“I am fortunate to be a member of the Civil War Pikers, a group of Civil War enthusiasts who have taken personal guided tours of practically every major battlefield of the Civil War, and a significant number of minor ones. While the grandeur of some of those other battlefields, and the significance of what took place there, rival the Battle of Chickamauga, our guided experiences there were eclipsed by the outstanding historical journey that was led by Robert Carter at Chickamauga. Robert’s vivid descriptions of the many key players in that life and death struggle were simply riveting. And his depth of knowledge regarding the tactics, strategies, and mistakes of the battle, and the countless human tragedies that played out over those three desperate days in 1863, were outstanding. 

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Robert’s humor, personal attention, and easygoing style also made for a highly enjoyable experience. We found it easy to share with him our own personal knowledge of the battle and of the greater Civil War, knowing that he would add significantly to that knowledge in a kind and gentle way.

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Highly recommended! I hope to have many more opportunities to learn from Robert in the future. He is an essential resource for anyone who is a student of the Civil War.”

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Patrick Northam

Floyds Knobs, Indiana

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“I am the president of the Civil War Round Table of Southwest Michigan. Our round table hired Robert Carter for a two-day tour of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. The Chickamauga Battlefield is immense and complicated! Robert has a great personality and a real gift of taking the complicated and breaking it down into segments to make it understandable. Our group had a couple of “battlefield nerds” in it, but most were learning about the battle for the first time. Robert was extremely knowledgeable, and he was able to answer our “nerdy” questions while also explaining the battle so everyone could understand it.

 

A couple of members of our group had ancestors who fought in the Battle of Chickamauga. Robert offered to take these members back out onto the battlefield after dinner to search out the regimental monuments they wanted to see. He didn’t have to spend that extra time with us, but he gladly did. Wow! That was the extra effort that really made our time with him special. I highly recommend his services to any group or individual who wants to know about the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga.

 

Thank you, Robert! It was a pleasure to spend those two days with you!”

 

Keith A. Chapman

President

Civil War Round Table of Southwest Michigan

St. Joseph, Michigan

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“My group regularly visits battlefields and historic sites. We’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the best guides in the business. Robert Carter is at the very top of them all! His knowledge is outstanding, but his passion is what makes him great. He was delightful, patient, and extremely fun. I highly recommend Robert. He is a great pro and you won’t be sorry.”

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Steve Higdon

Cincinnati, Ohio

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“Prepared, engaging, insightful, and oftentimes humorous are the words I would apply to the tour I was fortunate enough to take with Robert Carter. I was particularly impressed with his depth and breadth of knowledge, not just on the battle itself but on some of the larger, big-picture issues that placed the battle and campaign into a broader context. I walked away very much informed on not just the Battle of Chickamauga, but also the campaign, the battles around Chattanooga, and how important that city was for both the North and the South. His humorous anecdotes added to his narrative, plus the personal stories of the participants brought the battle down to a more human level, making me appreciate that dimension you sometimes don’t get from regular tours. I would very much recommend Mr. Carter if you are looking for a very interesting, informative, and narrative-based tour that enriches one’s understanding of history and its importance to the Civil War and our country as a whole.”

 

Ed Lowe

Colonel US Army (ret.)

Ooltewah, Tennessee

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“In my many visits to Chickamauga over the years I had no idea how much better the experience would be with someone who knows the ground and the deeper stories. Walking this sacred place with Robert Carter gave me new insights and a greater appreciation of this massive struggle.

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He relates personal anecdotes of the participants from privates to generals told on the spot where it happened. He brings the story to life. If you really want to understand Chickamauga and the bravery, valor, and yes, mistakes that occurred there, take a tour with Robert. You will be genuinely glad you did. I was.”

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Joe Hamilton

Douglasville, Georgia

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“To anyone who has an interest in the Battle of Chickamauga and Chattanooga and would like to take a tour, I would like to highly recommend Robert Carter. My family and I took a full-day tour with Robert and we couldn’t have been more pleased. Robert has many years experience guiding at the battlefield, and his many years of teaching experience kept my boys interested

the whole day. If you want an excellent tour with a very knowledgeable guide, then Robert is your man. I recommend him highly!”

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Greg Mueller

Dublin, Ohio

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“Over the past several years I have had three separate tours of the Chickamauga Battlefield with Robert Carter as my personal tour guide. The first time we did a full battlefield tour; the other two times were partial tours focusing on a particular, key (as in turning point) aspect of the battle. Robert’s depth of knowledge regarding this battle, his ability to describe the actions

of the various army corps, regiments, brigades, etc., both Confederate and Union, as well as the actions and orders of their respective commanders, is incredible. The manner in which he takes you through the battle really brings it all to life to the extent that you can almost hear the incredible noise and visualize the chaos and carnage of the battle. And on a personal note,

Robert is one of the most gregarious and enjoyable people I have ever known, and spending a day with him learning about the Battle of Chickamauga was truly a delight. I highly recommend Robert’s Chickamauga tours to anyone. You will not be disappointed.”

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Donny Williams

Carrollton, Georgia

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“My father, my godson, and I have taken numerous Civil War trips. After spending a full day at Chickamauga, we hired Robert Carter for another full day exploring both the Campaign and the park. We were very happy with the depth of knowledge, his enthusiastic presentation, and his patience in getting us up to speed. All three of us enjoyed our time with Robert, and all three of us can recommend him without qualification.

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Here’s an example of why we hired Robert and what we were hoping to learn: while studying the campaign, we could not get a handle from books on the strategic importance of McLemore’s Cove. Robert drove us to Davis’s Crossroads to show us the physical location. With our maps in hand, Robert explained how each army maneuvered into place and why the fighting ended up around the LaFayette Road instead. Understanding this historic context helped us appreciate the tactical decisions made later on.

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You want tactical? This dude can go over each unit’s placement on Snodgrass Hill, from corps all the way down to the interesting individual stories that bring history to life.All three of us greatly enjoyed our time with Robert, and all three of us can recommend him without qualification. Superb!”

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Mark Hommerding

Des Moines, Iowa

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“We want you to know that you were a fantastic tour guide! You did a great job of walking us through the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga sequentially. You also did an excellent job of explaining the reasons for the confusion on the ground, and showing us the natural environment that contributed to the confusion. We are grateful for your encyclopedic

knowledge of the commander’s decisions, orders, successes, and failures.

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We were very grateful that you were able to take us to the spot on the battlefield where our ancestors fought. You were especially knowledgeable about the challenges they faced during the battle. This was a very special feature of the trip. The visits to important locations in Chattanooga were fantastic! The discussions about the events associated with the Battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge were especially memorable. The visit to Chattanooga National Cemetery and Orchard Knob greatly enhanced our appreciation for the sacrifices of the Union as well as the strategic value of Orchard Knob.

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The tour was definitely a five-star experience! We were blessed to have had you as our tour guide.”

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Jeanette, Doug, and Richie Weaver

Sammamish, Washington

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“Through tenacious study, reading, and relentless walking of the Chickamauga Battlefield, Robert Carter has become one of the foremost authorities on this epic battle. His tours are full of information concerning the battle, the officers on the field, and fascinating trivia that will leave visitors to America’s oldest National Military Park wanting more.”

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Tracy Wright

Catoosa County, Georgia, Historian and Educator

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“You can greatly enhance your tour of the famous battlegrounds of Chickamauga and Chattanooga by enlisting Robert Carter as your guide. Go as part of a group or hire him for your own personal visit. Robert knows the lay of all these lands, including the spectacular prominences of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga. He can show you where, how, and why Longstreet’s Corps achieved its breakthrough at Chickamauga, as well as countless other details of these two great battles. Robert has also published two fine books on the battle. Highly recommended!”

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Fryar Calhoun

Commander, United States Coast Guard, ret.

Berkeley, California

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“My father, sister, and I were incredibly fortunate to have hired Robert Carter as a guide for a two-day tour of the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. My father’s great uncle fought at Chickamauga on Snodgrass Hill with the 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Robert was able to customize our tour to highlight the role of the 96th Illinois.

 

Robert toured us around the battlefields, unfolding events chronologically. He is an animated storyteller, who included the lead up to the battles and insight into the personalities of the commanders on the field. He was able to answer our endless questions completely. Robert, the author of two books on Chickamauga, was a detailed and riveting guide.

 

Robert was easy to communicate with and accommodating. My family enjoyed spending two full days with him. We highly recommend Robert’s services to anyone interested in acquiring a full understanding of the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga.”

 

Deborah T. Haynes

Norwich, Vermont

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“I had the distinct pleasure to participate in two of Robert Carter’s battlefield tours and to have read both of his books on the topic of the Battle of Chickamauga.Having more than a passing interest and knowledge concerning Civil War history and the Battle of Chickamauga, I often forgo group led tours on the battlefield. Yet, I am SO thankful that I participated in the tours led by Robert. I have read a number of articles and books concerning the battle and have walked the battlefield more times than I can recall. Robert shared facts I did not know and had me viewing the battle through a “different lens.” His tours and his books are entertaining, informative, and professional. There is a great take-away from both!

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Robert does not “talk down” to the battlefield novice and offers interesting views to the battlefield “veteran.” Robert holds one’s attention. From the novice to the well read, all are in for a true treat! By touring the battlefield with Robert and reading Robert’s books, it is obvious that he has spent hours academically researching the battle, walking the battlefield, and working with historians and park rangers to fully understand one of the most intriguing and confusing battles of the Civil War.

 

I highly recommend taking a tour with Robert Carter. It will be a day you will long remember!”

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Lee Shell

English, M.A./American History

Athletic Director

Ringgold High School, Georgia

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