On the morning of the 18th the three advanced brigades of Longstreet’s
Corps from Virginia arrived at Ringgold. One brigade immediately joined
Bushrod Johnson’s division as it prepared to cross Chickamauga Creek at
Reed’s Bridge. Union cavalry under Col. Robert H. G. Minty and mounted
infantry under command of Col. John T. Wilder, guarding the bridges,
offered stout resistance and delayed the crossing of the southern troops
for several hours. During the skirmishing, Minty’s men dismantled
Alexander’s Bridge and forced Walker to proceed to Lambert’s Ford, a
half-mile downstream. The Confederates used other fords and crossings
throughout the late afternoon and night as all of Bragg’s forces, except
three divisions, crossed to the west side of Chickamauga Creek.
The Union forces were not idle, and during the night Rosecrans moved
Thomas’ corps northeastward above and back of Crittenden, so that Bragg
would not outflank the Federal line. Negley’s Division remained near
Crawfish Springs (now Chickamauga), Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds’
Division near Widow Glenn’s, and Brigadier Generals Absalom Baird’s and
John M. Brannan’s Divisions covered the roads leading to Reed’s and
Alexander’s Bridges. General McCook’s Corps moved to position in
McLemore’s Cove.
The situation at dawn on the 19th found the two armies facing each other
over a stretch of several miles along the banks of the Chickamauga.
Rosecrans had been able in a short time to maneuver the Army of the
Cumberland into position so that it interposed between Bragg and
Chattanooga. His Reserve Corps under General Granger was at McAfee’s
Church, near Rossville. Thomas’ Fourteenth Army Corps composed the
Union’s left a few miles south of Granger, and formed a southwesterly
line to Crawfish Spring where it joined McCook, forming the right in
McLemore’s Cove. Crittenden’s Twenty-First Army Corps remained
concentrated at Lee and Gordon’s Mills, somewhat in front of the other
two corps, to protect the Union center.