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by being too much strung out； and charged him to keep well closed up on the left at all hazards。 Leaving McCook； Rosecrans then returned to Negley； and found to his surprise that the brigades in front had not yet been relieved and started to Thomas after his repeated orders； as Wood's division had only reached the position of Negley's reserve。 Greatly irritated at this； Rosecrans gave preemptory orders and Wood's division was at once placed in front； closed up on the right of Brannan。
A heavy fog hung over the battlefield during the early morning。 Bragg； before daylight with his staff； took position immediately in the rear of the centre of his line； and waited for Polk to begin the attack； waiting until after sunrise with increasing anxiety and disappointment。 Bragg then sent a staff officer to Polk to ascertain and report as to the cause of the delay； with orders urging him to a prompt and speedy attack。 Polk was not found with his troops； and the staff officer learning that he had spent the night on the east side of Chickamauga Creek； rode over there and delivered his message。 Bragg； impatient at the delay； proceeded in person to his right wing and there found the troops wholly unprepared for the movement。 Messengers were sent for Polk in hot haste； and on his reporting he was urged to a prompt execution of his orders and to make a vigorous attack at once。
During the night our troops threw up temporary breastworks of logs and rails。 Behind these Thomas's command awaited the attack。 After Bragg had sent for Polk； he ordered a reconnoissance in his front on the extreme left of our line； and crossing the main road to Chattanooga developed the fact that this position so greatly desired by him was thus feebly held。 At half past eight o'clock the rebel attack opened on our left with skirmish firing。 Pushing forward with a heavy line of skirmishers to develop Baird's position； with Breckenridge's division on the right and Cleburne to his left； the rebels made； about an hour late； a tremendous assault。 Beatty's brigade of Negley's division being now in line on Baird's left； received the full force of the blow from the brigades of Adams and Stovall on the right of Breckinridge's division； and was driven back in disorder。 Helm's brigade and Cleburne's division； advancing on the front of Baird； encountered the troops behind their breastworks but were here met with a terrific fire of canister and musketry； and their advance checked so thoroughly that it was not regarded as safe to send the two brigades now overlapping Baird to attack his rear。 These brigades； however； had reached and crossed the La Fayette road。 Beatty in falling back was relieved by several regiments of Johnson's division； which were placed in position by Baird。 These regiments were joined by Van Derveer's brigade of Brannan's division and a portion of Stanley's brigade of Negley's division； which had been hurried to the left and thrown into action。 These forces advancing checked the assault of the enemy and then drove him entirely from Baird's left and rear。 Immediately following the attack on Baird； the enemy's assault； being taken up by the divisions on Breckinridge's left； pressed on and struck Johnson； then Palmer and Reynolds successively with equal fierceness； maintaining the attack for two hours； the enemy in repeated assaults bringing fresh troops constantly to the front was each time met and hurled back by the splendid fighting of our troops。 Here Bragg exhausted his utmost energies to drive in the centre and to dislodge Thomas's right； and failing in this after repeated attacks fell back and occupied his old position。
McCook； early in the morning； on going to the front found that Wood's division； not having the battle…front of Negley's； did not occupy the entire of the rude barricade thrown up by Negley's troops； and that portion of it on Wood's right was not occupied by any of our forces。 Wood； on meeting McCook； explained to him that his left was well protected； resting on Brannan's right； and that his orders were to keep well closed up on Brannan。 On the right of this gap to the right of Wood； McCook had posted Wilder with his brigade； who had been ordered to report to McCook and receive orders from him。 McCook then directed Sheridan to bring forward one of his brigades and occupy with it the space between Wood's right and Wilder。 As McCook started to leave this portion of the line； he met Davis's division marching toward this vacant space。 Davis was directed at once to post one of his brigades in this part of the line； holding the other in reserve。 When the brigade Sheridan sent arrived； McCook placed it in column as support to Davis on his right and rear。 At this time Thomas again reporting that he needed reinforcements and the right as yet not being actively engaged； Rosecrans concluded that Bragg's efforts were still looking to the possession of the roads on our left； and that he was massing his troops on his right； thus prolonging his line on that flank。 He then； at 10。10 A。M。； ordered McCook to withdraw as far as possible the force on the right and reinforce Thomas； stating that 〃the left must be held at all hazards； even if the right is withdrawn wholly back to the present left。〃 Five minutes after the receipt of this order McCook received one dated 10。30 A。M。； directing him to send two brigades of Sheridan's division at once with all possible dispatch to support Thomas and to send the third brigade as soon as it could safely be withdrawn。 McCook immediately sent Lytle's and Walworth's brigades of Sheridan's division on the double quick to the support of Thomas。
The battle increasing in fury and volume was gradually approaching the centre from the left； but Thomas still sustaining the brunt of the fight was compelled to send again and again for reinforcements。 Beatty's and Stanley's brigades of Negley's division had been sent from the right。 Van Derveer with his brigade of Brannan's division also reported。 Barnes's brigade of Van Cleve's division had also been ordered to Thomas； and now the two of Sheridan's 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