Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

The Federals have had nearly four hours of daylight to get ready; Rosecrans has availed himself of this time to reconnoitre and rectify the positions taken by his right during the night. On that side his line, extended in a hurry, without solid supports, is not yet definitely formed. Through an unaccountable accident, Negley, whom Thomas since midnight has called to the extreme left, has not received any order at daybreak, and still occupies a somewhat advanced position between Brannan and Davis. Toward eight o'clock only an officer whom Thomas has sent in search of Negley brings to the latter the instructions intended for him. He immediately moves toward the left wing Beatty's brigade, which was held in reserve, and makes ready to follow it with the rest of his troops. But at that moment the Southern skirmishers, in order to cover a movement to the right of Stewart's division, engage in a sharp fusillade with those of the Federals who have remained to the eastward of the highroad. Rosecrans, attracted by the noise, expects a serious attack, and enjoins on Negley not to commence marching before having been relieved by other troops. He has become aware that the distance from the Glenn house to Brannan's position on the edge of the woods flinging on the east Dyer's farm is much greater than he had supposed. McCook, whose right already extends considerably to the westward of the Glenn house, cannot alone fill up that space. Crittenden will then cause Negley to be replaced by Wood's two brigades and that of Barnes, while the Twentieth corps will close up with them on the left, so as to shorten the line of battle.

These movements are intricate and fraught with danger; for it is almost nine o'clock and the attack by the enemy can be delayed no longer. Besides, if the right of the Unionists is strongly resting against the slopes of the Glenn house, their positions on the Dyer farm and in the wood which separates it from the road are bad. As soon as he displaces this wing, Rosecrans should bring it up about a mile and a quarter farther on the crests which may be easily defended, limit on the north-west Dyer's farm, and command the Dry Valley road as well as the main road. On a bad field the instructions of a general are rarely followed to the letter, each corps commander being inclined to seek the position which appears to him to be the best, rather than sacrifice himself