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divisions were under orders to proceed to the left。 About this time Lieutenant…Colonel Von Schrader of Thomas's staff； who had been riding the lines； reported to Thomas that there were no troops on Reynolds's right； and a long gap existed between Reynolds and Wood； not aware that Brannan's division although not in front line was still in position； retired in the woods a short distance back； but not out of line。 This information was at once sent by Thomas to Rosecrans； who immediately directed Wood to close up the line on Reynolds and support him； and sent word to Thomas that he would be supported if it required all of McCook's and Crittenden's corps to do so。
On receipt of this orderimpossible for him to execute literallyWood undertook to carry it out by withdrawing his entire command from the front； leaving a gap of two brigades in the line of battle； moving to the rear past Brannan's division； to where Reynolds was posted in line。 Into the gap thus made by Wood； Davis attempted to throw sufficient force to hold that portion of the line thus vacated； by posting his reserve brigade。
Just at this time the order of battle on the enemy's lines had reached Longstreet's command； who； seeing this gap； ordered his troops； formed in heavy columns； to advance。 Into this gap there poured Stewart's； Hood's； Kershaw's； Johnson's； and Hindman's divisions； dashing impetuously forward； with Preston's large division as supports。 Our right； disabled as it was； was speedily turned； the line of battle on the enemy's front extending nearly from Brannan's centre to a point far to the right of the Widow Glenn's house； and from the front of that portion of the line Sheridan's brigades had just been taken。 McCook； to resist this fierce assault； had only Carlin's and Heg's brigades of Davis's division and Laibold's brigade of Sheridan's division。 On finding the rebel troops pressing through the space vacated by Wood； McCook ordered Lytle and Walworth to change front and return to assist in repelling the enemy。 Wilder and Harrison closed in on Sheridan with their commands as speedily as possible； and aided in resisting the enemy's attack。 Davis； being overpowered by the immense numbers of the rebels； was compelled to retire to save his command。 Laibold was in turn driven back in confusion； and the tide of battle then struck Lytle and Walworth； who contended nobly against the overpowering columns； and for a time checked the advance of the enemy on their immediate front。 The rebel troops swarming in； turned the left of these brigades； and they were compelled to withdraw to escape being surrounded。 At this point the gallant Lytle was killed。 Here our army lost several thousand prisoners； forty guns； and a large number of wagon…trains。
Once more the right of the army was broken all to pieces； and five brigades of that wing cut off entirely from the rest of the command。 In the meantime Bragg； determined to turn Thomas's left； and cut him off from Chattanooga； was making his preparations for a second assault on his right in heavier force。 Bragg directed this movement in person。 Extending his right by moving Breckinridge's division beyond its former position； he ordered Walker's corps in line on Breckinridge's left； and connected to Cleburne's right on the left of Walker。 Bragg's plan was for Breckenridge to advance； wheeling to the left； and thus envelop Thomas's exposed left flank； striking it in the rear。 Breckinridge； advancing； was soon in position on the Chattanooga road； partly in rear of Thomas。 But he was now detached from the main body of the rebel troops engaged in the movement； and； making a bold assault on the rear； he was here met by the three reserve brigades under Van Deveer； Willich； and Grose； and hurled in rout back on his original line。 On reaching it he there found the other troops that had taken part in this charge； and that they had been repulsed at every point by Baird's； Johnson's； and Palmer's divisions。
Beatty； just prior to the repulse of the enemy on the left by Thomas； applied in person to the latter for at least a brigade to support him in the attack of the rebels he was then expecting。 Thomas sent an aid to hurry Sheridan up。 This officer returned soon afterward； and reported that he had encountered a heavy force of the enemy in the rear of Reynolds's position； which was advancing slowly； with a strong line of skirmishers thrown out； that he had met Harker； who； with his brigade posted on a ridge a short distance to Reynolds's rear； was watching this force approaching； and was of the opinion that these troops were Sheridan's coming to Thomas's assistance。 Thomas then rode forward to determine the character of the advancing troops； which he soon did； and ordered Harker to open fire upon them； resisting their farther advance。 Thomas then selected the crest of the commanding ridge； known as 〃Horseshoe Ridge；〃 on which to place Brannan's division in line； whichon Longstreet's sweeping McCook's lines from the righthad been struck in the flank on the line of battle。 On the spurs to the rear he posted his artillery。 On Thomas leaving Harker； the latter opening fire with skirmishers； then posted his right to connect with Brannan's division and portions of Beatty's and Stanley's brigades of Negley's division； which had been ordered over to his point from the extreme left。 Thomas then went to the crest of the hill on the front； where he met Wood with his division； who confirmed him in the opinion that the troops advancing were those of the enemy。 Thomas was not aware at that time of the extent of the disaster to the right。 He ordered Wood to place his division in line with Brannan's； and to resist as long as possible the advance of the enemy。 On receipt of this order Wood immediately threw his troops on the left of Brannan； and had barely time to form his lines when the enemy was upon them in a heavy； fierce assault like those early in the day。 This； however； was handsomely repulsed； the enemy charging again and again with fresh troops； but their efforts were successfully resisted。 These were Bushrod Johnson's men； with Patton Anderson's brigade on his right； which had been formed on the brow of the secondary spur of the ridge； and at about two o'clock moved forward； making a most determined assault on our forces。 Part of his line reached the crest held by Wood； but was hurled back to its original position under as determined a counter…charge。
Away off at Rossville Gordon Granger with three brigades of reserve corps was stationed。 He had heard during the morning heavy firing from the front； in the direction of Thomas； and as the firing increased in volume and intensity on the right； he judged that the enemy were pressing him hard。 He then determined； although contrary to his orders； to gather what troops he could and go to Thomas's assistance。 Ordering Whittaker's and Mitchell's brigades under the immediate command of Steedman to move to his front； he placed Dan McCook's brigade at the McAfee church； to cover the Ringgold road。 Thomas was at this time heavily engaged on 〃Horseshoe Ridge；〃 between the La Fayette and the Dry Valley roads； about three miles and a half from Granger's headquarters。