at it could render no immediate
aid against the main attack. Gordon prolonged his line towards
Middletown, facing generally to the westward, and was joined on
his right by some irregular cavalry, part of which appeared north
of Middletown. These forces threatened our ammunition and other
trains. A thick fog helped to conceal the enemy's movements. The
disaster sustained must not be attributed to a want of skill and
bravery on the part of the troops of the Eighth and Nineteenth.
Crook, aided by such gallant officers as Colonels Thoburn, Thomas
M. Harris, and Milton Wells of the First, and Colonels R. B. Hayes,
H. F. Devol, James M. Comly, and B. F. Coates of his Second Division,
and Emory, assisted by Generals McMillen and Dwight and Colonels
Davis and Thomas of his First, and Generals Grover and Birge and
Colonels Porter, Molineux, Dan. McCauley, and Shunk of his Second
Division, did all possible under the circumstances to avert calamity.
No braver or more skillful officers could be found. These corps
were victims of a surprise. Their position was badly chosen, and
not well protected by pickets and guards. There is no necessity
to defend the good name of the officers and men who were so
ingloriously routed. The battle, so successful thus far for Early,
was, however, not over, nor was he to have continued good fortune.
Wright had retained the active command of the Sixth Corps, though
by virtue of seniority he was in command of the army. He, as soon
as the attack was made, turned his corps over to Ricketts, who
turned the command of his division (Third) over to me, and I turned
my brigade over to Colonel Wm. H. Ball of the 122d Ohio. My division
was the next to be struck by Early's troops. It had time, however,
to break camp, form, and face about to the eastward. Before it
was fairly daylight, my old brigade, under Colonel Ball, had crossed
Meadow Brook by my order and was advancing up the heights near the
Belle Grove House. Ball's brigade was run through by the broken
troops of the Nineteenth, and it was feared for a time it could
not be held steady. The enemy swung across the Valley pike to my
left and rear, and thus completely isolated my division from other
Union troops. Notwithstanding this situation the division firmly
held its exposed position. To cover a wider front the brigades
were fought and manoeuvred separately in single battle line, and
often faced in different directions. I soon found I was