n were driven back;
then a fierce attack came on my left from a large force. This too
was repulsed. The battle raged with alternate assaults on the
front and flanks of my division. They were each repulsed with
considerable loss to the enemy. The situation grew so promising
that about 9 A.M. I ordered a general charge along the whole line.
This was promptly made, and the enemy were driven to the east of
Marsh Run, and complete success seemed assured, when a large force
of the enemy again appeared on my left in the direction of Middletown.
The charge had to be suspended and combinations made to meet the
new danger. The battle still raged with great fury, my line being
frequently compelled to change front to meet the flank attacks.
Sometimes a portion of it faced northward, another eastward, and
another southward. The enemy was at no time able to drive us.
All changes of position were made under my orders and after the
enemy had been repulsed in his direct attacks. The importance of
uniting the divisions of the Sixth Corps was kept in mind, and as
the enemy was driven back on my left, my command slowly moved
northward towards Getty and Wheaton's battles. My battle had been
maintained, in general, a mile and more southwestward of Middletown
and in the vicinity of our camps of the night before. Getty and
Wheaton had thus far fought their divisions near Marsh Run to the
south of Middletown. Before 10 A.M., I reached the Woollen Mill
road that ran parallel to the general line my troops were then
holding and almost at right angles to the turnpike, westward to
Cedar Creek from the south end of Middletown. At this time the
enemy was in my front, and our flanks were no longer threatened.
He had suspended further attacks with his infantry, but concentrated
on us a heavy artillery fire which our guns returned. We had lost
few prisoners; even the wounded of the division had been brought
off. The men were in compact order and no demoralization had taken
place. The captured and missing from the division the entire day
was two officers and thirty-four men.( 7) From this last position
I leisurely moved the division to the left and rear over the Old
Forge road (which extended west from the Valley pike at the north
end of Middletown over Middle Marsh Brook and a ridge to the Creek),
passing Wheaton's front, and united with Getty's right. Emerson's
brigade of the division through a mistake temporarily moved a short
distance