Chickamauga Creek facts for kids

Chickamauga Creek is actually the name for two important streams that flow into the Tennessee River near Chattanooga, Tennessee. These two streams are called North Chickamauga Creek and South Chickamauga Creek. North Chickamauga Creek joins the Tennessee River from the north, and South Chickamauga Creek joins from the south. There's also a third stream, West Chickamauga Creek, which is much longer and flows into South Chickamauga Creek.

Exploring the Chickamauga Creeks

The Chickamauga Creeks are part of a larger water system. This system includes parts of Georgia and Middle Tennessee. It is known as the Georgia, Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga Watershed.

Where North Chickamauga Creek Starts

North Chickamauga Creek begins in an area called The Horseshoe. This area is part of Walden Ridge, which is a branch of the Cumberland Plateau. The creek starts in southeastern Sequatchie County. It forms where two smaller creeks, Standifer and Brimer, meet. This is north of the community of Lone Oak. North Chickamauga Creek flows only within Tennessee.

The Path of South Chickamauga Creek

South Chickamauga Creek is a long stream that winds through valleys. It is located in the northwest corner of Georgia. It starts flowing north from Ringgold, Georgia. Then it crosses the border into Tennessee. From there, it flows into the city of Chattanooga.

West Chickamauga Creek: A Major Branch

West Chickamauga Creek is a very important branch of South Chickamauga Creek. It begins where Mud Creek and Mill Creek join together. Brotherton Creek also adds to it. This starting point is northeast of the Zahnd Wildlife Management Area. It's located between Rising Fawn and Lafayette in Walker County, Georgia.

West Chickamauga Creek flows northeast through Walker and Catoosa counties in Northwest Georgia. It forms the southeast border of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This park is in Chickamauga, Fort Oglethorpe, and Ringgold, Georgia. The creek then winds northeast. It joins South Chickamauga Creek near Brown Acres Golf Course. This is in eastern Hamilton County, Tennessee, just north of the Tennessee/Georgia border.

West Chickamauga Creek is long, about 37 miles (60 km) from its start to where it joins South Chickamauga Creek. South Chickamauga Creek is about 35 miles (56 km) long. Some maps might show a different starting point for West Chickamauga Creek. If that's the case, its length could be closer to 50 miles (80 km).

You can explore West Chickamauga Creek by kayak or canoe. You can start near Gordon and Lee Mill in Chickamauga, Georgia. From there, you can paddle northeast to where it joins South Chickamauga Creek. You can continue northward all the way to the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. The water in West Chickamauga Creek moves at about 0.77 feet (0.23 meters) per second on average.

Historical Connections of the Creeks

The Chickamauga Creeks have played a role in history.

The Chickamauga Cherokee People

In the late 1700s, a group of the Cherokee people settled near these creeks. They became known as the Chickamauga Cherokee. Their leader was Dragging Canoe. This group became a strong opponent to early American settlers. These settlers were moving west of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Battle of Chickamauga

During the American Civil War, a very bloody battle happened near West Chickamauga Creek. This battle was fought for control of the railroad center in nearby Chattanooga. It is known as the Battle of Chickamauga. It took place on September 19–20, 1863. The creek itself did not have a big impact on the battle. However, the first small fights happened when Confederate soldiers tried to cross West Chickamauga Creek. This happened especially at Alexander's Bridge and Reed's Bridge. These bridges are near the present-day Chickamauga National Military Park.

Union General William Rosecrans had his army set up at Chickamauga, Georgia. This was about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Chattanooga. Confederate General Braxton Bragg gathered more soldiers. He prepared for battle with help from General James Longstreet. After two days of fighting, General Rosecrans and many of his soldiers left the battlefield in a rush. The Battle of Chickamauga was the end of the Union's "Chickamauga Campaign." This campaign was in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. General Rosecrans lost his command after this battle.