Palmer's Division of Crittenden's Corps, commanded by Major General John M. Palmer, included the 1st Brigade under Brigadier General Charles Cruft, the 2nd Brigade under Brigadier General William B. Hazen, and the 3rd Brigade under Colonel William Grose. After six days of great activity in McLemore's Cove guarding the line of the Chickamauga as far south as Gower's and Owen's Ford, the division was relieved on the night of September 18th, 1863, by the advance of General Thomas's column from Pond Spring and took this position shortly before daylight on September 19th. At 9 o'clock Grose's Brigade was sent on a reconnaissance northward, moving a short distance on the Lafayette Road and discovering the enemy in force in the woods west of the Chickamauga and east of the road. At noon Palmer's Division was dispatched to the left to support the troops then engaged east of Kelly's.