four o'clock in the afternoon
It was now stated that fifteen thousand Confederate forces were on their way to join Bragg . The question was , would the two forces concentrate in Chattanooga , or at some place outside , to do battle with the army of the North ? As has been said , the Army of the Cumberland lay along the western base of the mountains . On the 7th of September , Negley 's division commenced the ascent of the steep sides , and at four o'clock in the afternoon gained the summit . A reconnaissance was made by Colonel Wood , and it was found that the enemy had heavy guns in the vicinity , covering the eastern side of the mountain . The next day General Negley seized Cooper 's and Stevens ' Gaps , finding the latter heavily barricaded . Other troops moved in various directions .