At 4:45 P. M., Thomas received orders from Rosecrans directing him to
withdraw. The withdrawal was not started at this time. There had been
severe fighting in the Kelley field during the afternoon. At 5:00 P. M.
Col. Edward A. King, 68th Indiana Infantry, was killed in the southeast
corner of this field. King commanded the 2nd brigade of Reynolds
division. He was the last of the eight brigade commanders who lost their
lives on the Chickamauga battlefield. Col. Milton S. Robinson assumed
command of his brigade. About 7:00 P. M., Thomas began to withdraw. The
Confederates had gained possession of the LaFayette road to the left and
rear of the Union line. Since Thomas wanted to re-establish his lines
between Bragg and Chattanooga, the withdrawal was made via McFarland Gap
to Rossville; then south on the Chattanooga-LaFayette highway to
Rossville Gap and Missionary Ridge. Fortifications were thrown up along
this portion of the ridge to keep the Confederates in check. The Union
line also extended across Chattanooga Valley and up the slopes of
Lookout Mountain. Thomas held this line along Missionary Ridge
throughout Monday, the 21st. During the night they abandoned this
position and moved into Chattanooga. Thus ended the battle of
Chickamauga.
There were approximately 124,000 troops engaged at Chickamauga. Of this
number, there were 58,000 Union soldiers and 66,000 Confederates. During
the two-day battle, there were 34,000 casualties. Of these casualties,
there were 16,000 Union; 18,000 Confederates.
The Union army had lost the battle of Chickamauga. Still they had
reached their objective—Chattanooga. Bragg’s plan was to attack the
Union troops in Chattanooga on the morning of the 22nd. However, this
failed to materialize. After some light skirmishing it was decided to
call off this attack due to the Union troops being too strongly
entrenched. The Union army was still holding their line up Lookout
Mountain. Soon this line was abandoned since they realized that Bragg
would only have to place forces at any point below in order to have
control of the river line of supplies.