ten o'clock
But now up came Negley 's division on the double-quick , supported by Brennan , and , with a rousing battle-cry , went at Hood and Johnson , `` tooth and nail , '' fighting so doggedly and taking such terrible punishment undauntedly , that the Confederates had at last , about sunset , to give way before them , and darkness ended the day 's contest , with final victory still of the uncertain to-morrow . Still later , there was another outbreak , short and sharp , but with no positive results . During this long day 's fighting the cavalry operated principally along the upper fords of the Chickamauga , although occasionally called elsewhere , to save the artillery and to fill up breaks in the lines which , owing to the roughness of the ground , the infantry could not accomplish . The Riverlawns went into action at ten o'clock , half a mile from the creek proper , along the bank of a stream locally known as Duff 's Claim . Here the growth of trees was heavy , but there was very little underbrush . It was thought that a portion of the enemy 's cavalry was moving upon Duff 's Claim , with the intention of following the course of the stream and getting behind the Union lines half a mile to the northeast . A few isolated riders had been seen , and at first only the first battalion of the Riverlawns advanced to investigate .