Reed's Bridge

The day before the Battle of Chickamauga, on September 18th, 1863, Confederate General Bushrod Johnson’s division crossed the Chickamauga creek near Reed’s Bridge. Their intention was to attack the Union’s left flank, but it was delayed by Federal Colonel Robert Minty and his battalion of Calvary from the Chicago Board of Trade Battery. Early that next morning, they began to fight. The confederates needed to cross the creek, the Union soldiers needed to keep them at bay. This opened the Battle of Chickamauga. As the Union advanced, Col. Minty was pushed back toward Reed’s Bridge, where he formed a line to hold off the Confederate attackers. 

Anxious for reinforcements, Minty called on Colonel John T. Wilder, who sent over seven companies of the 72nd Indiana Mounted Infantry, the 123rd Illinois Mounted Infantry, and a section of Captain Eli Lilly’s Battery while in the midst of his own struggle at Alexander’s Bridge.  Reinforcements, however, could not hold off their cavalry.  In one surge, Forrest drove the determined Federals back over the bridge. Minty was finally forced to retreat, ending the skirmish that began the Battle of Chickamauga.

Author: Jessica Strickland, February 3, 2015
Further Reading:
http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/chickamauga.html
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/chickamauga.html