e little Confederate force in flank,
compelling it to retreat so swiftly that it left behind prisoners and its
wagons.

It was all over in a few minutes, and the whole army, crossing the river,
moved steadily on toward Staunton, where Early had been in camp, and
where Sheridan hoped to find him. The little victory did not bring Dick
any joy. He knew that the Confederacy could now make no stand in the
Valley of Virginia, and it was like beating down those who were already
beaten. He sincerely hoped that Early would not await them at Staunton
or anywhere else, but would take his futile forces out of the valley and
join Lee.

The heavy rains began again. Winter was breaking up and its transition
into spring was accompanied by floods. The last snow on the mountains
melted and rushed down in torrents. The roads, already ruined by war,
became vast ruts of mud, but Sheridan was never daunted by physical
obstacles. The great army of cavalry, scarcely slacking speed, pressed
forward continually, and Dick knew that Early did not have the shadow of
a chance to withstand such an army.

The next day they entered Staunton, another of the neat little Virginia
cities devoted solidly and passionately to the Southern cause. Here,
they were faced again by blind doors and windows, but Early and his force
were gone. Shepard brought news that he had prepared for a stand at
Waynesborough, although he had only two thousand men.

"Our general will attack him at once," said Warner, when he heard of it.
"He sweeps like a hurricane."

"He is surely the general for us at such a time," said Pennington,
who began to feel himself a military authority.

"It's humane, at least," said Dick. "The quicker it's over the smaller
the toll of ruin and death."

Nor had they judged Sheridan wrongly. His men advanced with speed,
hunting Early, and they found him fortified with his scanty forces on a
ridge near the little town of Waynesborough. The daring young leader,
Custer, and Colonel Winchester, riding forward, found his flank exposed,
and it was enough for Sheridan. He formed his plan with rapidity and
executed it with precision. The Custer and Winchester men were
dismounted and assailed the exposed flank at once, while the remainder
of the army made a direct and violent charge in front.

It seemed to Dick that Early was swept away in an instant, and the attack
was so swift and overwhelming that there was but little loss of life
on ei