Scott's Confederates could only fall back ahead of Wilder.

Following Wilder from Ringgold Depot, the group visited Tunnel Hill. This marked the furthest point south along the railroad that Union forces would go during the Chickamauga Campaign. A Confederate storm was developing around LaFayette and Wilder would be diverted west toward the Chickamauga area.

The Tunnel Hill Heritage Center has a nice building here. Tours are available in the Tunnel which can partly be seen in the photo to the right.

Our bus stopped at Leets Tanyard. As Wilder made his way toward LaFayette, his men got in a strong fight with Bragg's Confederates in and around the area. After the fight, which produced casualties on both sides, Wilder continued his movement west.

Lee & Gordon's Mill was a well known landmark at the time of the battle and, with preservation help, continues to be a popular stop today. Union forces camped all around here prior to Battle of Chickamauga. Wilder came through here on the morning of September 13th to begin his surveilence of Chickamauga Creek for the next few days.