timber until it reached Sailor's Creek.
Wheaton's division arrived and joined the Third on the left in the
attack and pursuit. Merritt's cavalry passed rapidly around Ewell's
right to intercept the retreat. Merritt crossed Sailor's Creek
with Custer and Devin's divisions south of the road on which the
enemy retreated.

General R. S. Ewell crossed Sailor's Creek, and about 5 P.M. took
up a strong position on heights on its west bank. These heights,
save on their face, were covered with forest. There was a level,
cultivated bottom about one half mile in width, wholly on the east
bank of the stream. Sailor's Creek, then greatly swollen, washed
the foot of the heights on which Ewell had posted his army. He
hoped to be able to hold his position until night, when, under
cover of darkness, he might escape towards Danville.

Our troops were temporarily halted on the hills at the eastern edge
of the valley, in easy range of the enemy's guns, and the lines
were hastily adjusted.( 8) Artillery went into position and at
once opened a heavy fire. An effort was made to bring up Getty's
division of the Sixth and the detachment of my brigade under Binkley,
but the day was too far spent to await their arrival. It was
plainly evident that Ewell outnumbered our forces in line, and our
men had been on foot for twelve hours. Wright hesitated under the
circumstances, but Sheridan, coming to the front, advised an
assault.( 9) Wright then promptly ordered the infantry on the
field to make one, under cover of the artillery. Colonel Stagg's
cavalry brigade was ordered to attack the enemy's right flank, and
Merritt and Crook's cavalry were to attack still farther around
his right and on his rear.

Ewell covered his front with a strong line of infantry, and massed
a large body in column, in rear of his centre, to be used as the
exigencies of the battle might require. Ewell's cavalry covered
his right and rear. General R. H. Anderson and J. B. Gordon, with
their corps, had preceded Ewell in crossing Sailor's Creek, and
Sheridan, who had now personally passed from the front around to
Merritt, encountered them some distance to the rear of Ewell's
position. The Confederate trains were on the road to Rice's Station,
where Longstreet was confronting Ord, neither, however, willing to
attack the other.

The plan was for Anderson and Gordon to attack and clear the rear,
while Ewell stopped the infantry at the Creek.(10) The latter ha