able to
drive or hold back any enemy in front of any part of my command.
The fighting became general and furious and promised an early
success to our arms. Wheaton, next on my right, and Getty next on
his right as camped, likewise faced about and moved eastward towards
the pike to meet the enemy already in possession of it immediately
south of Middletown. Getty encountered some of Gordon's infantry
and cavalry among our trains. Getty and Wheaton were soon widely
separated from each other, and Wheaton, the nearest, was still not
within a half mile of my division, which was the farthest south.
The broken troops of the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps had retreated
as far as Middletown, and some soon reached Newtown, pressing onward
towards Winchester, carrying exaggerated reports of disaster to
the whole army. Custer's cavalry was still held in Cedar Creek
Valley by Rosser. Merritt came gallantly to the rescue, and by 7
A.M. the enemy were confronted at every point and held at bay.
Getty met a strong force along Meadow Brook, near Middletown, but
maintained himself, though his right flank was assailed by one of
Gordon's divisions. Wheaton fought his division in the interval
between Getty's and my divisions, he having frequently to change
front, as had the other divisions, to meet flanking columns of the
enemy. The complete isolation of the divisions of the Sixth Corps
rendered it impossible for their commanders to know the real
situation throughout the field, and neither of them had any assurance
of co-operation or assistance from the others. My division, being
the farthest south, was in great danger of being cut off. Each
division maintained, from 6 A.M. until after 9 A.M., a battle of
its own. Neither division was, during that time, driven from its
position by any direct attack made on it, and every change of
position by any considerable part of the Sixth Corps was deliberately
made under orders and while not pressed by the enemy in front.
Wright was with Getty or Wheaton until assured of their ability to
cover the trains and to hold their ground. Ricketts, in command
of the corps, after directing me to hold my position near Cedar
Creek until further orders, left me, promising soon to return with
assistance, but about 7 A.M. he fell pierced through the chest with
a rifle ball, and was borne from the field.( 5) The command of
the corps then devolved on Getty, and the command of his division
of General L. A. Gran