Wauhatchie became another missed Confederate opportunity

Hooker's divisions were dispersed around Wauhatchie with their wagon train exposed, creating a tempting target. Longstreet nevertheless chose a night attack using only part of his available command, even though Bragg had authorized the whole force for a daylight operation. The plan asked troops already involved at Brown's Ferry to conduct a more complicated operation in darkness. Confusion delayed the attack until midnight and squandered the advantages of concentration and Hooker's loose bivouac arrangements.