passing the Brock field on the right, the growth of young trees on the left marks an area which was slashed timber. The present clearing beyond it through which the road passes was mostly woods, as was a considerable portion of the flelds north of the Winfrey House in the vicinity of the shell monument to Baldwin. The field back of this pyramid was in woods, and a considerable part of that in front of it, while to the right of the road the clearing extended only to the line of the present fence running from a point near the Reed House (Winfrey's) parallel to the road.

The next long field entered in riding toward Jay's Mill was all forest.

The extensive field adjoining the site of Jay's Mill was woods beyond a point two hundred yards or so from the mill. Most of the open ground to the left of the road, riding from Jay's Mill to Alexander's, was timber, and a considerable part to the right of it.

The first division of Confederate troops to arrive on the battle field was Bushrod Johnson's. His column consisted of his own three brigades, and that of Robertson of Hood's Division temporarily serving with them, three batteries, Forrest and his cavalry escort, and eight pieces of the reserve artillery. Gen. Johnson left Ringgold early in the morning of the 18th, and encountered Minty's Cavalry Brigade at Pea Vine Creek three miles east of Reed's Bridge about noon. By the stubborn resistance of Minty, aided at last by a part of Wilder's Mounted Brigade of Infantry, Johnson was delayed in crossing until 3 P. M., and his line did not reach Jay's Mill until 4 o'clock. Here Gen. Hood arrived and took command. The column then moved toward Lee and Gordon's. Both Minty and Wilder retired from Alexander's before it to the crest next east of the Viniard field, where Wilder bivouacked in close contact with Hood's force.

Walthall's Brigade of Liddell's Division, in attempting to force a crossing at Alexander's Bridge on the afternoon of the 18th in the face of Wilder's Brigade, lost 105 men in captur

ing the bridge, only to find that Wilder's men had dismantled it under fire and rendered it useless. Liddell's troops then moved down the river a mile, crossed at Byram's Ford, and, following Hood's column, bivouacked about three-quarters of a mile west of Alexander's. During the night of the 18th, and the early morning of the 19th, the divisions of Stewart, Preston, Cheatham, and Walker, and the remainder of Hood's Division, crossed the river and were formed for battle about 7 o'clock.

The forests effectually concealed the movements of each army from the other. At the hour just named they were thus disposed upon the field. Buckner's Corps of Stewart's and Preston's Divisions was on the left of Bragg's line near Hall's Ford, at the present observation tower. Bushrod Johnson's Division was in the center, and Hood's (McLaw's) Division on its right. Cheatham's Division was the reserve, and Walker's Corps, of Liddell's and Walker's Divisions, was coming up from the rear to take its place on the right of the front line. The columns faced the La Fayette Road, a thousand yards distant, and were formed to attack Crittenden's Corps, whose three divisions lay along the west side of that road with the right of their line at Lee and Gordon's Mill. Forrest's Cavalry was near Jay's Mill. At that hour Crittenden was supposed by Bragg to be the left of Rosecrans' army.

But Thomas' and McCook's Corps, the former leading, had been marching the entire night from McLemore's Cove along the Crawfish Springs Road toward its junction with the La Fayette Road at Kelly's Farm. At 7 o'clock, Brannan's Division had passed this point as far as McDonald's, and, turning there to the right, had reached the vicinity of Jay's Mill in close proximity to Forrest's Cavalry, then in line at the latter point.

Baird's Division was formed between Kelly's and Poe's, facing east, ready to support Brannan. Steedman's Division of Granger's Corps, which had bivouacked near Jay's Mill,

and skirmished there with Forrest's picket line at daylight, was being withdrawn to Rossville. Reynolds' Division was following after Thomas' column on the Crawfish Springs Road, and McCook's Corps had reached the vicinity of Crawfish Springs. Negley's Division of Thomas' Corps was near Glass' Mill, confronting Breckinridge's Division on the opposite bank.

At 7:30 A. M., Croxton's Brigade, the right of Brannan's Division, struck Forrest close to Jay's Mill, and was at once sharply engaged. A half-hour later, Van Derveer's Brigade, on the left and rear of Croxton, moved rapidly forward, and the fighting became severe along the lines of both brigades. Connell's Brigade supported these on the front line. Thus opened the battle of Chickamauga, two miles and a half to the right and rear of the ground on which Bragg had expected to deliver it.

Nearly at the same hour, J. Beatty's and Stanley's Brigades of Negley's Division were engaged with Helm's Brigade of Breckinridge's Division at Glass' Mill, on the Confederate. left, nine miles distant. This was mainly an artillery contest. It lasted till about 11 o'clock, when both sides were withdrawn, and started for the center of battle.

Forrest's troops fought dismounted, and with such regular lines that those opposed to them supposed they were engaged with infantry. The battle had opened with that desperation on both sides which characterized it throughout. Forrest soon went in person for support. Wilson's Infantry Brigade of Walker's Division was found near Alexander's and rushed forward. It came into action on Croxton's right flank, and his line was faced south to meet it. Forrest's right was soon struck by Van Derveer's advance, and Forrest went for more infantry. He found Ector's Brigade of Walker's Division west of Alexander's and hurried it to Van Derveer's front. Before infantry support arrived, the cavalry had lost over a quarter of those engaged. Croxton and Wilson fought fiercely, and with varying success. Van Derveer cleared