to escape death, and with almost superhuman
exertion kept himself afloat on a broken spar for twenty hours,
and thus reached shore, only to sink down and die from exhaustion.

(10) _Memoirs of Sheridan_, vol. ii., p. 59.

CHAPTER X
Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, with Comments Thereon--
Also Personal Mention and Incidents

General Early, upon his arrival at Fisher's Hill with his reorganized
army, assumed, on the 13th of October, an aggressive attitude by
pushing a division of infantry north of Strasburg and his cavalry
along the Back road towards Cedar Creek. This brought on sharp
engagements, in which Colonel Thoburn's division of Crook's corps
and Custer's cavalry participated. Early seems to have acted in
the belief that all but Crook's command had gone to Petersburg.
This action resulted in bringing Wright back to Cedar Creek, as we
have seen.

Secretary Stanton, by telegram on the 13th, summoned Sheridan to
Washington for consultation as to the latter's future operations.

Early, having met unexpected resistance, withdrew his forces at
night to Fisher's Hill, and quiet being restored, Sheridan started
on the 16th to Washington, _via_ Front Royal and Manassas Gap. He
took with him as far as Front Royal his cavalry, under Torbert,
intending to push them through Chester Gap to the Virginia Central
Railroad at Charlottesville, to make an extensive raid east of the
Blue Ridge.

Early had a signal station on Three Top Mountain in plain view of
our signal officers, who knew the Confederate signal code. From
this station there was flagged, on the 16th, this message:

"To Lieutenant-General Early:

"Be ready to move as soon as my forces join you, and we will crush
Sheridan.

"Longstreet, Lieutenant-General."

Wright, who was left in command of the army at Cedar Creek, forwarded
this message to Sheridan, who received it when near Front Royal.
Wright, also, in a communication accompanying the message, expressed
fear of an attack in the absence of the cavalry. He anticipated
that it would fall on his right. Sheridan, deeming it best to be
on the safe side, abandoned the cavalry raid, and ordered Torbert
to report back to Wright, cautioning the latter to be well on his
guard, and expressing the opinion to Wright that if attacked he
could beat the enemy.( 1) Sheridan with a cavalry escort proceeded
to Rectortown, the terminus of the railroad; there took cars, and
arrived in Washington the mo