Preparations for Battle, July 20

Most of the rest of Thomas' Army of the Cumberland crossed to the south side of Peach Tree Creek on the morning of July 20. While the Fourteenth Corps solidified a good position for defensive action only Geary's division of Joseph Hooker's Twentieth Corps advance to the best defensive ground to the left of the Fourteenth Corps. Hooker acted as if there was no need to hurry defensive arrangements and thus two of his divisions lounged in the bottomland on the south side of the creek rather than aligning themselves with Geary's exposed division. John Newton's division of the Fourth Corps also took up a strong defensive position to Hooker's left and was ready for action. Hood finalized his attack plan, hoping to catch Thomas after the Federals had crossed the creek but before they could fortify their positions—except for Hooker's two divisions, it already was too late to accomplish that goal. Hood had to further delay the attack from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. due to McPherson's unexpectedly early arrival near the east side of Atlanta, forcing the Army of Tennessee to shift its line to the right to confront him.