Our group gathered prior to the 8:30 AM start just outside the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park Visitor Center. Many folks renewed old acquaintences as some had traveled from various parts of the country to be here. In the center, we see our two Chickamauga Campaign "walking encyclopedias," Dave Powell and Jim Ogden, discussing the upcoming topic: Minty vs. Johnson. The group would follow Union cavalry leader Col. Robert H. Minty's command as it screened and delayed Confederate Brigadier General Bushrod Johnson's infantry division's Sept. 18, 1863 advance from Ringgold to the soon-to-be battlefield of Chickamauga.

We gathered around the Visitor Center's large battlefield map to learn about Minty and Johnson as well as the general situation facing both armies during the few days leading up to Sept. 18th. Many folks came prepared - loaded questions were asked and expertly answered, which only serves to explain why this annual event is called a "Study Group."

We would visit today's locations via bus, which has become a traditional way for the Study Group to spend the first day together. Such transportation allows us to examine areas outside the park's boundaries while allowing both Jim and Dave to narrate events and discuss the particulars of the campaign to the whole group.

Since this morning's study focused on the two commanders that pretty much opened the Battle of Chickamauga on 18 Sept. 1863, we needed to travel about 8 miles east of the present day park boundary to understand what happened prior to the action within the Chickamauga woods. Here, our group boards a very nice bus for the short trip to Ringgold, GA.

From the bus' window, we caught a glimpse of White Oak Mountain and Ringgold Gap. Minty began screening operations near here as Bushrod Johnson's men began their march toward the Chickamauga Battlefield early on 18 Sept.

Our first stop was at the Boynton United Methodist Church Cemetery. From the cemetery, we saw where Minty deployed to stall Johnson. Johnson outnumbered and outgunned Minty. And, with Forrest's help, he was able to dislodge Minty from this side of Pevine Ridge. Today, this same ridge is called Boynton Ridge, and the next ridge just east of here is known as Pevine Ridge! This can get a bit confusing when comparing period maps to today's maps!

It was here that we found the stones to several members of the Reed family. The name belongs to the same family the Chickamauga Creek bridge is named after, an important bridge that Minty de-planked to delay Johnson's Confederates from rapidly crossing; and, the next stop on our tour.

Our bus stopped along Reeds Bridge Road at Reeds Bridge.

In the photo below, the high banks of Chickamauga Creek are clearly visable - obstacles that hindered the Confederate advance except at bridges and fords. However, Minty (and Wilder) covered those approaches and expertly delayed the Confederates as long as possible. That delay allowed Union forces to consolidate their scattered forces and prevented Bragg from crashing down on the Union left flank. Also, we could see that "Reeds Bridge" has evolved over the years. At far left is the bridge today. Directly in the center is the foundation for the 1900-1976 truss bridge, and at right is where the wartime bridge once stood. Minty's cavalry occupied the ground to the right (north side) of the bridge.

After Reeds Bridge, the bus travels west a short distance to the eastern entrance to Chickamauga Battlefield. We "dismounted" at Jay's Mill to examine the monuments and markers to Minty and the Michigan units involved in delaying Johnson. We learned that they should be located further east of here; however, this was where the boundary of the park was drawn, and it was decided to keep these monuments within those boundaries. We found out that Minty eventually withdrew further west, while Johnson marched south down the road (where the bus is parked). Later, it was reported that Johnson's last brigade was "isolated" and could be captured if attacked. So began the great Battle of Chickamauga!