The Federals went on the offensive on November 23, 1863, but things proceeded more slowly than Grant expected. Keeping Sherman’s four divisions well out of sight of the Confederates, Grant sent them across yet another peninsula—this one north of the town—to arrive near the mouth of Chickamauga Creek. They did so very slowly because of the autumn rains, but did cross the pontoon bridge that had been constructed upriver, out of sight. Perhaps things were not proceeding smoothly, but one could see the general outlines of the plan.