After a break for lunch, the group reassembled at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center. The Visitor Center's map came in handy to point out the various locations that Gen. Rosecrans used for army headquarters - we would soon be visiting three of them...that would serve the general and his staff from September 18th into the 20th.

We traveled by bus to the City of Chickamauga, Georgia. We learned that the Lee & Gordon Mansion is much the same as it was during the battle except the front has changed a bit from its wartime appearance. Union Army commander Major General William Starke Rosecrans made it his headquarters until mid-morning of Sept. 19th - the home also served as a field hospital for Union wounded.

Below, our group huddled on the front porch to escape a light drizzle.

We walked up the long front yard toward the house. The markers and cannon serve to remind visitors of the Civil War history associated with the Lee & Gordon Mansion.

After leaving the Lee and Gordon Mansion, the group crossed the main highway to visit Crawfish Springs. This spring served as one of the very few water sources for the Union Army. Many soldiers' accounts made note of the spring here - between 40,000 and 58,000 Union soldiers filled their canteens one last time from this very spring prior to the battle. For some, this water would serve as their last forever; and for others, this water would have to last for several long and grueling days. Since the capacity of an army canteen was only one quart, the soldier had to conserve water almost as carefully as ammunition.

Today, the spring is the water supply for the City of Chickamauga. Several in the group remarked that the water level has gradually lowered over the years as more water is taken. The city has had to install an aerator (to right out of picture) to keep the much slower moving water from becoming stagnant.

From the fair City of Chickamauga, we proceded north to Rosecran's headquarters in the field. We entered Chickamauga Battlefield and stopped at Wilders Tower. At the time of the battle, the farm cabin here was occupied by Eliza Glenn. Her husband died in Mobile, AL from disease earlier in the year while in service to the Confederate army. During the battle, the cabin caught fire, burned to the ground, and was never rebuilt.

From the cabin, Rosecrans and his staff had a rare open view of some of the battlefield. However, to gain a better understanding of where specific actions were taking place, he is reported to have asked the Widow Glenn where she thought the sounds of battle might be coming from. Of course, the many messengers to and from headquarters supplied much more reliable intelligence!

Below left, our bus has let us out and we have walked up the short rise to the location where the Widow Glenn house once stood. The location is one of the most noticable on the battlefield due to Wilder Tower standing so prominently here.

At left, our group heard about the battle action and Rosecrans efforts to send troops northward to help General George Thomas protect the Union left. During the night of Sept. 19th, Rosecrans called a council of war with his commanders at the Widow Glenn cabin. It was decided to continue to support the left and to carry on the fight the next day. And the fighting did continue on the 20th! Since most of the troops had moved from south to north, Rosecrans decided to leave the cabin and move his headquarters to a more centrally located position. He left here at approximately 10:00 AM to go to what is known today as Lytle Hill.

From Rosecran's headquarters at the Widow Glenn's cabin, we moved north to the general's last headquarters on the field.

We assembled at the north end of Lytle Hill (known as such because brigade commander BG Lytle was shot and died near here). The familiar pyramid of cannon balls marks the spot of Rosecrans' field headquarters. The monument to the right honors the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Rosecrans' escort.

The view from this position is one of the most open in the park due to the large Dyer farm fields to the east and north. Rosecrans was able to view the movements of some of his units as they moved northward (from right to left) to assist Thomas and the left wing. Unfortunately, he was also here just as the 11:00 AM Confederate breakthrough emerged from the woods to his front. This major disruption caused him to eventually leave the field and head toward Chattanooga to organize a suitable defense. He was not immediately aware that Major General George Thomas would succeed in holding out until dusk defending the Union left and Snodgrass Hill. He would appropriately earn his name "The Rock of Chickamauga."