In Georgia, the Militia was in the north [1] while the 12th GA Artillery remained stationed around Savannah. The 36th and 42nd GA reported to Camp Henderson in Decatur to reorganize after their official exchange. They left Decatur for Camp McDonald at Big Shanty [2] on October 2 and the following day arrived at Chickamauga.

   Northwest of Knoxville, the Old Wilderness Road, a frontier road from colonial times, cuts through the Cumberland Gap and a fort was built there to protect Eastern Tennessee from Yankee invasion. Union general Burnside marched out of Cincinnati in mid-August to Knoxville and occupied the city on September 2. He bypassed the gap by marching 40 miles to the south but left a brigade to guard the northern end. With Knoxville his, he turned back north, blocked the other end of the gap, and demanded the fort's surrender. Two days later on September 9, General John W. Frazer surrendered the garrison of 2000 men [3]. Some 100-600 others were able to slip past the Union lines and rejoin the Confederate army. Except for those detailed elsewhere, all of the 55th GA surrendered and were sent north to Camp Douglas.

   Burnside was able to take Knoxville so easily because most of the troops had been ordered south with General Simon B. Buckner on August 23 to join Braxton Bragg's army. Buckner arrived on September 6 just as Bragg was retreating out of Chattanooga and south into Georgia. Bragg, hoping to trap a portion of Rosecrans' army, consolidated his forces and turned to fight at Chickamauga. Longstreet's corps, which had traveled by train from Virginia south through the Carolinas and Atlanta, arrived late but played a major role in routing the Federal army. However, Wofford's Brigade (16th GA, 24th GA, 3rd Battalion Sharpshooters) arrived on the evening of September 20 - too late to join the fight. Of Gwinnett troops, only the 9th GA light artillery (Peeples' Battery) played a part. Assigned to General William Preston's division, they left LaFayette, GA on September 17 and crossed Dalton's Ford at the south end of the battlefield on the morning of the 19th armed with two twelve-pound Napoleon cannons, two twenty-four pound howitzers, and sixty-nine rounds of ammunition.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the several batteries belonging and attached to my battalion during the battles of September 19 and 20, near Chickamauga River, Ga:

On the 14th instant, I received an order to detail a battery and order it to report to Col. R. C. Trigg. I immediately ordered Capt. T. M. Peoples, commanding Company D, of this battalion, to report until after the battles. This battery was first engaged on Saturday evening with the enemy's batteries, and was subjected to a very severe enfilading fire of artillery as well as a direct fire from artillery and infantry in its front. Owing to the unfavorable position of the battery, which was stationed upon low ground, the cannoneers could not see the enemy's batteries. Our infantry was part of the time in front, consequently our fire was at random, firing with elevation enough not to injure our own troops. When our troops moved from the front of the battery it was near dark and the action ceased. What effect our fire had upon the enemy I have no means of knowing, but believe it prevented their advance at that point until our troops received support. The casualties at that point were Junior First Lieut. Thomas H. Loveless, severely wounded in thigh by a piece of shell; Private John Edmunson, slightly in thigh by a Minie ball; Private W. H. Suddarth, slightly in abdomen by a piece of shell, and 11 horses killed and disabled on Sunday, 20th. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. LEYDEN

Report of Major A. Leyden, C. S. Army
HDQRS. NINTH GEORGIA BATTALION ARTILLERY,
Near Chattanooga, October 8, 1863

   The battle was a Confederate victory and the demoralized Yankees fell back to the works around Chattanooga where Bragg followed and laid siege. October and most of November were spent in a nearly successful attempt to starve the Federals out of the city helped by the heavy rains that began in late September, washing away stretches of mountain roads and impeding supplies.

   The 36th and 42nd GA left Chickamauga on October 15 and marched up the rail road through the towns of Tims Station, Charleston, Athens, and Mouse Creek Station before arriving at Sweetwater, TN where they joined General Carter Stevenson's command. October 25-27 was spent skirmishing around Philadelphia and Sweetwater after which they marched to Loudon. November 1-5 was spent at Simpson's Crossroads and over the next five days they were back in Sweetwater. Stevenson and his men were ordered to Chattanooga and arrived by November 12. While in Sweetwater, the 36th GA was assigned to Alfred Cumming's brigade of Stevenson's division and the 42nd was now in Marcellus Stovall's brigade of Stewart's division.

   The Federal army was finally able to re-supply Chattanooga and bring in reinforcements in late November and on November 24 "Fighting" Joe Hooker launched an attack to clear the base of Lookout Mountain. The day was dark with low clouds, fog, and drizzling rain. Visibility was reduced to yards in some place and the Confederates were caught completely by surprise and forced off the side of the mountain. Stevenson's division on top was ordered off the mountain. Cumming's brigade, which had been between the mountain and Missionary Ridge (figure A), was also pulled back with the rest of Stevenson's division. They reformed at the northern end of Missionary Ridge at Tunnel Hill (figure B) [4]. Missionary Ridge runs six miles north to south and stands about 200 feet above the surrounding land. The 36th GA was positioned over the rail road tunnel and formed a line southward. Wednesday, November 25 dawned hazy but in contrast to the previous day turned clear and beautiful. General Grant ordered Sherman to attack Missionary Ridge from the north. To meet this attack, the 36th was shifted from the tunnel to the top of the northern-most hill (figure C). Fighting was fierce but the 36th and 56th GA led the first of three bayonet charges that finally broke the enemy. On seeing the attack stall and with Hooker finally in position to attack the southern end of Missionary Ridge, Grant ordered General George Thomas to take the rifle pits at the base of the ridge. His hope was to draw reinforcements away from the fight in the north. Thomas' men easily took the rifle pits but there was confusion whether they were supposed to stop there or charge the ridge. Those that stopped found they were easy prey for the infantry and artillery firing from the ridgetop and quickly decided to join the climb up the steep slope. The Confederates were poorly positioned to actually fire on the slope and their defensive works weren't meant to stop a close assault so when the Yankees topped the ridge, the defenders in the center broke. This allowed the Federals to attack the flanks of other Confederate units which led to more units breaking. By 6 p.m. the entire center had panicked and run. General Stovall (figure D) [5] was one of the last to be attacked and held his ground until ordered off the ridge. In the north, General Stevenson withdrew in good order along with the rest of General Cheatham's command and formed the rear guard for the retreat back to Chickamauga Station and then Dalton.

   Fearing a Union invasion at Charleston, SC, the 7th GA was detached from Longstreet's command and sent to the city. Arriving there on September 13, they were assigned to the garrison on James Island. The common complaints were the heat, bad water, boredom, shelling, and no sweet potatoes but plenty of fish. A few weeks later it was decided that the more pressing need was in Tennessee so by October 7 they were on their way. They passed through Atlanta the next day and ten days later were reunited with the rest of "Tige" Anderson's brigade.

   Because of the threat of Burnside at Knoxville, on November 5 Longstreet was ordered to drive him out of the city. The weather that month was generally cold and wet and by November 12 the men had marched as far as Sweetwater. Burnside who had been marching south to help Rosecrans turned around. It now became a race: the first to the crossroads at Campbell's Station [6] would win. Longstreet and Burnside were traveling along parallel courses to reach Knoxville and, on a rainy November 16, Burnside reached the crossroads first by about 15 minutes. Longstreet then deployed to attack. Lafayette McLaws' division (16th, 24th, 3rd Battalion Sharpshooters, and, temporarily, the 9th GA Light Artillery) on the left struck hard but couldn't dislodge the Federals. The attack on the right with John Bell Hood's division (7th GA) under Micah Jenkins was disorganized and Burnside was able to withdraw to the security of Knoxville. Longstreet laid siege but lacking siege equipment or enough supplies decided the best course was to assault the Federal lines. Knoxville backs up to the Holston [7] River on the north bank and one of several earthwork forts ringing the city was Fort Sanders on high ground to the northwest. The fort was built with nearly vertical walls 15 feet high and, unknown to Longstreet, surrounded by a ditch 12 feet wide and averaged eight feet deep. Sunday, November 29 the weather was bitterly cold, overcast, and occasionally raining at 6 a.m. when the attack began. The 9th Georgia Artillery Battalion was ordered to open fire on the fort at the break of day, whether or not the parapets of the fort were actually visible in the early morning light. Wofford's brigade was one of two columns to lead the attack on the northwest angle of the fort with Anderson's brigade 110 yards to their left. The 3rd Battalion Sharpshooters were arrayed in front to provide covering fire while Phillip's Legion and the 18th GA led the attack followed by the 16th and 24th GA. The first obstacle was telegraph wire strung from tree stump to tree stump that entangled the men. When they reached the ditch they discovered icy walls with no way to dig footholds. Having no scaling ladders, the men resorted to climbing on each other's shoulders. Several men did make it to the top and the 16th GA lost its regimental battle flag [8] here. Realizing the futility of continuing, after half an hour, Longstreet called off the attack. Of the 813 Confederate casualties, McLaws' (48 killed, 121 wounded, 81 missing) and Anderson's (33k, 129w, 25m) units suffered the most killed and wounded of any brigade. The Yankees lost less than 20.

   The only all-Gwinnett unit in Virginia was now with the 35th GA camped at Orange Court House. The month of September was spent rebuilding their strength. The weather was warm and pleasant though the nights were very cool and there was plenty to eat but it was mostly from foraging. That which had to be bought was expensive. Watermelons were $5-10 each, butter $4.50/lb and Irish potatoes were $20/bushel. Each company drilled from 7 to 8 a.m. before it became too hot then skirmish and battalion drill from 5 to 6 p.m. with a dress parade at 6:30 followed by supper. September 22 they marched six miles west to Liberty Mills to guard several bridges on the Rapidan River from Yankee cavalry but marched back two days later without seeing action. The Adjutant & Inspector General's office issued General Order #131 on October 3. This Roll of Honor recognized, among others, Private Richard D. B. Holt as "conspicuous for courage and good conduct on the field of battle".

   Union general George Meade was under pressure to do something since letting Lee slip away after Gettysburg. In October, when he moved his army south, General Lee hoped to catch him by surprise and attack his flank. The 35th left Orange Court House on October 9 and halted six miles northwest of Culpeper Court House two days later. October 14 found them ordered to guard a wagon train while the rest of Thomas' brigade advanced but none of the brigade saw action at the Battle of Bristoe Station that day. The following week Thomas' brigade marched south along the Orange & Alexandria rail road. They pulled up rails and attempted to burn ties amid torrential rain. Once across the Rappahannock River on the 19th they camped between Brandy Station and Rappahannock Station. The weather now turned cool with several heavy frosts. November 5 they marched five miles southwest closer to Culpeper Court House. The next day was cold and windy as was the following when they were awakened at midnight, marched one mile, and arranged in line of battle all day until 6 p.m. when they marched south. They arrived at their previous camp near Orange Court House along with the first snow on November 9. The 35th remained here until November 27 when they marched east along the Orange Plank Road to Fredericksburg in a cold rain to counter one final attack by Meade before winter set in. The rain continued the next day as they dug in on the west bank of Mine Run near Antioch Church being replaced the following two days by an icy wind.

   In contrast to the relative peace enjoyed by the 35th, Cobb's Legion cavalry was worn out. The men spent nearly every day skirmishing at places like Racoon Ford, Culpeper Court House, Madison Court House, Slaughter's Hill, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, and Parker's Store. Some of the heaviest fighting was at Jack's Shop and on October 19 near Buckland Mills when J.E.B. Stuart caught Union cavalry commander Kilpatrick in an ambush, routed his troops, and chased them five mile in what has become known as the Buckland Races.

   Thomas Maguire (Promised Land)
   Notes in his farm journal the news was that troops were gathering at Chattanooga and that the Yankees were coming on to Atlanta. By the 22nd that changed as "The news of great fight at Ringgold Saturday, Sunday and Monday great slaughter on both sides, the enemy is being driven back". On October 16, "a detachment of cavalry came here & pressed Solim allowing me $500 for him, Lieut Boman & Capt Willingham, they left for E. J. Lee they said they were getting horses and mules for Gen. Stevenson's Division". Five days later he "sent 15 bushels of wheat to mill to grind for the soldiers". He wrote on September 11 that David Thomas was sick - possibly Typhoid Fever. The September weather was cool without a sign of rain. Boiling cane juice commenced September 7. Pressing 40 gallons resulted in eight gallons of syrup (over 100 gallons in total for himself and others). Syrup making continued until October 12. The cool weather brought the first frost on September 21 "frost bit the bottom fodder - it will not be worth much" and the hands were picking cotton. Severe rain and wind on October 1 broke the drought and had the creek up. Because he couldn't get to the mill, he spent the next day spaying shoats and making syrup in pleasant weather. [9] Early October brought the occasional "frost a plenty". On October 12, it was cloudy when the corn harvest began and the middle of the month of October saw intermittent rain that cleared out until late November. The corn harvest was still going on October 29 but by November 6 he was plowing in wheat in pleasant weather. Cotton was at 55¢ lb when he sold 6116 pounds on November 17. The month-long dry spell ended as the potato harvest began on November 20. The month ended with the "thermometer at 18° this morning"

   James Sydney McElvany
   Gwinnett, 17 Sep:
   "Deare Son & Daughter I take my pen to answer youre kind letter which I received yesterday and was glad to learn that you ware all well you stated that you wanted me to buy you one hundred and fifty bushels of wheat I do not now whare I could buy any wheat at any price for those that have wheat are afraid to offer it for sale for fear of the press officers in fact they have went round and prest the most of the wheat from all that made good crops and our corn crop is sorry in consequence of the drouth. … I have taken the appointment of tax assessor for the confederate tax this county and it keeps me very busy I am at home very little of my time it will employ me all this fall and winter"

   Thomas Washington Nash (7th GA)
   Camp on James Island, 16 Sep:
   "Der Father, I am at Charleston I lande on the 13 day I am well at present and all the Rest of the Gwinnett Boys is well. I had Rather be in Va than to be her the water is the worst that you ever See I Recon I think we wil Sta her Several days our Battry are firing on them all the tim but little damag done I think I don't think thar will be any fiting for us to do her it will be don with large gun"

   Camp on James Island, 20 Sep:
   "Der Father … Mr. Mills Said he Seed you and you was goin home from camps he told me you had joined the Army I drother you haden don it I think you age wod clear you I think you aute to Stay home you are to old to Stand camp life I wod be beter Sadisfid if you was at home."

   Camp on Lookout Mountain, 3 Nov:
   "It is very sickley her at this tim and Rains very oftin her we are well fortifide at this place I thinke it will be a hard fite her in a shorte time … The Gwinnett Boys is well at present."

   Camp near Knoxvill, 21 Nov:
   "I am well at present we have bin fitin Sevril days on the Rod to this plase and have fout at this plase … I think thay will be a hard fite her in a few day … This will be a greate Vicktory if we gain it It is greate contry I wod like to stay her this winter If the fitin was over it wod be a plesant plase I think."

   Frances & Robert Nash
   Yellow River, 11 Oct:
   "Dear husbon … Tandy [10] is mending Som but Sloly Orscar is about well the rest is all well The box that we sent to Wash went Safe and he got it all right and last Friday Morning Wash cam home and is here now and in as good helth as you ever saw him he will start back tomorrow morning he come without a firlow and cant stay but a short time there was several of the boys Jumpted of of the cars at the same time they will pass Rome tomorrow I wish that you new it in time So you could go to the trane and see him"

   Rome, 14 Oct:
   "Deare wife … I was also very glad to heare that T. W. Brown is getting well I should of bin mity glad to seen Washington but it was out of my [illegible] to git to see him … We have had too bad raney days heare making the ground vary nasty"

   Yellow River, 18 Oct:
   "Dear Husband … This week has bin so wet that I han't gethered our field of corn I am going to gether hit at soon as I can … Mr. lanier has sold your apple brandy he got twenty dollars a galon … again our salt have not come yet"

   Tandy W. Brown [10] (10th GA Cavalry Militia)
   Camp Neare Rome Ga, 18 Nov:
   "Deare Father I this morning take the pleasure of riting you a few lines which leavs me well at present hoping these lines will find you all Enjoying the same blessings our company is verry small at this time all gon home or on datale our company sent three to drive beans to Brags Army they carried about 2 thousand the beans passed here last Sunday yesterday Morning there was 10 sent to Gadsden as curriors to get all the Enformation they can about the yankies crossing the Tennisee at Whitesburg and coming by way of Huntsville and will report dayley That news has caused grate Excitement in camp So last night at twelve o clock thare was a fals Alarm given in camp and of all the frighten men you ever saw it was here … about this time the conel cam Staving through the camp and Squaled out Men we cant fite them Every man take care of your Selvs at that they comenced Scatering I tell you I never Saw the like befor I tell you the road between here and the spring was full in two minutes going towards home and part has not returned yet … I felt tolerbel Light my self but stood my ground … we have plenty of beef and bread and plenty coffee but little fodder"

   Eli Landers (16th GA)
   Spottsylvania Co VA, 5 Sept:
   "I only have a few minets to write as Liut [John S.] Garner is most ready to start, But I am happy to inform you that I am well this morning. … We are all injoying ourselves the Best we can, nothing to do, only cook & eat & drill, no ingagement expected soon. … I don't Particular need the Coat now, But my pants is most wornout. Don't Put yourself to too much trouble to git them ready for I no it is a very Buisy time with you pulling fodder … Sam Dyer can tell you all the nuse. I made him promise to go to see you. He started 3 days ago. I guess he is at home this morning, happy Enough. … Tell little Charles that I sent him a little Yankey spoon by Sam Dyer. I got it off the Bloody Battle Fields of Pennsylvania. Tell him he must not loose it. He must keep it to Remember his old Unkle EP. … I saw it in a letter that Marion Mason was Dead, But your letter never spoke of it. I don't recon it is true. … EM [McDaniel] is well. RN [Miner] is well & off on guard round a Corn field & he went off mad for we was just making a Peach Pie. He was mightly hope up about our Pie & about the time we got it on the fire, he had to go off on guard. …But I hope we will gain our Independanc & freedom sometime. But it looks like that one half of the People is not working for that. They are working for themselves & the Devil. I was sorry to hear of Dick Turners Mill Being Burnt. The like of that Proves what Iv just said."

   Camp near Chattanooga TN, 24 Sept:
   "Ther has bin some very hard Fighting senc our Va Army has arrived hear. But our Brigade has not Bin in one fight yet, more that Skirmishing. Our troops has Bin very successful so far. We have drove the Enimy some 8 or 10 miles, Cleared them off of Ga soil, killing no great many of them … Our Va troops Fights like Tigers up hear in the West. They say they are going to show them the lick it is done with. But I think the Western Boys is all wright. They are not as Bad whiped as we herd they was. … The Yankeys has fell back to Chattanooga to their intrenchments. They are well Fortified & we are in line of Battle, Both Parties near each other. It is thaught that if we cant flank their Position some way that we will have to Charge the mout of ther works. & if we do, it will be don with great slaughter on our side.… I like this part of the country very well, But the weather is very dry. The dust in the Roads is shoe mouth deep. When marching, the dust rises so thick a person can hardly see his way. I was sadly disappointed not seeing nun of you when we got to Atlanta. … I tell you it was a trying Case with me to pass so near home & not Call, But I pondered the Matter, I thaught sufficiently. I thaught it was my duty to stick to the Co, deny myself, forsake home for the Present & Cleave to the Caus of our Bleeding Country to drive the oppressers from our soil which threatens our own door. … if I do git killed, if ther is any Chance, I want my Boddy taken up & laid in the dust round old Sweetwater & I want a tomb put at my head with my name & Co & Regiment … This is my request if it is possible."

   Susan Landers
   Ringgold, 24 Sept:
   "We are about 20 Miles from you this Morning We will come as close to the lines as we dare. Car[Caroline] an me wish you to Come out an see us if you can this evning. If you cant, we will stay three or 4 days untill you can come. … We went to Atlanta to see you, But you was done gone. … We left home Monday Morning an have Bin delayed on the way on account of so many soldiers. We ar at the station this side of Ringgold."

   Eli Landers
   Rossvill, Ga, 2 Oct
   "I recon you will hear that I am very sick & I have Bin, But I am getting better. I got wors all the time after you left. … Don't git uneasy about me & come Back. I was afraid that some of the Boys would write that I was very sick, But I am heap better, most well. So don't be uneasy."