w the force and position of his command。 If Knoxville and Cumberland Gap were under his control； then it would be reasonably safe to follow out a plan of operations looking to flank Bragg's left by a movement across the Tennessee over the ranges of mountains of Northern Georgia。 But to do this； part of the force under Grant； now inactive after Vicksburg； should be ordered up at least as far east as the Tennessee； to protect the line of supplies and prevent any movement of the enemy to the rear on that flank of Rosecrans's army。 Another weighty consideration was that of forage for the animals of the command。 By the middle of August； corn in the valleys of Southern Tennessee and Northern Alabama would be ripe； and subject to the wants of the army。 It was General Rosecrans's plan to wait until these movements could be accomplished and until the corn had ripened； and knowing the difficulties in the way at the best； of his successfully accomplishing his plans for the campaign； he wished at least to have that best in his favor。
In making his final preparations for his operations against Chattanooga； General Rosecrans considered two plans。 One was to appear on the front of Chattanooga and attempt a direct attack on the town and reduce it by a lengthy siege。 The other was to flank Bragg out of Chattanooga； as he had been compelled by the movement on the Tullahoma campaign to abandon his strongholds one by one。
The first plan could hardly be entertained； as Bragg was at his base； with but short lines to all important points under control of the rebel government； and at a place where in a very short time heavy reinforcements could be sent him； while Rosecrans in front of Chattanooga would be in a rough； sterile country； far away from his base of supplies； with a long wagon…haul over rocky mountain ranges from his nearest depot。 To attempt the movement on the left； or through Sequatchie Valley； would concentrate Bragg's entire army at the contemplated point of crossing the Tennessee。 This plan Bragg was prepared for； and was resting； quietly awaiting the movements of our army carrying it into effect。 But it was not the purpose of Rosecrans to meet this expectation of his opponent。 The genius of Rosecrans contemplated one of the most brilliant military movements of the war to obtain possession of this great stronghold of Nature； the gateway to East Tennessee and Northern Georgia； Chattanooga。 At that time this place was of the utmost importance to each of the contending forces； and the highest prize in a military point of view that the Army of the Cumberland ever contended for。
To properly understand the magnitude and importance of the campaign that Rosecrans was now entering on； it is necessary that the topography of the country should be considered。 The position of our army after the Tullahoma campaign was on the northwester base of the Cumberland range； in camp occupying McMinnville； Tullahoma； Dechard； and Winchester； with Chattanooga south of east。 Immediately in front was the first great barrier in the advance movementthe Cumberland Mountainsa lofty range of rocks dividing the waters flowing into the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers。 The range rises far to the north and extends to the southwest into Alabama。 North of Chattanooga the mountains are much bolder； more difficult to cross； with almost sheer declivities on each of the sides。
Beyond the main range； in the direct road to Chattanooga； running south； flows the Sequatchie River through the valley of that name； formed by another range jutting off slightly to the east from the main range； and between it and the Tennessee River。 This spur is known by the name of Walling's Ridge ＇NOTE from Brett and Bob： This is probably what is now known as Walden's Ridge which was named after a Mr。 Walling or Wallen as subsequently described。 This Ridge was quite sparsely populated with an estimate of 11 families at the time of the civil war； so it's history is not exactly well documented。 Subsequent references use Walling's Ridge to be consistent with the original text。＇； after an early settler and Indian hunter。 It abuts close on the Tennessee in precipitous rocky bluffs。
South of the Tennessee； and separated from the mountain ranges north by this river； are the two ranges known as Sand and Lookout Mountains。 The northern extremity of the former is called Raccoon Mountain。 Here the river cuts its channel as a great chasm through these mountain ranges； so sharply defined that the masses abut directly upon the water in heavy palisades of rock。
The tops of all these mountain ranges are of poor soil but generally with considerable timber； rough； with but few roads； and these almost impassable for wagons and nearly destitute of water。 The western slope of Sand Mountain reaches nearly to the Tennessee River。 Between this latter range and Lookout Mountain is Lookout Valley with the creek of that name flowing through it into the Tennessee a short distance below Chattanooga。 This valley is also known as Wills Valley； and at that time was traversed by a railroad branching from the Nashville road at Wauhatchie； terminating at Trenton。
Beyond this was Lookout range； 2；400 feet above the sea； with almost perpendicular sides； heavily wooded and with little water； abutting abruptly on the Tennessee； some two miles south of the town； with only three practical wagon roads over itone close to the river； one at Johnson's Crook； and the third at Winston's Gap； twenty…six and forty…two miles respectively south of Chattanooga。
To the east of Lookout Mountain is Chattanooga Valley with the town at the head of it and the creek of that name flowing through； with Dry Creek as a branch emptying its waters into the Tennessee just south of the town。 Beyond this to the east is Missionary Ridge； and parallel to it and just beyond is Chickamauga Valley； with the creek of that name running through it emptying into the river above Chattanooga； formed by East； Middle； and West Chickamauga Creeks； uniting with Pea Vine Creek between the latter two as a tributary。 Chattanooga and West Chickamauga Creeks have a common source in McLemore's Cove； which is formed by Pigeon Mountain on the east； jutting to the north as a spur of Lookout Mountain； with the latter on the west； Missionary ridge running out as it enters this cove。 The wagon road from Chattanooga to Rome； known as the La Fayette road； crosses Missionary Ridge into Chickamauga Valley at Rossville and proceeds thence nearly due south； crossing Chickamauga Creek at Lee and Gordon Mills； thence to the east of Pigeon Mountain； passing through La Fayette some twenty…two miles south of Chattanooga； it then continues on to Summerville； within twenty…five miles of Rome； and so on to the latter place。
Beyond these ranges is Taylor's ridge； with a number of lesser ranges between it and the Atlanta Railroad； running through Dalton。 Both Pigeon Mountain and Taylor's Ridge are very rough mountain ranges； with but few roads； and these only through gaps。 At Dalton is the junction of the East Tennessee with the Atlanta Railroad； in the valley of the head waters of the Coosa River； which valley is here some ten miles wide and is the great natural passage…way into East Tennessee from the south。
To follow Bragg to Chattanooga and to cross the Tennessee above that place involved moving the army either to the north of the Sequatchie Valley by Dunlap or by Therman and Walling's Ridge； some sixty…five to seventy miles through a country poorly supplied with water； with no forage； and by narrow and difficult wagon roads。 This route would take Rosecrans further away from his base of supplies and line of communication than that south of the river。 It was over this northern route that Bragg anticipated the onward movement of the Army of the Cumberland。 This would enable him to make a protracted defence of the town and retard the advance for weeks； if not months。 But Rosecrans's plan of the campaign contemplated a much more hazardous movement and a far speedier one for the possession of Chattanooga。 To accomplish this； however； it was necessary to cross the Cumberland Mountains with subsistence； ammunition； a limited supply of forage； and a bridge train； then to cross his army over the Tennessee River； after that over Sand or Raccoon Mountain into Lookout Valley； and from there to cross Lookout Mountain； and finally the lesser rangesMissionary Ridgeif he went directly to Chattanooga； or to cross Missionary Ridge； Pigeon Mountain； and Taylor's Ridge； if he struck the railroad at Dalton or south of it。 This involved the carrying by his army of ammunition for two great battles and twenty…five days' subsistence。
As soon as the repairs were made on the main line to Stevenson； Rosecrans ordered Sheridan's division to make an advance movement with two brigades to Bridgeport and one to Stevenson。 Van Cleve had been ordered up with his divisions from Murfreesboro and was posted at McMinnville。 On August 8th； stores being accumulated at the front； orders were issued to corps commanders to supply their troops； as soon as possible； with rations and forage sufficient for the general advance。
The movement over the Cumberland Mountains began on August 16th； and the troops were ordered to move as follows：
〃Crittenden's corps in three columns to move through the Sequatchie Valley。 Minty's cavalry to move on the left by Sparta； and after covering the left flank of Van Cleve to proceed to Pikesville。
〃Thomas to move Reynolds and Brannan from University by way of Battle Creek； where they were to take post； concealed near its mouth。 Negley and Baird to go by way of Tantallon and halt on Crow Creek between Anderson and Stevenson。
〃McCook to move Johnson by Salem and Larkin's Ford to Bellefont。 Davis by Mount Top and Crow Creek to near Stevenson。 The three brigades of cavalry by Fayetteville and Athens to cover the line of the Tennessee from Whitesburg up。〃
These orders were complied with； and the movements completed by the evening of August 20th。 Crittenden sent Hazen's brigade on a reconnoissance to Harrison's Landing； where he found the enemy throwing up works。 On the next day Hazen took post at Poe's cross…roads。 Wilder was sent to reconnoitre fr