ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - On September 18, 1863, the largest battle ever fought in the state of Georgia began.

The Battle of Chickamauga — part of the Civil War — was fought from September 18 to 20 in Northwest Georgia.

The campaign that led to this battle was the Union Army’s attempt at taking the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a majorly important rail junction in the South.

Instead of a head-on attack, the Union troops went around Chattanooga to try to cut off the railroad supply from the Georgia and Alabama side.

This led the Confederate troops in Chattanooga to abandon the city and eventually attack Union troops across the Georgia line, starting the Battle of Chickamauga.

With three days of fighting and 34,000 casualties, this battle is known as the second-bloodiest battle in American history. First is the Battle of Gettysburg.

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