At 3 o’clock, the two armies faced each other in a roughly continuous battle line, though these positions came about more by accident than design.  Baird and Brannan’s divisions rested at the north end of the field along the Reed’s Bridge Road, and Davidson’s cavalry brigade recuperated near Jay’s Mill.  Johnson’s division was pressing heavily upon Dibrell’s brigade, and Liddell’s division is ordered back into the fight to steady the right flank of Cheatham’s division.  Strahl continues his uneven fight against Palmer and Turchin, and Stewart’s division faces off against Van Cleve, Grose, and King.  The Confederate left is finally on the move, with Johnson, Law, and part of Preston’s division moving to attack.

Both armies are rushing reinforcements up from the south.  At Lee and Gordon’s Mill, Sheridan’s division has relieved Wood’s division and Barnes’ brigade, who begin their move north to reinforce Davis and his fight at the Viniard Farm.  Across Chickamauga Creek, Breckinridge’s division likewise relieves Hindman’s division, and Hindman begins to make his way to Dalton Ford.  Just to the south, Cleburne’s division is marching toward Thedford Ford.