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r to Hindman to proceed at once to carry out his previous instruction。 Bragg at the same time sent written orders by courier to Hindman； notifying him of the movements of our forces； that Polk had been directed to cover his rear； and ordered him to attack and force his way through Negley to La Fayette at the earliest hour in the morning； and adds 〃Cleburne will attack in front the moment your guns are heard。〃 Walker's reserve corps was also ordered to move promptly； join Cleburne's division at Dug Gap and unite in the attack。 All obstructions were removed from Dug and Catlett's Gaps； and Breckenridge's division of Hill's corps was kept in position south of La Fayette to check any movement of our troops from that direction； thus putting 30；000 troops in position to crush Negley and Baird。 Bragg shortly after daylight joined Cleburne； where they waited nearly all day for Hindman's guns to openwhen Cleburne was to attackon the flank and rear of Negley and Baird's divisions。 After waiting long past noon in great anxiety for Hindman's attack； about the middle of the afternoon his first gun was heard。 Cleburne at once pressed forward and discovered that Negley had fallen back to Steven's Gap。
Bragg； finding his attempt against Thomas's corps a failure； then determined to hurl his columns upon Crittenden's divided corps； approaching from Chattanooga； by withdrawing the troops engaged in the movement on Thomas's command to La Fayette； and directing Polk's and Walker's corps to move immediately in the direction of Lee and Gordon's Mills。 Bragg knew Crittenden's corps was divided； but supposed only one division had been sent to Ringgold。 At six o'clock on the evening of the 12th； Bragg wrote again to Polk； notifying him of Crittenden's position of the 11th； and stated： 〃This presents you a fine opportunity of striking Crittenden in detail； and I hope you will avail yourself of it at daylight to…morrow。 This division crushed； and the others are yours。 We can then turn on the force in the cove。 Wheeler's cavalry will move on Wilder so as to cover your right。 I shall be delighted to hear of your success。〃 Later in the evening two additional orders were issued to Polk； urging him to attack promptly at 〃day…dawn；〃 on the 13th； that our army was concentrating； and that it should be quick and decided。〃 At eleven o'clock that night Polk sent a dispatch stating that he had taken a strong position for defense and asked that he be heavily re…enforced。 Bragg sent him an immediate order not to defer his attack； as his command was numerically superior to the opposing force； and told him that to secure success； prompt and rapid movements on his part were necessary。 Early on the morning of the 13th； Bragg； at the head of Buckner's command； went to the front； and found no advance had been made by Polk as ordered； and that Crittenden had united his forces and recrossed the Chickamauga。
Again the attempt to strike our army in detail had failed； and now Bragg gave orders to his commanders to concentrate along the east bank of Chickamauga in position for battle； and as soon as his reinforcements under Longstreet from Virginia were up to attack with the entire command。 Wheeler； with two divisions of cavalry on the extreme left； was ordered to engage the attention of Thomas in McLemore's Cove； covering the main movement of the rebel army； Forrest with his own and Pegram's divisions of cavalry covered the right and front。 Bragg ordered B。 R。 Johnson's brigade from Ringgold； where he had been stationed protecting the railroad； to take position near Reed's bridge on the extreme right of his line。 Walker's corps was then formed on Johnson's left； opposite Alexander's Bridge。 Buckner's corps was formed on the left of Walker； near Ledford's Ford。 Polk's corps was placed in line opposite Lee and Gordon's Mills on Buckner's left； with Hill on the extreme left。 Two brigades that had just arrived from Mississippi were placed under Johnson on the right； making his command a division of three brigades strong。 To this division in the earlier movements three brigades of Longstreet's corps from Virginia were temporarily attached。 On the 18th； Hood reporting； was placed in command of this column on the right。
The rebel army on the 17th were in position； and that evening Bragg issued his orders for his forces to cross the Chickamauga； commencing the movement at six o'clock on the morning of the 18th。 Bragg's plan of battle for the 18th was for the column under Johnsonlater under Hoodto cross in force at Reed's Bridge； rapidly turn to the left by the most practicable route； and sweep up the Chickamauga toward Lee and Gordon's Mills。 Walker's corps next on the left； crossing at Alexandria Bridge； was to unite in the movement； pressing our army vigorously on flank and rear； in the same direction。 Buckner； crossing at Ledford's Ford； was to join in the movement to the left； pressing our army back up the stream from Polk's front。 The latter to push forward to the front at Lee and Gordon's Mills； and if not able to cross there； to bear to the right and cross at Dalton's Ford or Alexander's Bridge； and unite in the attack wherever he could find an opposing force。 Hill； to cover the left flank of the rebel army from an advance by our forces in the cove； to ascertain by pressing his cavalry to the front if we were reinforcing our corps at Lee and Gordon's Mills； and if so to attack on the flank。 This plan contemplated the destruction of the left of our army； the seizing of the La Fayette road； and； if possible； occupying and holding the roads in Chattanooga Valley； cutting off all access from Chattanooga。 These movements were not executed as rapidly as was contemplated by Bragg； owing to the resistance made by our cavalry and Wilder's mounted infantry； and the difficulties arising from bad and narrow roads。 Johnson was repeatedly urged to commence the movement on the right； but he delayed his advance until late in the afternoon； when Hood arrived and effected the crossing。 Walker moved up to Alexander's Bridge； at which point Wilder hotly contested his crossing； and finally broke up the bridge。 Walker moved down the creek to Byron's Ford； where he crossed and joined Hood on the right during the night。 On Walker's crossing； Wilder was compelled to fall back。
The concentration of our army continued on the 13th； Thomas held his position of the 12th； with Negley's； Baird's； and Brannan's divisions remaining in camp； waiting the arrival of McCook； who had been ordered to close up to the left。 Reynolds's division was concentrated on the road from Cooper's or Frick's Gap to Catlett's Gap； and the next day moved forward and took position at Pond Spring； with his two infantry brigades； and was joined here by Wilder。 Reynolds sent Turchin to make a reconnoissance with the Ninety…second Illinois mounted infantry； to the mouth of Catlett's Gap； driving the rebel cavalry pickets from Chickamauga Creek to the gap； where he found the enemy posted with strong reserves。 Brannan on the same day reconnoitered the position of the enemy toward Dug Gap； sending a brigade to Chickamauga Creek； east of Lee's Mills； one mile to the right and south of Reynolds； at Pond Spring。 Turchin made another reconnoissance on the 16th toward Catlett's Gap； and found the enemy strongly posted there with infantry and artillery。 The next day Thomas moved his entire corps and closed upon Crittenden's right along Chickamauga Creek； and was joined at night by McCook on his right。 The four divisions of Thomas's command on the afternoon of the 18h moved to the left to Crawfish Springs。 Here Rosecrans； anticipating the movement of Bragg to secure the road to Chattanooga； and recognizing the importance of holding it； ordered Thomas with his corps to march on the cross…road leading by the Widow Glenn's to the Chattanooga and La Fayette road； and take position on that road near Kelly's farm； connecting with Crittenden's corps on his right at Gordon's Mills。 During the entire night of the 18th the troops of Thomas's corps were moving to the left； and at daylight on the 19th the head of the column reached Kelly's farm； Baird's division in the advance； taking position at the forks of the road； facing toward Reed's and Alexander's Bridges over the Chickamauga。 Wilder had been driven across the State road to the heights east of Widow Glenn's house the evening before； by the advance in force of the enemy over these bridges； and Baird's right rested close to Wilder's brigade。 Baird's division was closely followed by Brannan； who was placed in position on the left of Baird； on the two roads leading to the bridges。
Orders were received by McCook at midnight on the 13th； directing two divisions of his corps to move to Thomas's support； and that he send his train back under guard of his remaining division。 McCook moved his command； by way of Valley Head； up the mountain at Alpine on the night of the 13th； and down on the 14th into Lookout Valley； except one brigade from each division forming his train guard under command of Lytle； encamped at Little River in the mountains。 Sheridan's marched down Lookout Valley to Johnson's Crook； while Johnson's and Davis's divisions were sent from Valley head on t