Chickamauga
September 20, 1863
Map of Northern Flank Attack
McDonald Field near the top of the map was the scene of the early stages of the Confederate flank attack. The action shown here is Breckinridge continuing south toward Kelly Field.
The Northern Flank
Bragg's plan was for Gen. Polk's Wing on the right to begin the attack at 5 A.M., but the attack finally got underway at 10 A.M. Polk's men attacked the Yankees to their front, who were protected by log breastworks.
This is the view of the Union northern flank position held by an overextended brigade near the park visitors center. The attacking Confederates of two brigades of Breckinridge's division outnumbered the Yankees and overlapped their flanks. They quickly routed the Union troops.
Breckinridge Continues South
Two of Breckinridge's brigades had routed their Union counterparts near the building in the distance. They then turned and advanced down the Lafayette Road on the right half of the picture to advance down the Union line. Breckinridge's third brigade was attacking a portion of the main Union line along the road visible on the right of the picture turning off Lafayette Road. The Yankees shifted troops to protect their flank, but the troops were sent in piecemeil, and Breckinridge continued to advance.
Kelly's Field
As Breckinridge attacked the Union left flank, Polk's men attacked the Union center. In the top picture, the Union line was parallel to the road on the right, and the open field on the left, Kelly's Field, was in the rear of the Union line. The bottom picture shows a panoramic view of Kelly's Field from the rear of the Union line. Breckinridge's division briefly entered the field from the right of the picture, but Union reinforcements pushed them back. The Union line held, but was forced to withdraw at the end of the battle. Troops streamed across this field toward the Kelly House on the left of the picture then headed toward Chattanooga. A Confederate battery rushed into the field and fired into the retreating Yankees.