Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to episode number 398 of our Civil War Podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the podcast.

As you guys will recall, with the last episode, the fighting was really starting to heat

up on the northern part of the battlefield on the morning of Saturday, September 19,

1863, the second day of the Battle of Chica Maga, thanks to decisions made by Major General

George Thomas on the federal side and by Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forest on the Confederate

side.

That morning, 14th Corps Commander George Thomas decided to strike ease from Kelly Field

toward Reed's bridge with all the strength he had immediately at hand.

That is, with the divisions of John Brannon and Absalom Baird.

We spent some time speculating why Thomas would have done this, since it seemed so out

of character for him.

He'd earned a reputation for normally being cautious and deliberate, but here he was making

an aggressive, seemingly spur of the moment decision.

We said the best explanation would probably be that when Thomas had talked to William

Rosecran's the night before, Rosecran's might have indicated to Thomas that he, that

is Rosecran's, was hoping that by sending Thomas north, that move would not only protect

the La Thea at Road, the Army's direct link to Chattanooga, but that there might also

be some opportunity for Thomas to strike the flank of the Confederate force that had

...