William Boynton, Sherman's Historical Raid

This, however, was in no sense a military occupation of the place, and Crittenden marched through to join Rosecrans below, where he was concentrating his flanking force to interpose it between the enemy and Chattanooga, and so occupy this city, which was the objective point of his campaign. The fact of one corps of his army having passed through Chattanooga, led to the general belief at the time that Rosecrans' army had taken the place, marched out to attack Bragg at Chickamauga, been defeated, and driven back into the city. This view was entertained at the time in Washington, although the Army of the Cumberland, with the exception of Crittenden's forces, never saw Chattanooga till two days after the battle of Chickamauga.

Upon receiving the news that Crittenden's corps had entered Chattanooga, General Halleck telegraphed:

Washington, September 11, 1863.
Major-Generai Rosecrans, Chattanooga.

After holding the mountain passes in the west, and Dalton or some other point on the railroad to prevent the return of Bragg's army, it will be decided whether your army shall move further south into Georgia and Alabama. * * * *

H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief.

This exploded view of the real situation General Sherman now revives.

In his next statement that Bragg reenforced from Virginia, drew out of Chattanooga, fell on Rosecrans at that place, defeated him and drove him into the city, the records are once more against him.

Bragg evacuated Chattanooga September 7th, and retreated to Lafayette. The reenforcements from Virginia were so near that point on the 15th it was resolved to march back toward Chattanooga and attack Rosecrans wherever found. A part of Longstreet's Virginia troops under Hood arrived at Dalton on the 18th, and participated in the first day's fight at