Winchester
for sending him information by a messenger that Kershaw's division
and Cutshaw's artillery, under General Anderson, had started to
rejoin General Lee.( 9)

The enemy was in camp about five miles north of Winchester at
Stephenson's Depot, his cavalry extending eastward to the crossing
of the Opequon by the Berryville pike. Our camps were, in general,
about six miles to the northward of Opequon Creek. Sheridan's plan
submitted to Grant was to avoid Early's army, pass to the east of
Winchester, and strike the Valley pike at Newtown, seven miles
south of Winchester, and there, being in Early's rear, force him
to give battle.(10) Early moved two divisions to Martinsburg on
the 18th, which caused Sheridan suddenly to change his plan and
determine to attack the remaining divisions at Stephenson's Depot.
Early, however, did not tarry at Martinsburg, but learning there
of Grant's visit to Sheridan, and fearing some aggressive movement,
returned the same night, leaving Gordon's division at Bunker's Hill
with orders to start at daylight the next morning for the Depot.
Gordon reached the Depot about the time the battle opened.(11)

Sheridan's final plan for the expected battle was set forth in
orders issued on the 18th. It was for Wilson's cavalry and Wright's
corps to force a crossing of Opequon Creek on the Berryville pike.
Emory was to report to Wright and follow him. As soon as the open
country, south of the Opequon, was reached, Wright was to put both
corps in line of battle fronting Stephenson's Depot. Crook's
command was to move to the same crossing of the Opequon and be held
there as a reserve. Merritt and Averell's cavalry divisions under
Torbert were to move to the right in the direction of Bunker
Hill.(12)

The army moved at 2 A.M. of the 19th as ordered. Wilson's cavalry
succeeded in crossing the creek and driving the enemy's cavalry
through a deep defile some two miles towards Winchester. Wright
followed, Getty's division leading, Ricketts and Russell following.
When the defile was passed, Getty went into position on the left
of the pike, Ricketts on the right, both in two lines, and Russell's
division was held in reserve. My brigade was the right of the
corps as formed for battle. The only battery up was put in position
on the right. The Nineteenth Corps was ordered to form on the
right of the Sixth and to connect with it. Up to this time no
severe fighting had taken place. Early was for