Union Soldiers Still Reportedly Haunt This Georgia Battlefield Where They Suffered a Crushing Defeat

Chickamauga Battlefield, Georgia

Chickamauga isn’t your typical historic site. This Georgia battlefield combines preserved Civil War landscapes, haunting monuments, and some of the South’s most tragically significant ground.

It’s where the Confederacy won its last major victory – and where you can still trace every step of those brutal 48 hours.

Cherokee Named This Place ‘River of Death’

Cherokee Indians called Chickamauga the ‘River of Death’ long before any Civil War battle. This spooky name came after a smallpox outbreak killed many local people, sadly predicting the battlefield’s bloody future.

James Mooney wrote in his 1902 book that Chickamauga (spelled Tsïkäma’gï in Cherokee) might actually come from Algonquian words about a fishing spot. This land belonged to the Cherokee Nation until 1838 when the Land Lottery opened it to new settlers.

Historians still debate the name’s true meaning – some think it means ‘stagnant water,’ while others link it to the Cherokee-American wars in the 1780s.

Green-Eyed Ghost Was Here Before The War

One of the strangest legends at Chickamauga involves ‘Old Green Eyes.’ While you might think this ghost appeared after the battle, local stories claim this mysterious creature haunted the area long before the Civil War even started.

One of the earliest sightings happened in 1876 when a local man known as ‘Uncle Jim’ Carlock and his friends reportedly saw a massive creature over 10 feet tall with a white, furry head and glowing green eyes.

Some ghost researchers believe the entity was here before Europeans arrived. By the 1960s, so many thrill-seekers came looking for the ghost that park rangers started closing side roads during Halloween.

You Can Climb The 85-Foot Wilder Tower

You’ll spot the iconic Wilder Tower from nearly anywhere on the battlefield. This 85-foot stone memorial honors Colonel John T. Wilder and gives you the best panoramic views of the entire battlefield.

Construction started in 1892 but stalled when a bank failure wiped out the funds in 1893. Work finally continued in 1897 with help from Indianapolis businessman Arthur McKain.

The tower uses limestone quarried nearby and was dedicated on September 20, 1899, exactly 36 years after the battle. If you want to climb the 136 spiral steps, plan your visit between March 16 and November 30, as it’s closed in winter.

This Battle Changed How Armies Moved Troops

At Chickamauga, the Confederates did something never done before – they moved huge numbers of troops from one war zone to another by train. General Bragg’s army got reinforcements from Virginia led by General John Bell Hood and Mississippi troops under Brigadier General Bushrod Johnson.

This massive move involved about 12,000 soldiers traveling by rail over 900 miles from Virginia through the Carolinas to north Georgia.

Thanks to this clever strategy, the Confederates outnumbered Union forces by around 5,000 men (65,000 vs. 60,000). This helped them win at Chickamauga, which turned out to be their last major victory in the Western Theater.

Soldiers Couldn’t See Each Other In The Woods

Unlike famous battles fought in open fields, Chickamauga happened in thick, smoky forests that confused everyone. Soldiers often couldn’t see who they were fighting, which led to more chaos and deaths.

Weather made things worse, with temperatures swinging from 80 degrees during the day to freezing at night. A crescent moon meant almost complete darkness after sunset. The underbrush was so thick that commanders couldn’t see more than 150 yards in many spots, causing units to get lost and separated.

Many soldiers said they could hear enemies moving but couldn’t see them until they were dangerously close.

Winning The Battle Didn’t Win The War

Even though the Confederates won at Chickamauga, they lost their advantage just two months later. They failed to recapture Chattanooga, and reinforced Union troops eventually drove them from their positions, taking control of this important railroad hub.

The victory cost the Confederates dearly – about 18,454 soldiers (nearly 20% of their fighting force) compared to 16,170 Union casualties. General Bragg made a crucial mistake by deciding to surround Chattanooga instead of chasing the retreating Union army.

By November 25, 1863, just two months after Chickamauga, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant broke through, prompting one Confederate soldier to write that this defeat marked ‘the death-knell of the Confederacy.’

Ghost Hunters Flock Here On Halloween Night

Chickamauga has such a strong reputation for ghosts that park rangers close side roads during Halloween to keep ghost hunters away. When you visit, you might hear stories about unexplained lights, sounds of gunfire and marching, and sudden cold spots even in summer.

About 700 deer live across the battlefield’s 5,300 acres, which might explain some strange sightings at dusk. Ghost hunters have recorded numerous electronic voice phenomena throughout the battlefield, especially around Snodgrass Hill.

In 1960, a man fell inside Wilder Tower claiming he thought he was jumping from a ground-level window but actually fell 25 feet and was paralyzed – some people think a ghost confused him.

A Ghostly Bride Searches For Her Soldier

Among the spirits at Chickamauga is the ‘Lady in White,’ a ghost in a wedding dress looking for her husband who died in the battle. Many visitors have spotted her during autumn months.

People who’ve seen her say she first appears as a bright light before turning into a full-bodied ghost, usually between sunset and midnight. You’re most likely to spot her near Brotherton Cabin where some of the heaviest fighting happened.

Park rangers have collected visitor reports about her since the 1930s. She’s now famous enough to be included in several books about America’s most haunted battlefields.

Ambrose Bierce Fought Here Then Wrote About It

The famous author Ambrose Bierce wasn’t just writing about Chickamauga – he actually fought here. His powerful short story ‘Chickamauga’ came from his own experiences and was published in 1891. French filmmaker Robert Enrico later adapted it into a short film in 1962.

Bierce served with the Union Army and fought in several battles including Shiloh before Chickamauga. He was later seriously wounded at Kennesaw Mountain in 1864.

His disturbing story focuses on a deaf-mute child who wanders onto the battlefield without understanding the horror around him.

Another famous writer, Thomas Wolfe, also published a short story called ‘Chickamauga’ in 1937, making this battlefield unusually important in American literature.

Georgia Faced Its First Major Battle Here

When the battle of Chickamauga erupted, it was Georgia’s first major Civil War fight. Before this, Georgia had mostly avoided large battles, so Chickamauga brought the war’s horrors directly to the state.

The fighting lasted three days, not two as many people think, from September 18-20, 1863. The battlefield got its name from West Chickamauga Creek, which runs along its southeast boundary.

With 34,624 total casualties from both sides, it wasn’t just Georgia’s first major battle but also its bloodiest. When you visit, you’ll be walking across parts of both Walker and Catoosa counties where this historic battle took place.

General Thomas Became ‘Rock of Chickamauga’

Union General George Thomas earned his famous nickname ‘The Rock of Chickamauga’ for his incredible stand during the battle.

When the Union center and right fell apart, Thomas formed a defensive position on Snodgrass Hill that held strong against wave after wave of Confederate attacks. His defensive stand on Snodgrass Hill lasted about five hours on September 20, 1863.

Thomas commanded around 25,000 men who quickly built makeshift walls from logs and fence rails. His actions saved the Union Army from total defeat and allowed an orderly withdrawal to Chattanooga.

Thomas later became one of the Union’s most reliable generals and played key roles in several Western Theater victories.

This Was America’s First National Military Park

Thanks to preservation efforts, you can walk the same ground where soldiers fought over 160 years ago. The American Battlefield Trust and partners have saved more than 145 acres of the original battlefield.

Chickamauga became the nation’s very first military park when it was established in 1890, even before Gettysburg was preserved. Veterans from both sides pushed for its creation because they wanted to honor the battlefield where they fought.

Today, the park protects 5,300 acres of historic land. As you explore, you’ll see over 1,400 monuments and markers, including state monuments, regimental markers, and tablets showing where units positioned themselves during the battle.

Former Enemies Built This Park Together

Every September, Chickamauga holds a ‘War Between the States Days’ festival celebrating something amazing – how former Confederate and Union soldiers came together to honor those who died here.

A huge reunion in 1889 brought together over 12,000 former soldiers from both sides, leading Congress to create the national military park in 1890. Union General Henry V. Boynton and Confederate General Alexander P. Stewart worked together as the park’s first leaders.

Most of the monuments you’ll see were placed between 1895 and 1910, often dedicated at ceremonies with veterans from both armies attending. This spirit of coming together created a model that other Civil War battlefields followed across America.

Visiting Chickamauga Battlefield

The Visitor Center at 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, is open daily 8:30am-5:00pm (closed Christmas and New Year’s).

• Don’t miss: Fuller Gun Collection (firearms from 1700s-WWI), orientation film, 7-minute battle map, and 7-mile driving tour
• Rangers lead car caravan tours daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends year-round
• Wilder Tower viewing platform open March 16-November 30

Battlefield grounds stay open from dawn until dusk. It’s free to visit.