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Bragg； finding that his plan of battle was discovered by his opponent； and that the latter intended to dispute to the end for the possession of the Rossville and Chattanooga road； ordered Polk to cross the creek with his remaining division at the nearest ford and to assume command in person on their right。 Hill with his corps was also ordered to move across the Chickamauga below Lee and Gordon's Mills and to join the line on the right。
The rebels made another desperate assault at about half past two o'clock on our right。 Hood's corps； with Bushrod Johnson's division from the enemy's centre； moved forward in heavy masses； assaulting furiously Reynolds's and Van Cleve's divisions。 Here they met with fearful loss from the heavy infantry and artillery fire； portions of six batteries opening with canister on their advancing columns； but still on they came。 Soon the roar of battle was heard approaching near to the Widow Glenn's house； where Rosecrans's headquarters were。 Our right centre now was pierced and the enemy was on the La Fayette road。 Negley； from the right under McCook； was immediately ordered up with his division； Brannan from Thomas's left joining him。 These two divisions were at once sent in to the fight。 Moving rapidly forward to the attack； with cheer on cheer； they hurled back Hood and Johnson； steadily driving them until darkness ended the combat； our troops re…occupying their old positions。
Thomas； wishing to reform his lineswhich had become greatly extended in driving the rebelsand concentrate them on more commanding ground in the rear preparatory to the engagement to be renewed on the morrow； selected a new position for Baird's and Johnson's divisions； the former on the extreme left。 These positions were designated to them and were occupied at once。 Palmer and Reynolds were ordered into position in line on the right of Johnson； with Brannan to the rear and right of Reynolds as reserve。 While these movements were being made； Cleburne with his fresh division of Hill's corps； who had been ordered to the extreme right by Bragg； under orders to attack immediately； advancing in full force； supported by Cheatham； assaulted Johnson first and then Baird with tremendous force。 The onset was so determined that some confusion in the line resulted； but in a few minutes our troops rallied and the enemy was repulsed in fine style。 This conflict lasted for some time after dark with heavy losses on both sides； the heavy firing lighting up the struggle。 At this point our artillery was again used with good effect。 Wilder's brigade had occupied a position during the day on the La Fayette road about a mile north of Lee and Gordon's Mills； with Minty close by。 The latter was now ordered to report to Granger at Rossville； to hold in check the enemy's cavalry operating on their right。 Granger； with his reserves protected the roads to the rear toward Rossville and covered our left flank。
With night the fighting ceased； and the troops； worn out after the marching of the night beforemoving from the right to the extreme leftand the heavy fighting of the day； slept on their arms； awaiting the heavier conflict of the morrow。 Though weary； the troops were in most excellent spirits； and confident of final victory。 It was known throughout the army that we had been fighting during the day largely superior forces。 That Bragg had been heavily re…enforced from Mississippi and East Tennessee； and by Longstreet's command from Virginia； and that the enemy was fighting most desperately。 Bragg's great aim had been to conceal his main attack on our left by the feint on the centre； and supposed that our centre on the morning of the 19th was still at Lee and Gordon's Mills。 Presuming this to be the case； Bragg had massed heavily on our left； intending to repeat his movement made on our right at Murfreesboro。 His plan contemplated the breaking of our left； sweeping it before him in broken masses； crushing our centre； and destroying our right； and then occupying the road to Chattanooga in force he would have the Federal army completely in his power。 The movement made by Croxton compelled Bragg to open the battle in heavy force on the left； before his troops had secured the positions assigned them； and then； to his surprise； he found that during the night our left had been greatly prolonged； and that Rosecrans was in force； occupying a position far to the north of what he had been led to expect。 During the night Bragg ordered up by forced marches all reinforcements arriving by railroad。 Three brigades of fresh troops reached the enemy during the night； and were placed in line early in the morning of the 20th。 These； with the troops ordered late the day before from the east bank of the Chickamauga； gave Bragg a large number of fresh troops； which he placed in line of battle on the 20th。 During the night Bragg summoned his generals to meet him at his camp fire； and there gave them orders for the following day。 He divided his entire force into two commands； to which he assigned his senior Lieutenant…Generals Longstreet and Polk。 The formerwho had reported during the nightto the left； composed of six divisions where his own troops were stationed； and the latter continuing in his command of five divisions on the right。 Bragg's plan of battle for the 20th was for Polk to assault in force； with Breckinridge's division on his extreme right at day…dawn； when the attack was to be taken up rapidly in succession by the divisions to his left。 The left wing was to await the movement on the right； and when the attack was made there to take it up promptly。 When the entire line became engaged it was to move forward vigorously and persistently throughout its entire length； the whole army wheeling on Longstreet's left as a pivot； but constantly pressing our left to get possession of the road to Chattanooga。
The battle of the 19th was a series of brilliant charges and counter…charges； in favor of first one side and then the other。 During the day our troops； at times broken and driven by the enemy； always promptly rallied and drove the rebels in disorder to their lines by brilliant and effective dashes； moving to the attack with vigor and determination。 In the main the results of the day were in our favor。 Bragg had been forced to fight before he was in position； and had been foiled in his attempt to secure the roads； which on the evening of the 19th remained even more securely in our possession than before； fully protected on both flanks by our cavalry。 As this was the object of the severe conflict of the 19th； that day's fighting was a success for our arms； both the Rossville and the Dry Valley roads being firmly held by our troops that night。
But the battle was not yet over。 During the night Rosecrans assembled his corps commanders at his headquarters at the Widow Glenn's house； and after a consultation with them on the state and condition of their commands； gave orders for the disposition and movements of the troops for the next day。 The divisions of Thomas's corps； with those which had re…enforced him； to hold the road to Rossville； in the same position as then occupied by them in line of battle； with Brannan in reserve。 McCook； with Sheridan's and Davis's divisions was to maintain his picket line until it was attacked and driven back。 His left divisionDavis'swas to close on Thomas； and to have his right refused covering the position at Widow Glenn's house。 Crittenden was to hold two divisions； Wood's and Van Cleve's； in reserve near where the line of McCook and Thomas joined to reinforce the front line as needed。
During the night Thomas received word from Baird on the extreme left； that the left of his division did not reach the road to Reed's Ridge； as had been anticipated。 Thomas immediately requested that Negley's division be ordered to report to him to take position on Baird's left and rear； securing this flank from assault。 At daylight Rosecrans； riding the line； ordered Negley to join Thomas at once； and directed McCook to relieve Negley； who was on the front line。 He also ordered McCook to adjust his right； as it was too far out on the crest； and to move Davis's division to the left； and close it up compactly。 Crittenden was also directed to move his two divisions to the left and Palmer； on Thomas's line； was instructed to close up his front。 On reaching the left Rosecrans was convinced that the first attack would be made on that flank； and returned at once to the right to hurry Negley over to Thomas。 Arriving there he found that this division had not moved； and that McCook's troops were not ready to relieve him。 Negley was then ordered to send his reserve brigade under John Beatty； and to follow with the other two when relieved from the front。 Impatient at McCook's delay in relieving Negley； and anticipating momentarily the attack of the enemy on our left； Rosecrans ordered Crittenden to move Wood's division to the front； to fill the position occupied by Negley of which McCook was notified by Rosecrans in person。 Rosecrans； when first at McCook's line； was greatly dissatisfied with McCook's position。 He now called McCook's attention to the defects in his line； that it was too light； and that it was weakened by b