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and 8th； and took up position from Lee and Gordon's Mills to La Fayette； on the road running south from Chattanooga； with the front to the east side of Lookout Mountain； and on the east bank of Chickamauga Creek； establishing his headquarters at the former place。
The positions of our detached corps was fully known to Bragg on the 8th。 Learning of Negley's movement of the 9th into McLemore's cove； Bragg rightly interpreted it to mean that a hurried pursuit was being made after his force； under the idea that he was in full retreat。 With his own force concentrated in front of the centre； Bragg at once saw how Rosecrans had exposed the corps of his army to be attacked and defeated in detail； and that evening he gave order to Hindman to prepare his division to move against Negley； and ordered Hill to send or take Cleburne's division； join Hindman； and immediately move upon Negley。 On receipt of these orders； Hill replied that his part of the movement was impracticable； as Cleburne was sick； and that both gapsDug and Catlett'shad been closed by felling timber which would require twenty…four hours to remove。 Hindman having marched during the night of the 9th some ten miles； was now in position； some three miles from Negley in the cove。 Bragg not wishing to lose so favorable an opportunity of striking his opponent's force； ordered Buckner with his command to move from Anderson and join Hindman in the cove； which he did during the afternoon of the 10th。 After these commands had united； the commanders held a consultation and determined that a change in the plan of operations should be made。 Bragg having removed his headquarters to La Fayette； 〃so as to secure more prompt and decided action in the movements ordered against the enemy's centre；〃 now directed Polk to send his remaining division to support Hindman during the operations in the cove。 Despatching an officer to Bragg with a report as to this change of plans； Hindman and Cleburne waited his return。 Bragg refused to make any change； and sent a verbal order 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 fin