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Maps of Chickamauga: An Atlas of the Chickamauga Campaign, Including the Tullahoma Operations, June 22 - September 23, 1863
Third in a new series of campaign studies that take a different approach toward military history, The Maps of Chickamauga explores this largely misunderstood battle through the use of 120 full-color maps, graphically illustrating the complex tangle of combat’s ebb and flow that makes the titanic bloodshed of Chickamauga one of the most confusing actions of the American Civil War. Track individual regiments through their engagements at fifteen to twenty-minute intervals or explore each army in motion as brigades and divisions maneuver and deploy to face the enemy. The Maps of Chickamauga allows readers to fully grasp the action at any level of interest.
The maps lay out the troops and terrain as they were in September of 1863. Opening and closing chapters describe each army’s approach to the battlefield and the retreat and pursuit to Chattanooga in the aftermath of the bloody combat. In between, sections are devoted to the fighting of September 18, 19, and 20, following the battle as it unfolds from a series of limited collisions between isolated columns into the bloody action of the last two days. Situation maps reflect the posture of each army on an hourly basis, while tactical maps reveal the intricacies of regimental and battery movements.
The text accompanying each map explains the action in succinct detail, supported by a host of primary sources. Eyewitness accounts vividly underscore the human aspect of the actions detailed in the maps as brigades and regiments collide. Meticulously researched and footnoted by David Powell with cartography by David Freidrichs, The Maps of Chickamauga relies on the participants’ own words to recreate the course of battle.
The Maps of Chickamauga is an ideal companion for battlefield bushwhacking or simply armchair touring. Full color brings the movements to life, allowing readers to grasp the surging give and take of regimental combat in the woods and fields of North Georgia.
About the Author: David A. Powell is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, class of 1983, with a BA in history. After graduating he went to work in the family business, CBS Messenger, in the Chicago area, but David never lost his intense interest in military history, especially in the American Civil War. He has published articles in a number of magazines, more than fifteen historical simulations of various battles, and led tours to various sites. For the past decade David’s focus has been on the epic battle of Chickamauga.
David A. Freidrichs graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1982 and has worked as a civil engineer since then. He is the author of numerous articles and papers on topics ranging from public asset management to military history. David’s interest in military history began at a very early age. This interest combined with a love of maps resulted in the publication of several military simulations over the years.
The maps lay out the troops and terrain as they were in September of 1863. Opening and closing chapters describe each army’s approach to the battlefield and the retreat and pursuit to Chattanooga in the aftermath of the bloody combat. In between, sections are devoted to the fighting of September 18, 19, and 20, following the battle as it unfolds from a series of limited collisions between isolated columns into the bloody action of the last two days. Situation maps reflect the posture of each army on an hourly basis, while tactical maps reveal the intricacies of regimental and battery movements.
The text accompanying each map explains the action in succinct detail, supported by a host of primary sources. Eyewitness accounts vividly underscore the human aspect of the actions detailed in the maps as brigades and regiments collide. Meticulously researched and footnoted by David Powell with cartography by David Freidrichs, The Maps of Chickamauga relies on the participants’ own words to recreate the course of battle.
The Maps of Chickamauga is an ideal companion for battlefield bushwhacking or simply armchair touring. Full color brings the movements to life, allowing readers to grasp the surging give and take of regimental combat in the woods and fields of North Georgia.
About the Author: David A. Powell is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, class of 1983, with a BA in history. After graduating he went to work in the family business, CBS Messenger, in the Chicago area, but David never lost his intense interest in military history, especially in the American Civil War. He has published articles in a number of magazines, more than fifteen historical simulations of various battles, and led tours to various sites. For the past decade David’s focus has been on the epic battle of Chickamauga.
David A. Freidrichs graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1982 and has worked as a civil engineer since then. He is the author of numerous articles and papers on topics ranging from public asset management to military history. David’s interest in military history began at a very early age. This interest combined with a love of maps resulted in the publication of several military simulations over the years.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
15 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
David A. Powell
26 books29 followersGraduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. in history. He has spent years studying the Battle of Chickamauga and wrote several books on the campaign. His book Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joseph Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Chickamauga Campaign won the 2011 Richard Harwell Award for the best book on a Civil War topic published in the last year. In addition to his books, he has written articles for the magazines North & South and Gettysburg Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 26, 2018
This book is part of a series featuring extensive color maps of Civil War battles/campaigns paired with a short narrative. This volume covers the Tullahoma and Chickamauga Campaigns and is written by David Powell who subsequently wrote a lengthy trilogy on Chickamauga so is eminently qualified for the subject. Although mostly an introductory and visual guide, the text is still full of Endnotes. Chickamauga was a large and confusing battle so this book is very much needed. The maps for the Battle of Chickamauga break down the two main days of fighting in 15 minute intervals. A selection of these maps also appears in Powell's main Chickamauga trilogy, but not all of them and not in color.
While this is a very useful book, I have two main criticisms, both related to the maps. First, just as in Powell's main trilogy, the maps here cover about 90% of the page, wasting an inch of space on the bottom. Here there's not any text below the maps, but it's still perplexing to me why this was done. Second, as with his main trilogy, Powell breaks some of the battle down into sectors or segments rather than trying to cover everything chronologically together. As I said in my review of his The Chickamauga Campaign—A Mad Irregular Battle: From the Crossing of Tennessee River Through the Second Day, August 22 - September 19, 1863: "By not jumping around it probably gains some clarity for the reader, but at the expense of losing a feel for what was happening at the same time." Unfortunately, despite offering more maps here this issue still isn't entirely fixed. Coverage of Sept 19 receives some particular helpful additions, but Longstreet's breakthrough on Sept 20 could have really used a one or two macro maps in addition to the micro maps.
If you read only one book about Chickamauga, this would be a good choice. It also serves as a helpful companion to the author's main Chickamauga trilogy.
While this is a very useful book, I have two main criticisms, both related to the maps. First, just as in Powell's main trilogy, the maps here cover about 90% of the page, wasting an inch of space on the bottom. Here there's not any text below the maps, but it's still perplexing to me why this was done. Second, as with his main trilogy, Powell breaks some of the battle down into sectors or segments rather than trying to cover everything chronologically together. As I said in my review of his The Chickamauga Campaign—A Mad Irregular Battle: From the Crossing of Tennessee River Through the Second Day, August 22 - September 19, 1863: "By not jumping around it probably gains some clarity for the reader, but at the expense of losing a feel for what was happening at the same time." Unfortunately, despite offering more maps here this issue still isn't entirely fixed. Coverage of Sept 19 receives some particular helpful additions, but Longstreet's breakthrough on Sept 20 could have really used a one or two macro maps in addition to the micro maps.
If you read only one book about Chickamauga, this would be a good choice. It also serves as a helpful companion to the author's main Chickamauga trilogy.
December 13, 2025
"The Maps Of Chickamauga" is a great read for anyone wanting to learn more about the campaign and how the battle was fought. There are many things to like about this title:
1. Contains many helpful maps depicting unit location and movements during the campaign.
2. Details not only the battle but also the army movements through Tennessee leading up to Chickamauga.
3. Like the way the book is organized by day and area of the Chickamauga battlefield.
4. The notes and bibliography are very helpful for anyone wanting to read more about the campaign.
5. Most maps break down to the individual regiment level - great for anyone interested in where a particular unit was during the battle.
6. Writing style is easy to understand and follow - not overly technical writing that bogs down into too much detail.
7. The book is not too heavy in case you would like to use on a future battlefield visit.
Since I had several kinfolk on both sides during the battle, this title was of natural interest to me and I enjoyed reading the book. Will take on future battlefield visits and highly recommended.
1. Contains many helpful maps depicting unit location and movements during the campaign.
2. Details not only the battle but also the army movements through Tennessee leading up to Chickamauga.
3. Like the way the book is organized by day and area of the Chickamauga battlefield.
4. The notes and bibliography are very helpful for anyone wanting to read more about the campaign.
5. Most maps break down to the individual regiment level - great for anyone interested in where a particular unit was during the battle.
6. Writing style is easy to understand and follow - not overly technical writing that bogs down into too much detail.
7. The book is not too heavy in case you would like to use on a future battlefield visit.
Since I had several kinfolk on both sides during the battle, this title was of natural interest to me and I enjoyed reading the book. Will take on future battlefield visits and highly recommended.
December 17, 2020
By far the best book about this battle. It really captures the confusion, and why events played out as they did.
September 17, 2021
Fantastic maps and battle field analysis. I'm curious about other battles analysed in this way.
October 17, 2022
Good reference for exploring the Chickamauga battlefield. It is especially handy to carry with you as you visit the various parts of the park.
August 19, 2015
A necessary book for understanding the battle
This very well-produced work uses the same admirable format as the West Point Atlas of American Wars: a full-page map on one side with the corresponding text opposite. The maps reach down to the regimental level for the significant actions of the two-day affair, with maps of the entire battleground, throughout the day.
Especially for such a confused fight as Chickamauga, this is the only way to easily understand the ebb and flow of battle. (Someone should now do the same for Shiloh, and then those remaining battles which have not received such a glorious treatment). Both Mr. Powell and his cartographer, Mr. David A. Freidrichs, should be highly commended for this detailed study.
The order of battle, complete with unit strengths and losses, is also extremely helpful.
This very well-produced work uses the same admirable format as the West Point Atlas of American Wars: a full-page map on one side with the corresponding text opposite. The maps reach down to the regimental level for the significant actions of the two-day affair, with maps of the entire battleground, throughout the day.
Especially for such a confused fight as Chickamauga, this is the only way to easily understand the ebb and flow of battle. (Someone should now do the same for Shiloh, and then those remaining battles which have not received such a glorious treatment). Both Mr. Powell and his cartographer, Mr. David A. Freidrichs, should be highly commended for this detailed study.
The order of battle, complete with unit strengths and losses, is also extremely helpful.
August 19, 2012
Absolutely brilliant! Powell's text and the cartography of David Friedrichs combine to precisely and definitively tell the complete story of the second bloodiest land-battle fought on the North American continent (only Gettysburg was bloodier). I highly recommend a combined reading of this book with Peter Cozzens' This Terrible Sound: THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA to get the full flavor of the vicious intensity of the combat at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19-20, 1863, in a densely wooded valley in northwestern Georgia.
January 4, 2013
Another of the excellent books in this series, of which I have read three so far. This book provides an excellent description of the events leading up to the Battle of Chickmauga, the battle itself, and its aftermath. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a few more large-scale maps shown during the battle, as I sometimes found it difficult to understand where the small-scale maps fit into the larger battle, and what was going on at other places at the same time. Still, this book (and this entire series) is an excellent way to illustrate the ebb and flow of Civil War battles.
June 7, 2012
Excellent book...descriptions of the action on the left page, maps on the right. It is written in a regular history fashion rather than like an typical Osprey picture book. I read about most of the 20th action just before we walked the battlefield. Even had my mom read the stuff on the night before's meetings and pre-attack maneuvering and it was perfect for her to get a picture of the sites we were driving to see.
September 15, 2018
Every major battle of the war deserves this treatment. You get a solid battle narrative with a map on every other page. The result is a better understanding of the movements and course of the fighting that makes even a confusing engagement understandable. This needs to be done for every battle of the war.
October 18, 2025
Masterful work on two campaigns in the west, Tullahoma and Chickamauga. However, I do have one question here: when is Mr. Powell going to get around to covering the other western theater campaigns? How about a sequel covering Chattanooga?
September 6, 2016
As usual Dave is THE master of Chickamauga
February 7, 2017
A must-have for anyone researching the Battle of Chickamuga.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews