Georgia, Catoosa County, Fort Oglethorpe
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About 2 o'clock A.M., Sept. 11, 1863, Capt.John J. McCook of Gen. Crittenden's staff, left Chattanooga with an escort bearing important orders from the Commanding General to his Corps Commander, who had left at 1 o'clock to join his divisions near Ringgold. Misled by the guide, Gen. Crittenden has continued on the Lafayette Road. Capt. McCook was informed of this at Rossville by a member of the escort, and being concerned for his Commander's safety hurried on to overtake him. In the darkness and mist of the morning, he was fired on when at this position about 4 o'clock A.M. by an outpost of Forrest's cavalry. Two of the escort who had left the road on the opposite or west side, supposing they had been fired on by troops of their own corps, advanced and were captured. Capt. McCook and one orderly, hearing the surrender, escaped and reported to Gen. Crittenden, whom they found had joined his Corps by an intermediate route, or cross road. This was the first point of contact or collision on the Chickamauga battlefield, now included in the Park limits.
(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
About 2 o'clock A.M., Sept. 11, 1863, Capt.John J. McCook of Gen. Crittenden's staff, left Chattanooga with an escort bearing important orders from the Commanding General to his Corps Commander, who had left at 1 o'clock to join his divisions near Ringgold. Misled by the guide, Gen. Crittenden has continued on the Lafayette Road. Capt. McCook was informed of this at Rossville by a member of the escort, and being concerned for his Commander's safety hurried on to overtake him. In the darkness and mist of the morning, he was fired on when at this position about 4 o'clock A.M. by an outpost of Forrest's cavalry. Two of the escort who had left the road on the opposite or west side, supposing they had been fired on by troops of their own corps, advanced and were captured. Capt. McCook and one orderly, hearing the surrender, escaped and reported to Gen. Crittenden, whom they found had joined his Corps by an intermediate route, or cross road. This was the first point of contact or collision on the Chickamauga battlefield, now included in the Park limits.(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
