After losing Brown’s Ferry the day before, Confederate Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet ordered Brig. Gen. Micah Jenkins’ division to mount a nighttime attack on Union forces under Brig. Gen. John W. Geary near Wauhatchie Station on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. While Jenkins attacked Wauhatchie, Brig. Gen. Evander M. Law and Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson’s brigades were assigned to block reinforcements from reaching the scene of the battle. The attack, scheduled for 10 pm on October 28th, was delayed until 12:30 am on October 29th. Even though Union forces were aware that an attack might occur, they were still surprised by the attack.