rp
fighting, but Negley's division was saved and withdrew to the base of
Lookout Mountain, where it was joined by Reynold's and Brennan's
divisions; and then the Union centre was once more secure.

CHAPTER XXV

"HOLD THE HILL FOR TEN MINUTES, AT ANY COST!"

The first great movement of the Confederate commander having failed of
success, he now tried another, which was to hurl his united forces upon
Crittenden, who was approaching him from the direction of Chattanooga.
He knew Crittenden's troops were divided by woods and mountains, and
wrote to one of his generals, Polk: "This presents a fine opportunity of
striking Crittenden in detail, and I hope you will avail yourself of it
to-morrow. This division crushed, and the others are yours." He referred
to the first division sent in the direction of Ringgold, not knowing
that other troops had been sent after it. Wheeler's cavalry--or a large
portion of it--was sent to cover Polk's right. But again there was a
delay, Polk stating the enemy was too strong for him. Bragg, much put
out, took Buckner's command and went to the front, only to learn a few
hours later that Crittenden had reunited his forces and taken a stand
on the other side of Chickamauga Creek.

So far there had been many movements and many forced marches, but no
battle had resulted. There were still many changes, but in a work of
this sort, written primarily to show the movements of the Riverlawn
Cavalry, the details of these movements can hardly find a place. A
battle seemed "in the air," and as day after day went by, both sides
grew more anxious to fight, and each waited only for some slight
advantage over the other.

General Rosecrans now made preparations to hold all the roads leading to
Chattanooga east of the mountains. Van Cleve went to Crawfish Springs,
Palmer to Gowan's Ford, McCook with several divisions took a mountain
road to Stevens' Gap, to join Thomas, Sheridan marched down Lookout
Valley to Johnson's Creek, and the cavalry went to Dougherty's Gap and
McLemore's Cove. Thus were the three columns, right, centre, and left,
once more within supporting distance of each other, "a matter of life
and death," as General Rosecrans states in a report on the subject.

General Bragg now felt that he must do something. Two splendid chances
for striking the Union forces had been allowed to slip by through the
failure of his officers to carry out his instructions on time; he felt
there must be no f