Hayes Lowe
Loss at Chickamauga
Tue Apr 3 22:11:58 2001


Well, I guess it depends on which numbers you believe.

The brigade entered the fray at Chickamauga with approximately 1730 men, not including the 17th Ala. S.S.

One source states a brigade loss of 123 KIA, with over 500 wounded and 28 missing (likely dead or captured).

However, adding up the numbers reported by the individual regiments, you arrive at a total of 398 KIA. And, this doesn't include the loss of the 39th Ala. Inf. or the 17th Ala. S.S. {no reports that I have found on these two}

398 soldiers killed in action was approximately one-fourth of the entire brigade. They would not likely have been replaced in a couple of months, not even close. And if 500+ men were wounded, at best 2/3 of those would have returned ready to fight (not to mention the fact that only approximately 2/3 of the men were armed at all, of the regiments reporting). Using these numbers (including the hypothetical 1/3 of the wounded that did not return), approximately 565 men were lost at Chickamauga. That was approximately 33%. Then, add that the 39th reported a casualty rate of 31% of its men, of 310 entering the engagment. So adding the KIAs and seriously wounded of that regiment would be getting close to a 40% loss which would not have returned to fight another day, at Missionary Ridge in particular.

• Re: Loss at Chickamauga — Alan J. Pitts, Wed Apr 4 09:23
• Fun with numbers. ; ) — Hayes Lowe, Wed Apr 4 11:18
• Re: Fun with numbers. ; ) — Alan J. Pitts, Wed Apr 4 23:48