The Confederate army lay on the east side of the stream, and was under the immediate command of Generals Polk, D. H. Hill and Buckner.
On the 18th Longstreet arrived with his troops. Thus the two mighty armies were now face to face.
Bragg endeavored to flank the Federal left and thus intervene between it and Chattanooga, and on the morning of September 19th the Confederates, under General Polk, made a grand assault upon the Federal left, under General Thomas. Meanwhile the Federal right was being heavily pressed by General Hood, commanding Longstreet's corps. This was kept up the entire day and when darkness came the Federals had been forced back from the creek, but the result was indecisive.
During the night preparations were made for the renewal of the battle on the next morning, which was Sunday, September 20th.
It is strange to say that some of the greatest battles of the war were fought on Sunday.
General Longstreet now took command of his troops which had arrived, but part of his corps did not arrive in time for the battle, having been delayed on trains that were behind time. This brought their strength up to equal that of the Federals.
General Thomas had taken position on Snodgrass Hill, and was anticipating a Confederate attack, which was made late in the morning by General Polk, who was supported by Generals Breckinridge and Patrick Cleburne, the last-named being an Irishman formerly from the County of Cork.
This assault was made time after time with desperate loss to both sides. At length, by some misunderstanding of orders, one of the Federal divisions under General Wood withdrew from its position. By this movement a large opening was made in the center of their battle line.
This was quickly taken advantage of by three divisions of the Confederates, which rushed in with an impetus that was irresistible.
General Hood, one of the Confederate division commanders, was severely wounded in this movement with a minie ball, and was carried from the field.