Civil War historian signs books, leads walk at Chickamauga Battlefield

“Longstreet’s Breakthrough at Chickamauga: Accidental Victory” by Robert Carter

Probably no ground on Chickamauga Battlefield is more important, or less understood, says author/historian Robert Carter, than the one-square-mile area around the Brotherton House. It’s where Confederate Gen. James Longstreet’s troops broke through the Federal line on Sept. 20, 1863.

On Saturday, May 14, Carter will lead an exploration of those grounds with a 1.8-mile history walk from the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. The free, 90-minute walk will begin at 11 a.m., and Carter will be available to sign his books, “Longstreet’s Breakthrough at Chickamauga: Accidental Victory” and “The Fight for Snodgrass Hill and the Rock of Chickamauga” before and after the outing.

Longstreet, the “Bull of the Woods,” was recently arrived from Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia when he led the attack, one of the largest of the Civil War, with some 23,000 men. But the breakthrough was not the easy attack portrayed in legend and lore, Carter says. In fact, by noon, five of Longstreet’s eight brigades were in retreat, and the attack was in danger of failing.

Those participating in Carter’s program are reminded to wear comfortable shoes and tote water.