munition
had now to be brought up and distributed. No matter how well
soldiers have been supplied, they generally come out of a great
battle with little.

Early's army bivouacked at Newtown, and at 3 A.M. of the 20th of
September continued its retreat to Fisher's Hill, about two miles
south of Strasburg. Early placed his army in a strong defensive
position on this hill, which is an abrupt bluff with a precipitous
rocky face, and immediately south of Tumbling Run. His right rested
on the Shenandoah River, and his left extended to the narrow Cedar
Creek Valley at the foot of Little North Mountain. This naturally
strong position was well fortified and impregnable against front
attack.

Sheridan's army moved at day-dawn of the 20th in pursuit, Emory in
the advance. Wright and Emory occupied the heights around Strasburg
on the evening of that day, and Crook's corps was moved to their
right and rear, north of Cedar Creek, where it was concealed in
the dense timber. Sheridan determined to use Crook to turn the
enemy's left, if possible. The Nineteenth and Sixth Corps during
the night of the 20th took position in the order named, from left
to right, in front of Fisher's Hill. This was not accomplished
without some fierce conflicts, brought on in dislodging the enemy
from strongly fortified heights which he held in advance of his
main line. A portion of my brigade was engaged in these preliminary
movements all the night.( 1) The Third--Ricketts' division--was
again on the right of the Sixth Corps and of the army as formed on
the 21st. Near the close of the day I was informed by a staff
officer of General Ricketts that my command was to be held in
reserve behind the right, and that I was not likely to be engaged
in the coming battle if the plan of the commanding general was
carried out. I was directed to get my regiments into as comfortable
a situation as possible for rest, and hence selected a good place
to bivouac, and was employed in riding through the troops and
telling the officers of the prospect of freedom from severe work
the coming day when a brisk engagement broke out in my immediate
front. A portion of the Second Division of the Sixth Corps was
repulsed in an attempt, just at nightfall, to carry a fortified
hill in front of our right, which Sheridan and Wright had suddenly
decided must be taken for the security of our army.( 2) Wright,
seeing my command near at hand, ordered Ricketts to send to me for