Chickamauga was a battle full of high drama at various stages of the long battle. An excellent case concerns the arrival of the Federal Reserve Corps.

Brigadier General John Beatty stood on Snodgrass Hill along with Major General George Thomas looking off to the north.  The Federals chance of holding the line on the afternoon of 20 September 1863 seemed more tenuous by the minute.  “We saw off to our rear the banners and glittering guns of a division coming towards us, and we became agitated by doubt and hope.  Are they friends of foes?”  Still too far off to ascertain exactly, Thomas became agitated as his hand shook, raising his field glass to observe.  “Take my glass, some of you whose horse stands steady – tell me what you can see.” 

Two officers went to check for sure the identity of the newcomers to the party brewing on Horseshoe Ridge.  They waved their hats after the meeting signaling the identity was not foe by friend.  Gordon Granger and his Reserve Corps arrived and Thomas with his remaining Cumberlanders felt relief at the addition of 3,819 Federals attempting to salvage something from a very long day at Chickamauga.