Battle of Davis's Cross Roads facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Davis's Cross Roads |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James S. Negley | Thomas C. Hindman John C. Breckinridge |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 8,000 | 12,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown | |||||||
The Battle of Davis's Cross Roads was a small but important event during the American Civil War. It happened on September 10 and 11, 1863, in northwestern Georgia. This event was part of the larger Chickamauga Campaign.
It wasn't a huge, bloody battle. Instead, it was mostly a series of troop movements and small fights, called skirmishes. Not many soldiers were hurt or killed during this time.
Contents
Why This Battle Happened
The Union Army's Plan
At the start of the Chickamauga Campaign, a Union Army general named William S. Rosecrans was in charge. His army, called the Army of the Cumberland, managed to make the Confederate Army leave Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Rosecrans thought the Confederates were running away.
He sent his soldiers in three different groups into northwestern Georgia. One of these groups was the XIV Corps, led by General George H. Thomas. This group moved into Trenton, Georgia. They planned to chase the Confederate army to Lafayette.
Confederate General Bragg's Idea
The Confederate army, led by General Braxton Bragg, was actually in Lafayette. General Rosecrans had bad information. He thought Bragg's army was defeated and heading to Dalton, Georgia.
But General Bragg soon realized something important. The Union forces had spread out. This made them easier to attack. So, Bragg decided to strike General Thomas's group first. He wanted to stop their advance and defeat them.
What Happened During the Battle
Union Troops Move Forward
General Thomas's soldiers quickly moved ahead. They took control of important passes in Missionary Ridge and Pigeon Mountain. Then they went into an area called McLemore Cove.
General James S. Negley's group, supported by General Absalom Baird's group, was moving across the cove. They were on the Dug Gap road. General Negley soon found out that Confederate soldiers were gathering near Dug Gap.
His troops fought their way closer to the gap. But by the evening of September 10, they pulled back to Davis's Cross Roads. They waited there for more Union soldiers to arrive.
Confederate Attack Plans
General Bragg had ordered General Thomas C. Hindman to attack General Negley's side at Davis's Cross Roads. At the same time, General Patrick Cleburne was supposed to push through Dug Gap. His job was to attack Negley from the front.
General Hindman was supposed to get more soldiers for his attack. But most of these extra troops did not show up. So, the Confederate officers met and decided they couldn't attack yet.
The Next Morning
The next morning, fresh Confederate troops finally arrived. The Confederates then started to move towards the Union line. By this time, the Union soldiers who were supposed to support Negley had joined him.
When they heard about the Confederate attack, the Union forces decided to pull back. They moved to Stevens Gap. General Negley first moved his group to a ridge east of West Chickamauga Creek. There, they set up a defense line. The other Union group then moved past them to Stevens Gap and set up another defense. Both groups waited for the rest of General Thomas's army. All of this happened while the Confederates were chasing and firing at them.
What Happened Next
After trying to attack one isolated Union group, General Bragg changed his focus. He turned his attention to another Union group to his north. This was the XXI Corps, led by General Thomas L. Crittenden.
This change in plans set the stage for a much bigger and bloodier fight. This major battle was the Battle of Chickamauga, which happened on September 19, 1863.
Images for kids
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Situation, September 11, 1863.
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Map of Davis' Cross Roads Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.
