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〃A。 LINCOLN
This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of brigadier…
general in the regular army； and assigning me to the permanent
command of the Middle Military Department； and following that came
warm congratulations from Mr。 Stanton and from Generals Grant；
Sherman； and Meade。
The battle was not fought out on the plan in accordance with which
marching orders were issued to my troops； for I then hoped to take
Early in detail； and with Crook's force cut off his retreat。 I
adhered to this purpose during the early part of the contest； but was
obliged to abandon the idea because of unavoidable delays by which I
was prevented from getting the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through the
narrow defile and into position early enough to destroy Ramseur while
still isolated。 So much delay had not been anticipated； and this
loss of time was taken advantage of by the enemy to recall the troops
diverted to Bunker Hill and Martinsburg on the 17th； thus enabling
him to bring them all to the support of Ramseur before I could strike
with effect。 My idea was to attack Ramseur and Wharton；
successively； at a very early hour and before they could get succor；
but I was not in condition to do it till nearly noon； by which time
Gordon and Rodes had been enabled to get upon the ground at a point
from which； as I advanced； they enfiladed my right flank； and gave it
such a repulse that to re…form this part of my line I was obliged to
recall the left from some of the ground it had gained。 It was during
this reorganization of my lines that I changed my plan as to Crook；
and moved him from my left to my right。 This I did with great
reluctance； for I hoped to destroy Early's army entirely if Crook
continued on his original line of march toward the Valley pike； south
of Winchester； and although the ultimate results did； in a measure
vindicate the change； yet I have always thought that by adhering to
the original plan we might have captured the bulk of Early's army。
CHAPTER 11。
PURSUING EARLYA SECRET MARCHFISHER'S HILLA GREAT SUCCESS
REMOVAL OF AVERELLTHE RETREATCAPTURING AN OLD COMRADETHE MURDER
OF LIEUTENANT MEIGS。
The night of the 19th of September I gave orders for following Early
up the valley next morningthe pursuit to begin at daybreakand in
obedience to these directions Torbert moved Averell out on the Back
road leading to Cedar Creek； and Merritt up the Valley pike toward
Strasburg； while Wilson was directed on Front Royal by way of
Stevensburg。 Merritt's division was followed by the infantry；
Emory's and Wright's columns marching abreast in the open country to
the right and left of the pike； and Crook's immediately behind them。
The enemy having kept up his retreat at night； presented no
opposition whatever until the cavalry discovered him posted at
Fisher's Hill； on the first defensive line where he could hope to
make any serious resistance。 No effort was made to dislodge him； and
later in the day； after Wright and Emory came up； Torbert shifted
Merritt over toward the Back road till he rejoined Averell。 As
Merritt moved to the right； the Sixth and Nineteenth corps crossed
Cedar Creek and took up the ground the cavalry was vacating； Wright
posting his own corps to the west of the Valley pike overlooking
Strasburg； and Emory's on his left so as to extend almost to the road
leading from Strasburg to Front Royal。 Crook； as he came up the same
evening； went into position in some heavy timber on the north bank of
Cedar Creek。
A reconnoissance made pending these movements convinced me that the
enemy's position at Fisher's Hill was so strong that a direct assault
would entail unnecessary destruction of life； and； besides； be of
doubtful result。 At the point where Early's troops were in position；
between the Massanutten range and Little North Mountain； the valley
is only about three and a half miles wide。 All along the precipitous
bluff which overhangs Tumbling Run on the south side； a heavy line of
earthworks had been constructed when Early retreated to this point in
August； and these were now being strengthened so as to make them
almost impregnable； in fact； so secure did Early consider himself
that； for convenience； his ammunition chests were taken from the
caissons and placed behind the breastworks。 Wharton； now in command
of Breckenridge's divisionits late commander having gone to
southwest Virginiaheld the right of this line； with Gordon next
him； Pegram； commanding Ramseur's old division； joined Gordon。
Ramseur with Rodes's division； was on Pegram's left； while Lomax's
cavalry； now serving as foot…troops； extended the line to the Back
road。 Fitzhugh Lee being wounded； his cavalry； under General
Wickham； was sent to Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being
turned through the Luray Valley。
In consequence of the enemy's being so well protected from a direct
assault； I resolved on the night of the 20th to use again a turning…
column against his left； as had been done on the 19th at the Opequon。
To this end I resolved to move Crook； unperceived if possible； over
to the eastern face of Little North Mountain； whence he could strike
the left and rear of the Confederate line； and as he broke it up； I
could support him by a left half…wheel of my whole line of battle。
The execution of this plan would require perfect secrecy； however；
for the enemy from his signal…station on Three Top could plainly see
every movement of our troops in daylight。 Hence； to escape such
observation； I marched Crook during the night of the 20th into some
heavy timber north of Cedar Creek； where he lay concealed all day the
21st。 This same day Wright and Emory were moved up closer to the
Confederate works； and the Sixth Corps； after a severe fight； in
which Ricketts's and Getty were engaged； took up some high ground on
the right of the Manassas Gap railroad in plain view of the
Confederate works； and confronting a commanding point where much of
Early's artillery was massed。 Soon after General Wright had
established this line I rode with him along it to the westward； and
finding that the enemy was still holding an elevated position further
to our right； on the north side of Tumbling Run； I directed this also
to be occupied。 Wright soon carried the point； which gave us an
unobstructed view of the enemy's works and offered good ground for
our artillery。 It also enabled me to move the whole of the Sixth
Corps to the front till its line was within about seven hundred yards
of the enemy's works； the Nineteenth Corps； on the morning of the
22d； covering the ground vacated by the Sixth by moving to the front
and extending to the right； but still keeping its reserves on the
railroad。
In the darkness of the night of the gist； Crook was brought across
Cedar Creek and hidden in a clump of timber behind Hupp's Hill till
daylight of the 22d； when； under cover of the intervening woods and
ravines； he was marched beyond the right of the Sixth Corps and again
concealed not far from the Back road。 After Crook had got into this
last position； Ricketts's division was pushed out until it confronted
the left of the enemy's infantry； the rest of the Sixth Corps
extending from Ricketts's left to the Manassas Gap railroad； while
the Nineteenth Corps filled in the space between the left of the
Sixth and the North Fork of the Shenandoah。
When Ricketts moved out on this new line； in conjunction with
Averell's cavalry on his right； the enemy surmising； from information
secured from his signal…station； no doubt； that my attack was to be
made from Ricketts's front； prepared for it there； but no such
intention ever existed。 Ricketts was pushed forward only that he
might readily join Crook's turning…column as it swung into the
enemy's rear。 To ensure success； all that I needed now was enough
daylight to complete my arrangements； the secrecy of movement imposed
by the situation consuming many valuable hours。
While Ricketts was occupying the enemy's attention； Crook； again
moving unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little
North Mountain； conducted his command south in two parallel columns
until he gained the rear of the enemy's works； when； marching his
divisions by the left flank； he led them in an easterly direction
down the mountain…side。 As he emerged from the timber near the base
of the mountain； the Confederates discovered him； of course； and
opened with their batteries； but it was too latethey having few
troops at hand to confront the turning…column。 Loudly cheering；
Crook's men quickly crossed the broken stretch in rear of the enemy's
left； producing confusion and consternation at every step。
About a mile from the mountain's base Crook's left was joined by
Ricketts； who in proper time had begun to swing his division into the
action； and the two commands moved along in rear of the works so
rapidly that；