A General's Journey From Goat to Hero: Thomas J. Word-- Part 1

From the September 22, 2013, Washington Post by Jeff Leen.

Union Brigadier General Thomas J. Word, a career Army officer and West Point graduate served in the Mexican War and had cavalry postings along the frontier. His worst time was at the Battle of Chickamauga, but he fully exonerated his name at the Battle of Chattanooga.

When Union General Rosecrans took Chattanooga from Confederate General Bragg, it opened the door directly on the Heart of Dixie, the Confederate military complex at Atlanta.

Confederates sent reinforcements to Bragg.

On September 19, 1863, the Confederates won a huge victory at the Battle of Chickamauga and forced Rosecrans back to Chattanooga and besieged the city.

General Word became a scapegoat.

--Old Secesh