The Battle of Chickamauga on September 18-20, 1863 was the largest and most significant battle that Wilder’s Brigade fought. It is generally considered to be a Confederate victory, although losses on both sides were high. It ultimately cost General Rosecrans his job, and he was replaced by one of his subordinates, General George H. Thomas. […]
Salathiel Timmons: Second Battle of Chattanooga
Following their stunning success Hoover’s Gap, Salathiel Timmons and Wilder’s Brigade spent the next three weeks going after the rear of Confederate General Bragg’s army, burning railroads and bridges, capturing horses, and raiding for supplies. The Adjutant General’s report then describes at great length what was really just a minor skirmish but again displays the […]
Salathiel Timmons: Battle of Hoover’s Gap
When we last left off, Salathiel’s regiment had just joined the famous Wilder’s Brigade and his younger brother Battle had just died of disease. After about a month of extensive drills and training in their new role as mounted infantry, Wilder’s Brigade was called upon for a couple of minor skirmishes. Then on June 23, […]
Salathiel Timmons: joining Wilder’s Brigade
I have just returned from a business trip in California and can now resume the story of our Civil War ancestor Salathiel Timmons – I feel like I left everyone hanging! As we learned in the last post, Salathiel’s regiment spent the winter of 1862-1863 protecting Union supply trains in Tennessee. In March of 1863, […]
Salathiel Timmons: Battle of Vaught’s Hill
So in my last post, I talked about how Salathiel Timmons enlisted into the Union Army in Illinois in August 1862, traveled by rail to Kentucky, and then immediately went into action in a terrible and bloody first battle at Perryville in October. Salathiel was in Company “A” of the 123rd Illinois Regiment along with […]