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could not pass through it； the streets were so crowded； but meeting
on this detour Major McKinley； of Crook's staff； he spread the news
of my return through the motley throng there。
When nearing the Valley pike； just south of Newtown I saw about
three…fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops； which
proved to be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the Sixth Corps；
and then learned that the Nineteenth Corps had halted a little to the
right and rear of these； but I did not stop； desiring to get to the
extreme front。 Continuing on parallel with the pike； about midway
between Newtown and Middletown I crossed to the west of it； and a
little later came up in rear of Getty's division of the Sixth Corps。
When I arrived； this division and the cavalry were the only troops in
the presence of and resisting the enemy； they were apparently acting
as a rear…guard at a point about three miles north of the line we
held at Cedar Creek when the battle began。 General Torbert was the
first officer to meet me； saying as he rode up； 〃My God！ I am glad
you've come。〃 Getty's division； when I found it； was about a mile
north of Middletown； posted on the reverse slope of some slightly
rising ground； holding a barricade made with fence…rails； and
skirmishing slightly with the enemy's pickets。 Jumping my horse over
the line of rails； I rode to the crest of the elevation； and there
taking off my hat； the men rose up from behind their barricade with
cheers of recognition。 An officer of the Vermont brigade； Colonel A。
S。 Tracy； rode out to the front； and joining me； informed me that
General Louis A。 Grant was in command there； the regular division
commander； General Getty； having taken charge of the Sixth Corps in
place of Ricketts； wounded early in the action； while temporarily
commanding the corps。 I then turned back to the rear of Getty's
division； and as I came behind it； a line of regimental flags rose up
out of the ground； as it seemed； to welcome me。 They were mostly the
colors of Crook's troops； who had been stampeded and scattered in the
surprise of the morning。 The color…bearers； having withstood the
panic； had formed behind the troops of Getty。 The line with the
colors was largely composed of officers； among whom I recognized
Colonel R。 B。 Hayes； since president of the United States； one of the
brigade commanders。 At the close of this incident I crossed the
little narrow valley； or depression； in rear of Getty's line； and
dismounting on the opposite crest； established that point as my
headquarters。 In a few minutes some of my staff joined me； and the
first directions I gave were to have the Nineteenth Corps and the two
divisions of Wright's corps brought to the front； so they could be
formed on Getty's division； prolonged to the right； for I had already
decided to attack the enemy from that line as soon as I could get
matters in shape to take the offensive。 Crook met me at this time；
and strongly favored my idea of attacking； but said； however； that
most of his troops were gone。 General Wright came up a little later；
when I saw that he was wounded； a ball having grazed the point of his
chin so as to draw the blood plentifully。
Wright gave me a hurried account of the day's events； and when told
that we would fight the enemy on the line which Getty and the cavalry
were holding； and that he must go himself and send all his staff to
bring up the troops； he zealously fell in with the scheme； and it was
then that the Nineteenth Corps and two divisions of the Sixth were
ordered to the front from where they had been halted to the right and
rear of Getty。
After this conversation I rode to the east of the Valley pike and to
the left of Getty's division； to a point from which I could obtain a
good view of the front； in the mean time sending Major Forsyth to
communicate with Colonel Lowell （who occupied a position close in
toward the suburbs of Middletown and directly in front of Getty's
left） to learn whether he could hold on there。 Lowell replied that
he could。 I then ordered Custer's division back to the right flank；
and returning to the place where my headquarters had been established
I met near them Ricketts's division under General Keifer and General
Frank Wheaton's division； both marching to the front。 When the men
of these divisions saw me they began cheering and took up the double
quick to the front； while I turned back toward Getty's line to point
out where these returning troops should be placed。 Having done this；
I ordered General Wright to resume command of the Sixth Corps； and
Getty； who was temporarily in charge of it； to take command of his
own division。 A little later the Nineteenth Corps came up and was
posted between the right of the Sixth Corps and Middle Marsh Brook。
All this had consumed a great deal of time； and I concluded to visit
again the point to the east of the Valley pike； from where I had
first observed the enemy； to see what he was doing。 Arrived there； I
could plainly see him getting ready for attack； and Major Forsyth now
suggested that it would be well to ride along the line of battle
before the enemy assailed us； for although the troops had learned of
my return； but few of them had seen me。 Following his suggestion I
started in behind the men； but when a few paces had been taken I
crossed to the front and； hat in hand； passed along the entire length
of the infantry line； and it is from this circumstance that many of
the officers and men who then received me with such heartiness have
since supposed that that was my first appearance on the field。 But
at least two hours had elapsed since I reached the ground； for it was
after mid…day； when this incident of riding down the front took
place； and I arrived not later； certainly； than half…past 10 o'clock。
After re…arranging the line and preparing to attack I returned again
to observe the Confederates； who shortly began to advance on us。 The
attacking columns did not cover my entire front； and it appeared that
their onset would be mainly directed against the Nineteenth Corps；
so； fearing that they might be too strong for Emory on account of his
depleted condition （many of his men not having had time to get up
from the rear）； and Getty's division being free from assault I
transferred a part of it from the extreme left to the support of the
Nineteenth Corps。 The assault was quickly repulsed by Emory；
however； and as the enemy fell back Getty's troops were returned to
their original place。 This repulse of the Confederates made me feel
pretty safe from further offensive operations on their part； and I
now decided to suspend the fighting till my thin ranks were further
strengthened by the men who were continually coming up from the rear；
and particularly till Crook's troops could be assembled on the
extreme left。
In consequence of the despatch already mentioned； 〃Be ready when I
join you； and we will crush Sheridan；〃 since learned to have been
fictitious； I had been supposing all day that Longstreet's troops
were present； but as no definite intelligence on this point had been
gathered； I concluded； in the lull that now occurred； to ascertain
something positive regarding Longstreet； and Merritt having been
transferred to our left in the morning； I directed him to attack an
exposed battery then at the edge of Middletown； and capture some
prisoners。 Merritt soon did this work effectually； concealing his
intention till his troops got close in to the enemy； and then by a
quick dash gobbling up a number of Confederates。 When the prisoners
were brought in； I learned from them that the only troops of
Longstreet's in the fight were of Kershaw's division； which had
rejoined Early at Brown's Gap in the latter part of September； and
that the rest of Longstreet's corps was not on the field。 The
receipt of this information entirely cleared the way for me to take
the offensive； but on the heels of it came information that
Longstreet was marching by the Front Royal pike to strike my rear at
Winchester； driving Powell's cavalry in as he advanced。 This renewed
my uneasiness； and caused me to delay the general attack till after
assurances came from Powell denying utterly the reports as to
Longstreet； and confirming the statements of the prisoners。
Between half…past and 4 o'clock； I was ready to assail； and decided
to do so by advancing my infantry line in a swinging movement； so as
to gain the Valley pike with my right between Middletown and the
Belle Grove House； and when the order was passed along； the men
pushed steadily forward with enthusiasm and confidence。 General
Early's troops extended some little distance beyond our right； and
when my flank neared the overlapping enemy； he turned on it； with the
effect of causing a momentary confusion； but General McMillan quickly
realizing the danger； broke the Confederates at the reentering angle
by a counte