Longstreet’s forces charge on the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga
South of Union-controlled Chattanooga, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, seeking to regain ground from the federals, engages Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans’ Union forces. Thus begins the Battle of Chickamauga. Although Union lines successfully hold today in the face of a heavy assault, the morrow brings reinforcements from the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Gen. James Longstreet. Longstreet quickly exploits a gap in the Union line, forcing one-third of Rosecrans’ army to fall back. Union Gen. George Thomas, however, rallies his troops and makes a successful stand on Horseshoe Ridge, providing time for the federals to retreat toward Chattanooga after nightfall. For his heroics, Thomas becomes known as “the Rock of Chickamuaga.”
The Confederates win the battle, yet the price in casualties is high and the Union army remains in control of Chattanooga.
Engaged in the fighting today is Confederate Colonel Mark Perrin Lowrey (1828-1885) of Tippah County, Mississippi. A Baptist pastor, editor and writer prior to the war, Lowrey during today’s battle commands a brigade of Patrick Cleburne’s division of D. H. Hill’s Corps. Following the Confederate victory at Chickamauga, Lowrey is promoted to Brigadier General. Of his promotion, Hill writes: “Col. M. P. Lowrey has been deservedly promoted, and a worthier object of advancement could not have been selected.” Late in the war on March 14, 1865, following a successful career as an officer, Lowrey resigns his commission and returns to his home at Blue Mountain, again preaching in Tippah and nearby counties.
Meanwhile, far to the west the New Bethel Baptist Association of Texas meets and, like many other Baptist associations gathering this fall, spends some time discussing the war.
Of the war itself, the association resolves
That we recommend the members composing the churches of this association to be incessant in prayer to Almighty God, especially in secret for the restoration of peace in our once happy, but now distracted, unhappy and bloody land __a they r____ s o_ten_ con____ n and pray earnestly for the permanence and prosperity of our Confederate government, and the welfare, temporal and spiritual, of our soldiers who are nobly defending our rights, liberties, institutions and families, and a__na__s is dear and sacred to the southerner.
The New Bethel Baptist Association also notes that since the war has restricted the flow of reading materials in Texas, church members should read the Bible more often:
We your committee on books and periodicals beg leave to make the same report that was made at our last setting; namely that whereas the present war has to a great extent deprived us of periodicals and the power of obtaining books, therefore we do cordially recommend the repeated and careful perusal of the Bible, the best of books; and we do from the great deep of our hearts thank Almighty God for the privilege of reading such a Book. S. C. Martin, ch.
Delegates at the associational meeting, all of whom are white men, offer observations on the state of slaves in their churches (slavery being the cause of the war):
We your committee appointed to report on the condition of the colored population, beg leave to report as follows, to-wit: that the religious condition of this class of our population is truly encouraging, and at most of the churches there is ample preparation made for them to be comfortably situated to hear the Gospel; and where it is not the case, we do earnestly recommend that such preparation should be made.
We also recommend the following resolution, viz: that all owners of slaves be earnestly requested to either go themselves or get some one suitable to go with them to divine worship and see their good behavior, and when services close, that they be instructed to return to their respective homes without delay; and that our ministers be requested in their instructions, to teach the slaves that their relations are of divine appointment, and that the Bible makes their fidelity as servants, a test of the genuineness of their christian character. All of which is respectfully submitted. L. G. Clark, ch.
Sources: Battle of Chattanooga, including image (link); Andrew Brown, “Officers in the Confederate Army From Tippah County” (link); Mark Perrin Lowrey (link); Minutes of the Fourth Annual Session of the New Bethel Baptist Association with Bethany Church, Tyler County, Texas, September 19, 1863 (link)
