Reed's, in aiding Minty, so delayed Bragg's columns 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 Bragg's plan of battle had been replaced by these unexpected movements which the emergency demanded.

simple.

The explanation of the changed conditions is

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 num ber 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

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