WI: The Confederates pushed the Union army after the Battle of Chickamauga?

According to this link:

After the Confederate victory on the 20th, Generals Longstreet and Forrest wanted to push on the next morning to destroy Rosecrans’ army before it had a chance to reorganize. Although Bragg’s original plan was the destruction of the Army of the Cumberland and the recapture of Chattanooga, the results of two days of bitter fighting now stalled him. In the Battle of Chickamauga, Bragg had lost 20,000 men – more than twenty percent of his force. Ten Confederate generals had been killed or wounded, and the losses among his junior officers had been severe. With an eye on his losses, Bragg refused to pursue the fleeing Federals, a move which turned the decisive Southern victory at Chickamauga into a strategic defeat. Instead, Bragg planned to occupy the heights surrounding Chattanooga and lay siege to the city. Just two month later, the reinforced Federals drove the Army of Tennessee from their positions around Chattanooga, permanently securing Northern control of the city. Chickamauga—a battle which cost a Bragg fifth of his army—was turned into a hollow victory.

So lets say a follow up attack is made. Either because Bragg changes his mind, Bragg is killed and Longestreet takes command, or another reason. Does this delay the capture of Atlanta or other Union victories?
 
Burnside's Corp just missed participating in the battle. His leading units got off the train and met up with Roscrans scouts at Shallowford on the second day of the battle IIRC.
Any follow up to Chickamauga would either have a fresh, veteran corp manning the lines around Chattanooga or a counter attack on the east flank from Collegedale.
 
That depends on how successful the follow up attack is. I do not think that the Federals will surrender. They will hunker down outside of Chatanooga. The sizes of the two forces are still comparable.

I would imagine that the Federals would hold their own. They would build trenched around Chatanooga. The riverine navy might be able to help some. They could hold on until relief came.

It would speed up the Union relief of Chatanooga.

Grant could be placed in charge of all Western forces sooner. He could also receive greater command, such as the troops under Burnside and Banks. In such a way, he might funnel more troops to Chattanooga.

Could delay the Knoxville campaign as Burnside could be ordered to come to Chatanooga first. Be the first relief.

May also delay the Red River campaign of 1864 as more troops would be diverted to Chatanooga

Grant could order Thomas, the Rock of Chickamauga and Chattanooga to replace Rosecrans. Orders Burnside to come immediately to Chatanooga to bolster defences.

He comes up in relief with Banks and Hookers Corps

He directs Sherman and the Army of the Tennessee to march overland and live off the land from Jackson, MS to Meridian, MS to Atlanta.

This forces the Confederates to attack in desperation entrenched forces around Chatanooga or fall back to Atlanta.

If they fall back to Atlanta, union army takes Knoxville and Grant places Atlanta under siege in 1864 with troops coming down from Chatanooga and Sherman coming from Meridian, MS.

If the Confederates press an attack on Chatanooga, they loose more men trying to take equall numbers of an entrenched army. The Confederates then may become enveloped themselves as the Union Corps start to show up.

So if the Confederates are more aggressive after Chickamauga, they could wind up losing Atlanta and the West sooner.

Overall effects is that Grant does not conduct is Overland campaign in Virginia in 1864. But the western armies of the Confederacy are decimated sooner, and Longstreet is not able to reunite with Lee.

Who knows what happens in VA in 1864. Perhaps Meade is on defensive or eliminates the Shenandoah threat.

Lincoln wins 1864 election off of Grants success in the West.

Lee surrenders later in 1865.
 
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