the army of the cumberland-第42章

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lier　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　the　direct　road　to　Stevens's　Gap。　　General　Lytle　was　ordered　to　make　a　reconnoissance　with　two　brigades　toward　Dougherty's　Gap　at　the　head　of　McLemore's　Cove；　and　on　the　night　of　the　18th　General　Lytle　joining　the　corps　with　two　of　his　brigades；　McCook's　command　was　closed　up　on　the　Fourteenth　Corps；　except　Post's　brigade　of　Davis's　division；　ordered　by　General　Rosecrans　to　hold　Stevens's　Gap　at　all　hazards。

Crittenden　on　the　13th；　under　orders　from　headquarters；　posted　Wood's　division　in　a　strong　position　at　Lee　and　Gordon's　Mills；　under　orders　to　resist　any　advance　of　the　enemy　to　last；　and　in　case　of　extremity；　if　Granger　was　not　in　position　to　support；　then　to　fall　back　to　some　point　where　he　could　guard　the　road　to　Chattanooga　and　the　one　around　the　point　of　Lookout　Mountain；　and　hold　both　roads；　as　long　as　he　had　a　man　under　him。　　The　next　day　Crittenden　moved　the　two　remaining　divisions　of　his　corps　to　a　position　on　the　southern　spur　of　Missionary　Ridge；　his　right　communicating　with　Thomas；　where　he　was　to　remain；　covering　the　road　in　Chattanooga　Valley。　　Finding　no　movement　of　the　enemy　on　his　front；　on　the　15th　Crittenden　was　ordered　to　return　with　his　command　and　take　position　near　Crawfish　Spring；　with　Van　Cleve　on　the　left　and　Palmer　on　the　right。　　During　the　day　Minty　with　the　cavalry　made　an　extended　reconnoissance　on　the　front；　finding　the　enemy　in　force　at　all　points。　Wood；　holding　position　on　Chickamauga　Creek；　at　Lee　and　Gordon's　Mills；　on　the　morning　of　the　18th　reported　the　enemy　advancing　with　strong　line　of　skirmishers　on　his　left　and　asked　for　supports。　　Van　Cleve　was　placed　on　Wood's　left　and　Palmer　then　took　Van　Cleve's　position　on　Wood's　right。　　Wilder　in　the　afternoon　reported　Minty's　cavalry　driven　back　after　being　re…enforced　with　two　of　his　regiments；　that　the　enemy　was　flanking　him　and　that　he　would　fall　back　on　Wood。　　Palmer　later　in　the　day　was　placed　on　the　left　of　Van　Cleve's　new　position　on　the　line　of　Chickamauga　Creek；　his　last　brigade　reaching　its　position　at　four　o'clock　on　the　morning　of　the　19th；　Wood　holding　his　position　on　the　creek　at　Lee　and　Gordon's　Mills；　which　at　this　point　runs　between　steep　rocky　bluffs　in　an　eastwardly　course；　with　the　road　to　Chattanooga　via　Rossville　crossing　it　at　right　angles；　Van　Cleve　on　his　left　and　Palmer　on　the　left　of　Van　Cleve；　the　general　course　of　the　line　being　northeasterly　along　the　Chickamauga　and　Rossville　road。





Chapter　XII。




The　Battle　of　Chickamauga。


Colonel　Dan。　McCook；　of　Granger's　reserve　corps；　who　had　been　posted　on　the　road　leading　to　Reed's　Bridge；　on　the　evening　of　the　18th；　made　a　reconnoissance　to　Chickamauga　Creek　as　far　as　Reed's　Bridge；　which　he　burned。　　On　the　19th；　meeting　Thomas；　he　reported　that　an　isolated　brigade　of　the　enemy　was　on　the　west　side　of　the　creek；　and　as　the　bridge　was　destroyed　a　prompt　movement　in　that　direction　might　succeed　in　capturing　the　entire　force。　　Thomas　ordered　Brannan　to　post　a　brigade　on　the　road　to　Alexander's　Bridge　as　support　to　Baird；　and　with　his　other