truth of the report.

He was also informed that no troops

As a

had left the Army of Northern Virginia for the West. matter of fact, Longstreet's Corps had been for four days on its way South, and was nearing its junction with Bragg.

Crittenden's great activity east of the Chickamauga, and in the vicinity of Ringgold, where he was aided by Wilder's and Minty's mounted force fresh from their feint on the north side of the Tennessee, had enabled him to concentrate his corps at Lee and Gordon's. Thomas stretched toward him from Stevens' Gap, holding on to the latter point while awaiting the arrival of McCook's Corps, which Rosecrans had ordered to withdraw to Lookout Mountain, and move in haste along its top to Stevens' Gap. McCook, not being able to assure himself that there was a practicable road on the summit of the mountain, felt more confident of effecting a prompt junction with Thomas by recrossing Lookout to its western base, and taking the road which he knew thence to Stevens' Gap. After crossing the mountain, he heard of a good road along the top, and directed Davis' and Johnson's Divisions to reascend and move in haste to Stevens' Gap. These additional crossings of Lookout delayed the junction with Gen. Thomas until dusk of the 16th. Stanley's Cavalry Corps, now under the command of Gen. R. B. Mitchell, Stanley being sick, came into McLemore's Cove through Dougherty's Gap simultaneously with McCook's Corps. Meantime Crittenden had been moved toward Thomas, and put in strong position on the southern spur of Missionary Ridge to await the arrival of McCook. On the 17th Thomas moved toward Crittenden, and on the evening of that day the three corps of Rosecrans' army were within supporting distance.

On the night of the 17th Bragg issued the following order for crossing his army over the Chickamauga, turning up the stream on the opposite side, and attacking at Lee and Gordon's, the movement to begin at sunrise:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.

IN THE FIELD, LEET'S TAN YARD, September 18, 1863. 1. Johnson's column (Hood's) on crossing at or near Reed's Bridge will turn to the left by the most practicable route, and sweep up the Chickamauga toward Lee and Gordon's Mill.

2. Walker, crossing at Alexander's Bridge, will unite in this move, and push vigorously on the enemy's flank and rear in the same direction.

3. Buckner, crossing at Thedford's Ford, will join in the movement to the left, and press the enemy up the stream from Polk's front at Lee and Gordon's Mill.

4. Polk will press his forces to the front of Lee and Gordon's Mill, and if met by too much resistance to cross, will bear to the right and cross at Dalton's Ford, or at Thedford's, as may be necessary, and join in the attack wherever the enemy may be.

5. Hill will cover our left flank from an advance of the enemy from the Cove, and by pressing the cavalry in his front, ascertain if the enemy is re-inforcing at Lee and Gordon's Mill, in which event he will attack them in flank.

6. Wheeler's Cavalry will hold the gaps in Pigeon Mountain and cover our rear and left, and bring up stragglers.

7. All teams, etc., not with troops should go toward Ringgold and Dalton, beyond Taylor's Ridge. All cooking should be done at the trains. Rations, when cooked, will be forwarded to the troops.

8. The above movements will be executed with the utmost promptness, vigor, and persistence. By command of Gen. Bragg.

GEORGE WM. BRENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

The narrow roads and the stubborn resistance of Minty's Cavalry Brigade from Pea Vine Creek to Reed's Bridge, and of Wilder's Mounted Brigade at Alexander's Bridge, also at

Reed's, in aiding Minty, so delayed Bragg's coluinns that no general attack was possible on the 18th.

On the night of that day, Crittenden's Corps was returned to Lee and Gordon's Mill, and took position along the La Fayette Road facing east toward Bragg's advance. During the same night, the main body of the Confederate army completed its crossing, and early on the 19th formed in line of battle confronting Crittenden, and at 7 o'clock stood ready to deliver its attack. Five divisions were thus formed, and two others were moving into position to drive Rosecrans' left back into McLemore's Cove upon his center and right, which were still supposed to be in the vicinity of Pond Spring and Stevens' Gap. Three brigades of Forrest's Cavalry had been sent at daylight from Alexander's House to Jay's Mill to guard Bragg's right and rear against Gordon Granger's forces further down the Chickamauga and in the vicinity of McAfee's Church.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, just as the Confederate lines of battle were about to advance on Crittenden's position, furious fighting broke out at Jay's Mill, two miles to Bragg's right and rear. The cause was not understood. Gen. Forrest soon appeared asking for infantry. The nearest brigade (Wilson's) was given him. Shortly after, he asked for and received another (Ector's). Then Walker's Division was dispatched as the resounding battle increased in intensity. Next, Bragg's reserve (Cheatham's Division) was hurried to the left, and soon after Stewart's Division was sent forward to assist this reserve. Bragg's plan of battle had been replaced by these unexpected movements which the emergency demanded. The explanation of the changed conditions is simple.

During the night Rosecrans had inverted his army, and soon after sunrise, Crittenden's Corps, which was the left at sundown, had become the right; Thomas, with the head of his column near Reed's Bridge, the left; and the Union army was between Bragg and Chattanooga.

Toward evening of the 18th, Thomas' Corps had left Pond Spring, followed by McCook's, moving toward Crittenden. As soon as dusk obscured the columns, they were pressed rapidly to the left. Upon reaching Crawfish Springs, Negley's Division was turned off to Glass' Mill to guard the flank of the movement, and Thomas with his three remaining divisions pushed on all night by way of Widow Glenn's to the La Fayette Road at the Kelly Farm. Here Baird's Division took position at daylight, while Brannan's, at sunrise, without taking time for breakfast, moved rapidly northward to McDonald's, then turned eastward toward Reed's Bridge, struck Forrest at Jay's Mill, at half after 7 o'clock, immediately became hotly engaged and opened the battle of Chickamauga. With Rosecrans between Bragg and Chattanooga, the dawning struggle resolved itself into a direct battle for that city.

CHAPTER IV.

BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA-FIRST DAY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1863.

Before considering the movements of the opposing forces, it is well to remember that at the time of the battle, a number of the present fields were woods.

Beginning on the La Fayette Road at McDonald's, the present field east of that and north of the Ringgold Road was partially in forest.

The clearing on the east side of the road south of Brotherton's and north of Viniard's was thick woods.

The grove in the field directly east of Viniard's was dense, and extended from the present eastern limit to a point on the La Fayette Road opposite the house. There was also a strip of timber along the west of the road in the vicinity of the Heg Monument.

The tract, a quarter of a mile south of Viniard's and east of the road, was open forest, as was part of the fields on the west side near Lee and Gordon's Mill.

The northern portion of the Dyer field, about the old blacksmith shop, and the slope above it and north to the foot of the crest upon which Harker fought, was woods. The point

of woods which surrounds the Snodgrass well at the foot of the latter crest extended with its present width to the forest east of it.

The Bloody Pond was surrounded with forest which extended eastward to a line running from the Widow Glenn s to the point of the woods which project into the present field south-east of Lytle Hill.

Riding eastward on the Brotherton-Jay's Mill Road, after