How Important was Chickamauga?

It goes without saying that Chickamauga was one of the toughest battles of the war (as was Stones River). But it remains to be seen as to how important it really was, except insofar as it set the stage for Chattanooga and Grant’s rise to supreme command. Was it simply another one of those missed opportunities that we hear so much about when it comes to the Confederates, or was there something more to it?

You tell me.