Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/317

 Battle of Chickamauga. 305

Hood then ordered Johnson to attack, which he did with great energy, and pressed the Federals back to the Chattanooga road, and thus matters stood the night of the 2oth.

General Rosecrans, in his report of this battle, states that "the whole Federal army was brought squarely into action," save two brigades of Sheridan's Division and Mitchell's Cavalry. On the other hand, only about half of the Confederate forces were engaged, not exceeding 19,000 bayonets. Why they were not put into ac- tion we are unable to comprehend, because they could have been used to good advantage.

Breckinridge, with 4,000 men, and Hindman, with 5,6000, also those of Preston's Brigade, were suffered to remain idle during the entire day.

Lieutenant-General Longstreet, of the Army of Northern Vir- ginia, reached General Bragg about n o'clock at night, and stated that McLaws' Division of his corps was marching from Catooso Sta- tion, thus increasing Bragg's force 4,600, making a total of 50,100. He was advised by General Bragg of his purpose to give battle the following day, September 21, and that he had arranged his forces into two grand divisions. The command of the right was assigned to General Polk, and that of the left to Longstreet.

Folk's command embraced Hill's Corps, Walker's Reserve Corps and Cheatham's Division of his own corps, while Forrest supported his right flank.

Longstreet's wing was composed of Buckner's Corps, Hindman's Division of Folk's Corps, Johnson's Division, and Hood's and McLaws' Divisions of Longstreet's Corps.

Notwithstanding the arrangements as told to General Longstreet, several officers of high rank had no information on the subject. D. H. Hill had been selected to begin the combat, but received no ad- vice to that effect until told by General Bragg, in person, the next morning. Buckner also was ignorant of the plan, so he states.

As late as 8 o'clock in the morning our forces occupied the same position in which the close of the battle had left them the night be- fore.

During the night General Rosecrans assembled his corps com- manders at his headquarters, and, in consequence, his forces pre- sented a well-furnished front, behind breastworks of logs, and, in many places, trenches.

The sun rose bright and clear, but a heavy mist lay low in the valley, concealing the two armies from each other.