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action； and the two commands moved along in rear of the works so
rapidly that； with but slight resistance； the Confederates abandoned
the guns massed near the centre。 The swinging movement of Ricketts
was taken up successively from right to left throughout my line； and
in a few minutes the enemy was thoroughly routed； the action； though
brief； being none the less decisive。 Lomax's dismounted cavalry gave
way first； but was shortly followed by all the Confederate infantry
in an indescribable panic； precipitated doubtless by fears of being
caught and captured in the pocket formed by Tumbling Run and the
North Fork of the Shenandoah River。 The stampede was complete； the
enemy leaving the field without semblance of organization； abandoning
nearly all his artillery and such other property as was in the works；
and the rout extending through the fields and over the roads toward
Woodstock； Wright and Emory in hot pursuit。
Midway between Fisher's Hill and Woodstock there is some high ground；
where at night…fall a small squad endeavored to stay us with two
pieces of artillery； but this attempt at resistance proved fruitless；
and； notwithstanding the darkness； the guns were soon captured。 The
chase was then taken up by Devin's brigade as soon as it could be
passed to the front； and continued till after daylight the next
morning； but the delays incident to a night pursuit made it
impossible for Devin to do more than pick up stragglers。
Our success was very great； yet I had anticipated results still more
pregnant。 Indeed； I had high hopes of capturing almost the whole of
Early's army before it reached New Market； and with this object in
view； during the manoeuvres of the 21st I had sent Torbert up the
Luray Valley with Wilson's division and two of Merritt's brigades； in
the expectation that he would drive Wickham out of the Luray Pass by
Early's right； and by crossing the Massanutten Mountain near New
Market； gain his rear。 Torbert started in good season； and after
some slight skirmishing at Gooney Run； got as far as Milford； but
failed to dislodge Wickham。 In fact； he made little or no attempt to
force Wickham from his position； and with only a feeble effort
withdrew。 I heard nothing at all from Torbert during the 22d； and
supposing that everything was progressing favorably； I was astonished
and chagrined on the morning of the 23d； at Woodstock； to receive the
intelligence that he had fallen back to Front Royal and Buckton ford。
My disappointment was extreme； but there was now no help for the
situation save to renew and emphasize Torbert's orders； and this was
done at once； notwithstanding that I thought； the delay； had so much
diminished the chances of his getting in the rear of Early as to make
such a result a very remote possibility； unless； indeed； far greater
zeal was displayed than had been in the first attempt to penetrate
the Luray Valley。
The battle of Fisher's Hill was； in a measure； a part of the battle
of the Opequon； that is to say； it was an incident of the pursuit
resulting from that action。 In many ways； however； it was much more
satisfactory； and particularly so because the plan arranged on the
evening of the 20th was carried out to the very letter by Generals
Wright； Crook； and Emory； not only in all their preliminary
manoeuvres； but also during the fight itself。 The only drawback was
with the cavalry； and to this day I have been unable to account
satisfactorily for Torbert's failure。 No doubt； Wickham's position
near Milford was a strong one； but Torbert ought to have made a
fight。 Had he been defeated in this； his withdrawal then to await
the result at Fisher's Hill would have been justified； but it does
not appear that he made any serious effort of all to dislodge the
Confederate cavalry： his impotent attempt not only chagrined me very
much； but occasioned much unfavorable comment throughout the army。
We reached Woodstock early on the morning of the 23d； and halted
there some little time to let the troops recover their organization；
which had been broken in the night march they had just made。 When
the commands had closed up we pushed on toward Edinburg； in the hope
of making more captures at Narrow Passage Creek； but the
Confederates； too fleet for us； got away； so General Wright halted
the infantry not far from Edinburg； till rations could be brought the
men。 Meanwhile I； having remained at Woodstock； sent Dedin's brigade
to press the enemy under every favorable opportunity； and if possible
prevent him from halting long enough to reorganize。 Notwithstanding
Devin's efforts the Confederates managed to assemble a considerable
force to resist him； and being too weak for the rearguard； he awaited
the arrival of Averell； who； I had informed him； would be hurried to
the front with all possible despatch； for I thought that Averell must
be close at hand。 It turned out； however； that he was not near by at
all； and； moreover； that without good reason he had refrained from
taking any part whatever in pursuing the enemy in the flight from
Fisher's Hill； and in fact had gone into camp and left to the
infantry the work of pursuit。
It was nearly noon when Averell came up； and a great deal of precious
time had been lost。 We had some hot words； but hoping that he would
retrieve the mistake of the night before； I directed him to proceed
to the front at once； and in conjunction with Devin close with the
enemy。 He reached Devin's command about 3 o'clock in the afternoon；
just as this officer was pushing the Confederates so energetically
that they were abandoning Mount Jackson； yet Averell utterly failed
to accomplish anything。 Indeed； his indifferent attack was not at
all worthy the excellent soldiers he commanded； and when I learned
that it was his intention to withdraw from the enemy's front； and
this； too； on the indefinite report of a signal…officer that a
〃brigade or division〃 of Confederates was turning his right flank；
and that he had not seriously attempted to verify the information； I
sent him this order：
〃HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION；
〃Woodstock； Va。； Sept。 23； 1864
〃BREVET MAJOR…GENERAL AVERELL
〃Your report and report of signal…officer received。 I do not want
you to let the enemy bluff you or your command； and I want you to
distinctly understand this note。 I do not advise rashness； but I do
desire resolution and actual fighting； with necessary casualties；
before you retire。 There must now be no backing or filling by you
without a superior force of the enemy actually engaging you。
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN；
〃Major…General Commanding。'
Some little time after this note went to Averell； word was brought me
that he had already carried out the programme indicated when
forwarding the report of the expected turning of his right； and that
he had actually withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg。 I
then decided to relieve him from the command of his division； which I
did； ordering him to Wheeling； Colonel William H。 Powell being
assigned to succeed him。
The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events
extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military
Division。 At the outset； General Grant； fearing discord on account
of Averell's ranking Torbert； authorized me to relieve the former
officer； but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose； it could
be allayed； or at least repressed； during the campaign against Early；
since the different commands would often have to act separately。
After that； the dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth
Corps and Torbert's cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take
place； I thought； and this would restore matters to their normal
condition ； but Averell's dissatisfaction began to show itself
immediately after his arrival at Martinsburg； on the 14th of August；
and； except when he was conducting some independent expedition； had
been manifested on all occasions since。 I therefore thought that the
interest of the service would be subserved by removing one whose
growing indifference might render the best…laid plans inoperative。
〃HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION。
〃HARRISONBURG； VA。； SEPT。 25； 1864 11：30 P。 M。
〃LIEUT…GENERAL GRANT； Comd'g； City Point； Va。
〃I have relieved Averell from his command。 Instead of following the
enemy when he was broken at Fisher's Hill （so there was not a cavalry
organization left）； he went into camp and let me pursue the enemy for
a distance of fifteen miles； with infantry； during the night。
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN； Major…General。〃
The failure of Averell to press the enemy the evening of the 23d gave
Early time to collect his scattered forces and take up a position on
the east side of the North Fork of the Shenandoah； his left resting
on the west side of that stream at Rude's Hill； a commanding point
about two miles south of Mt。 Jackson