Our last session began at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. We refreshed ourselves on where we left off at the end of today's first session and looked at the map to examine the ground for our final phase.

The next stop was along the Glenn-Kelly Road. First, we finished our examination of the ground where Benning's Brigade formed. In the photo at left, looking east, we "saw" the left end of Benning's Georgia Brigade as it faced north to hold off Connell. However, the recent rain prevented us from walking Benning's line from the Poe Road to the Glenn-Kelly Road.

A closeup look at the map shows the many movements of both armies all around us. We are also on the spot where Robertson's Brigade formed to carry on the fight across the north end of Dyer farm (here known as "Swamp Field"). Robertson veered northwestward toward Snodgrass Hill. The group got a first hand look at the ground where Robertson's Arkansasans/Texans joined the fight.

This north-northwestward view shows the same ground covered by both Robertson and Harker as the two brigades battle back and forth over this field. Robertson pursued the retreating federals, but the federals conducted counter-attacks to buy time for the Union defense of Horseshoe Ridge. Once things settled down here, Kershaw was able to move his troops toward Snodgrass Hill. The South Carolina monument that honors his troops can be seen in the distance half-way up the hill.

The group gathered on Snodgrass Hill for the final leg of the tour. This north-northeastward view shows the Snodgrass Cabin at left and "Harker Hill" at right. After Harker's fight with Robertson, his men fell back to the high ground here.

The group then examined Horseshoe Ridge. We learn that there are three rises on the eastern half of the Ridge simply known as "Hill 1," "Hill 2," and "Hill 3." Shown here, as the group strolled toward Hill 2, soldiers atop the 2nd Minnesota monument perpetually hold off advancing Confederates to this day.

The group learned that the regimental monuments along this section of Horseshoe Ridge are placed further east than they should be. Speculation has it that Lt. Col. Henry Boynton (who fought here leading the 35th Ohio and later served on the Park Commission establishing the battlefield) wanted his regiment's monument placed directly in front of the observation tower that once stood atop Hill 2. Visitors and returning veterans would see it immediately in this position of prominence when they visited the tower!

The group paused for a moment atop Hill 2. We learned that the observation tower was built beside the graves of both the Snodgrass and Kelly families who were buried here long after the War. The graves were in constant danger of being trampled from the many visitors to the tower. Although offers were made to reintur the graves at another locaton, all offers were refused. As time wore on, the graves eventually did disappear. Recent efforts to locate them have failed, so Mr. & Mrs. Snodgrass & Mr. & Mrs. Kelly still occupy this ground!

In the "saddle" between Hills 2 and 3, we stopped at the 21st Ohio monument. Here, we learned that this regiment, mostly armed with the 5-shot Colt Revolver Rifle, was used time and again to hold off Confederate attacks. Looking east, we see Hill 2 in the background. Confederates attacked from the right. U. S. Vice President Richard Cheney's great-grandfather, Captain Samuel Fletcher Cheney, enlisted with the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment and served in several battles including Chickamauga.

Atop Hill 3, the pyramid of cannon balls disclose that we are at Granger's Headquarters. Late on the evening of September 20th, not only was it important for the fresh men of the Reserve Corps to help out here, but the ammunition wagons that accompanied them were equally as valuable.

At left is the unusually shaped monument to the 121st Ohio. Although it is in a position further south than what it should be, the monument represents the very right end of the Union line on Horseshoe Ridge. But, we learn that a "war of words" continued long after the War between this unit and the 96th Illinois as to just which unit held "the end of the line." The group walked further along the line northwest from here to visit the 96th's monument and a marker (which actually made them at the "end of the line").

As we backtracked across the Ridge to our parked cars at Snodgrass, Jim paused at this 78th Illinois Monument to relate the story of the recovery of this unit's slain major. During the fight here, Major Broadus was shot through the neck and died on the spot. Acting Regimental Commander, Lt. Col. Carter Van Vleck, detailed a private to carry the major's body off the field so it could be sent back to his family. However, the private didn't make it. Not until January 1864 was Vleck able to painstakenly discover the Major's shallow grave just a few hundred yards from the regiment's battle position. Those closest to the major were fairly certain they had found the correct body even though many graves were opened during the search. One soldier had been prevented from participating in the search to help preserve his memory of the major. But, that soldier was also able to positively identify the body as his father's.

Just as we were leaving Hill 2 for Hill 1, the sky opened up on us and rain began to fall heavily. We all were pretty use to it by now after having endured on and off showers both days. However, we soon noticed that there was more to this rain than in previous times - it contained pea-size hail!

So, the last 100 yards or more to the Snodgrass Cabin was at a much increased pace - fortunately all downhill. Jim let us inside the cabin to wait out the remaining portion of the shower. But, we also took the moment to reflect on our experiences during this tour and to marvel at what this battlefield teaches nearly 145 years later. Hopefully, for those that participated in the tour, these photos and comments have served as a pleasant reminder - and for those folks that were not on the tour, we hope that this will serve as an enticing "brochure" for Study Group 2009.