Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/393

 General Bragg and the Ohickamauga Campaign. 383

Hindman's fiasco." The movement that General Bragg intimates he made "'immediately'' after the failure in the Cove.

The first positive step towards it was the following order :

Headquarters, Lafayette, Ga.,

Septe?nber 12, i A. M.

General: The General commanding directs that you will at once proceed with Cheatham's division and take position at Rock Spring. You will order forward also the rest of your corps as soon as practicable.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Geo. Wm. Brent.

If we look a short distance to the southeast of Lee and Gordon's Mills, we will find Rock Spring. It is about four miles southeast of the Mills, about twelve north of Lafayette, and about seven southwest of Ringgold. It marks the intersection of roads leading from Gor- don's Mills on the west, Peavine Church and Greysville on the north, and Ringgold on the east; a line drawn from Ringgold to the Mills passes a few miles to the north of it; and it will be noticed that the Chickamauga flows between it and the Mills.

To reach it from Lafayette General P'olk had to pass over the road he had marched the evening before.

Cheatham's division, first in motion, reached the position by even- ing. Walker's demi-corps (four brigades) followed promptly; ar- rived about dark. Hindman, allowed to rest at Lafayette till 9 or 10 P. M. by General Bragg, reached the line about daylight.* Having

" Lafayette, September 12, iS6j, S 1-2 P. M.
 * Headquarters a. T. in the field,

General : In reply to your communication of this date, in regard to the moving your command, the General commanding directs me to say that he regards your march this evening as of the first importance. He desires that you will move up promptly, and report to Lieutenant-General Polk, I am. General, your obedient servant,

Geo. Wm. Brent. To Major- General Hindman.

[Endorsement.]

Headquarters Hindman's Division,

Sept. 12, 1862,, 9:45 P. M. Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Lieutenant-General commanding the corps. In reply to a communication from General Mac- kail, enquiring as to the time my command would move, I stated that the hour originally designated was at dark this evening, but that subsequently,