Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to episode number 406 of our Civil War Podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the Podcast.

As you guys will recall, Nightfall on September 19th, 1863 found the two armies facing each

other, along a line that roughly followed the course of the Lafayette Road, veering sometimes

100 or so yards to one side or the other of it, from Kelly Field still held by George

Thomas' federals on the north end of the Union line, down to the vineyard farm about two

miles south of Kelly Field.

Neither side had gained a clear advantage during a day of furious combat on Saturday the

19th, and William Rosecran's army of the Cumberland still controlled two routes to Chattanooga.

The Lafayette Road itself, the most direct route, and the dry valley road, which followed

a different, less direct course up to Chattanooga.

For Sunday the 20th, Old Rose's first priority was to hold firm on his left to the north,

which was George Thomas' sector, and which secured his armies' most direct route back to

Chattanooga.

To that end, Rosecran's promise to reinforce Thomas with its much help on the 20th as

might be necessary.

On the Confederate side, Braxton Bragg's goal, first thing on the morning of the 20th,

was to seize that very sector of the battlefield, and then follow up with a series of hammer

blows that would drive the Yankee Army southward away from Chattanooga, and into the trap of

...