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Chickamauga Creeks have a common source in McLemore's Cove； which is formed by Pigeon Mountain on the east； jutting to the north as a spur of Lookout Mountain； with the latter on the west； Missionary ridge running out as it enters this cove。 The wagon road from Chattanooga to Rome； known as the La Fayette road； crosses Missionary Ridge into Chickamauga Valley at Rossville and proceeds thence nearly due south； crossing Chickamauga Creek at Lee and Gordon Mills； thence to the east of Pigeon Mountain； passing through La Fayette some twenty…two miles south of Chattanooga； it then continues on to Summerville； within twenty…five miles of Rome； and so on to the latter place。
Beyond these ranges is Taylor's ridge； with a number of lesser ranges between it and the Atlanta Railroad； running through Dalton。 Both Pigeon Mountain and Taylor's Ridge are very rough mountain ranges； with but few roads； and these only through gaps。 At Dalton is the junction of the East Tennessee with the Atlanta Railroad； in the valley of the head waters of the Coosa River； which valley is here some ten miles wide and is the great natural passage…way into East Tennessee from the south。
To follow Bragg to Chattanooga and to cross the Tennessee above that place involved moving the army either to the north of the Sequatchie Valley by Dunlap or by Therman and Walling's Ridge； some sixty…five to seventy miles through a country poorly supplied with water； with no forage； and by narrow and difficult wagon roads。 This route would take Rosecrans further away from his base of supplies and line of communication than that south of the river。 It was over this northern route that Bragg anticipated the onward movement of the Army of the Cumberland。 This would enable him to make a protracted defence of the town and retard the advance for weeks； if not months。 But Rosecrans's plan of the campaign contemplated a much more hazardous movement and a far speedier one for the possession of Chattanooga。 To accomplish this； however； it was necessary to cross the Cumberland Mountains with subsistence； ammunition； a limited supply of forage； and a bridge train； then to cross his army over the Tennessee River； after that over Sand or Raccoon Mountain into Lookout Valley； and from there to cross Lookout Mountain； and finally the lesser rangesMissionary Ridgeif he went directly to Chattanooga； or to cross Missionary Ridge； Pigeon Mountain； and Taylor's Ridge； if he struck the railroad at Dalton or south of it。 This involved the carrying by his army of ammunition for two great battles and twenty…five days' subsistence。
As soon as the repairs were made on the main line to Stevenson； Rosecrans ordered Sheridan's division to make an advance movement with two brigades to Bridgeport and one to Stevenson。 Van Cleve had been ordered up with his divisions from Murfreesboro and was posted at McMinnville。 On August 8th； stores being accumulated at the front； orders were issued to corps commanders to supply their troops； as soon as possible； with rations and forage sufficient for the general advance。
The movement over the Cumberland Mountains began on August 16th； and the troops were ordered to move as follows：
〃Crittenden's corps in three columns to move through the Sequatchie Valley。 Minty's cavalry to move on the left by Sparta； and after covering the left flank of Van Cleve to proceed to Pikesville。
〃Thomas to move Reynolds and Brannan from University by way of Battle Creek； where they were to take post； concealed near its mouth。 Negley and Baird to go by way of Tantallon and halt on Crow Creek between Anderson and Stevenson。
〃McCook to move Johnson by Salem and Larkin's Ford to Bellefont。 Davis by Mount Top and Crow Creek to near Stevenson。 The three brigades of cavalry by Fayetteville and Athens to cover the line of the Tennessee from Whitesburg up。〃
These orders were complied with； and the movements completed by the evening of August 20th。 Crittenden sent Hazen's brigade on a reconnoissance to Harrison's Landing； where he found the enemy throwing up works。 On the next day Hazen took post at Poe's cross…roads。 Wilder was sent to reconnoitre from Harrison's Landing to Chattanooga。 On reaching Chattanooga； he was supported by Wagner's brigade； and both commands opened fire on the next day； shelling the town from across the river。 This bombardment of the place caused it to be evacuated by the rebel troops； to points beyond range outside； and the withdrawal by Bragg of his stores to points of convenience on the railroad to the rear。 Bragg then ordered Anderson's brigade to withdraw from Bridgeport。
The feint under Crittenden was so well timed that Bragg concentrated his immediate command at and above Chattanooga； leaving the crossing of the river by the main portion of our army later； unobstructed。 Rosecrans had posted his army so that demonstrations were made simultaneously from Whitesburg to Blythe's Ferry； a distance of one hundred and fifty miles； and Bragg did not know just where to look for his real advance； but definitely concluded that it would NOT be made anywhere in the vicinity of Bridgeport。 On the 26th； five days after the surprise at Chattanooga； Burnside's advance into East Tennessee was announced by the presence of his cavalry in the vicinity of Knoxville。 Bragg then ordered Buckner to evacuate Knoxville； and occupy Loudon。 The demonstration at Blythe's Ferry on the Tennessee； opposite the mouth of the Hiawasse； caused Bragg to order him to retire to Charleston； and soon thereafter to Chattanooga。 On the 30th； information was given General Thomas that Johnston； with 15；000 men from Mississippi； had re…enforced Bragg。
Under cover of the apparent activity of the left of our army in front of and above Chattanooga； Rosecrans effected safely the crossing of the first great barrier to the objective point； and reached the banks of the Tennessee opposite the enemy； concealing as far as he could the movements of his troops； and the position of his pontoons and trains。 He then had the river reconnoitered； that the best points might be selected and the means at once provided for the crossing。 As soon as the crossings had been determined on； the proper dispositions were made to begin the movement。
The Tennessee River； at the various points where our army was to cross； is very wide； and； swollen by recent rains； was quite high for that season of the year。 The troops crossed the river at four points。 As there were not enough pontoons for two bridges； Sheridan had commenced trestlework for part of one at Bridgeport。 Reynolds advanced to Shellmound； seizing the place。 Here he captured a number of boats； and with these and other material picked up； he was enabled to cross at that point； while Brannan crossed his division from the mouth of Battle Creek on rafts。 The main crossing of McCook's corps was at Caperton's Ferry； about forty miles below Chattanooga； where the pontoon bridge was laid by Davis's division； after driving a detachment of rebel cavalry from the opposite side。
The movement across the river was commenced on August 29th； and completed on September 4th。 Baird； in command of a division of Thomas's corps； crossed the river at Bridgeport after the repairs were completed to the bridge。 Negley's division crossed at Caperton's Ferry。 The four divisions of Thomas's corps with great difficulty crossed Sand Mountain； and concentrated near Trenton in Will's Valley； east of Sand Mountain。 On September 6th Negley's division； being in the advance； reached Johnson's Crook where Beatty's brigade was sent at once up the mountain to seize Steven's Gap。 Before proceeding far he met the enemy's pickets； and； night coming on； he went into camp just west of the gap。 The Eighteenth Ohio went a short distance on the road to the top of Lookout Mountain； met the enemy's pickets and withdrew。 The next day； Baird's division supporting Negley； the latter with two brigades； moved forward； and with his advance gained possession of the top of the mountain； and secured the forks of the road。 The entire of Negley's division reached this point on the 9th； at the head of Johnson's Crook； and with one brigade held the pass while another was sent a short distance north on the mountain to seize Cooper's Gap； with a regiment in the advance to occupy and hold the entrance on the east。 Another regiment was sent forward to hold Stevens's Gap； which was found heavily obstructed with fallen timber。 Negley still being in the advance； moved the day following across Missionary Ridge； and took up a position in McLemore's Cove on the road through Dug Gap。 Here he found the enemy's cavalry drawn up in line； and learned from citizens that the rebels were in strong force concentrated in his front in Dug Gap； with infantry； artillery； and cavalry。 Baird's division was in supporting distance of Negley。
Early in the morning of the 9th Reynolds sent the Ninety…second Illinois （mounted infantry） to make a reconnoissance along the top of Lookout Mountain； to discover the enemy's movements and to determine the rumors in regard to the evacuation of Chattanooga。 At 11 A。M。 the regiment entered the town as the rear of the enemy's column was leaving the place。 The next day