Thoburn of Crook's corps. Wharton, followed by all of Early's
artillery, continued on the pike and took position in advance of
Hupp's Hill, less than a mile south of the bridge over Cedar Creek.
He had orders to push across the bridge as soon as Gordon made an
attack on the Union left and rear, and thus bring the artillery
into action. Lomax's cavalry division, theretofore posted in Luray
Valley, was ordered to elude Powell's cavalry, join the right of
Gordon, and co-operate with him in the attack. Rosser's cavalry
divisions were pushed up the night of the 18th close in front of
Custer, with orders to attack simultaneously with Gordon. The
enemy did not know Sheridan was absent from his army, and Payne's
cavalry, which accompanied Gordon, was ordered to penetrate to the
Belle Grove House and make him a prisoner.( 4)

Wright was in command of the army for all military operations, but
otherwise it was commanded in Sheridan's name, during his absence,
by his staff. Few of the army knew Sheridan was away when the
battle opened.

At 4 A.M. the still sleeping Union Army was aroused by sharp firing
far off on its right. Rosser had attacked Custer; but though there
was some surprise, Custer held his ground. This was the initial
attack, but almost at the moment Rosser's guns were heard came an
assault on Thoburn by Kershaw, followed at once by Gordon with his
three divisions and Payne's cavalry on Hayes' division of Crook's
corps. Besides being surprised Crook's divisions were largely
outnumbered, and, consequently, after a short and desperate
resistance, both divisions were broken and somewhat dispersed.
Thoburn was killed. The officers heroically did all in their power
to rally the men, but some were captured, and seventeen pieces of
artillery lost. Early soon joined Gordon with Kershaw, and together
they fell on the left of the Nineteenth Corps, which was at the
same time assailed in front by Wharton with all Early's artillery.
The Nineteenth shared the fate of Crook's corps, and was soon broken
and flying to the rear. This brought Early's five infantry divisions
and his artillery together on the heights near the Belle Grove
House, from whence they could operate against the Sixth Corps.
Sheridan's headquarters were captured, his staff being forced to
fly with such official papers as they could collect. Crook and
Emory's commands were routed before it was fully day-dawn. The
position of our cavalry was such th