north of the line designated, but the error was promptly
corrected. Colonel Ball was then, by me, directed to cover the
front of the entire division with a heavy line of skirmishers, and
he accordingly deployed the 110th Ohio and 138th Pennsylvania under
Lieutenant-Colonel Otho H. Binkley, and moved them about three
hundred yards to the front along the outskirts of a woods, with
orders to hold the enemy in check as long as possible if attacked.
Orders were at once given to resupply the troops with ammunition.
Wheaton's division soon formed on my right, and for the first time
after the battle opened the Sixth Corps was united.

The enemy was now in possession of the camps (except of the cavalry)
of our army, and was flushed with success. Wright had given orders
for all the broken troops to be re-organized, and for Merritt and
Custer's cavalry to move from the right to the left of the army,( 8)
and the division commanders were told the enemy would be attacked
about 12 M.

We left Sheridan at Winchester. He remained there the night of
the 18th of October. Before rising in the morning an officer on
picket duty in front of the city reported artillery firing in the
direction of his army. Sheridan interpreted this as a strong
reconnoissance in which the enemy was being felt. He had been
notified the night before that Wright had ordered such a reconnoissance.
Further reports of heavy firing having reached him, he, at 8.30
A.M. started to join his army. When he reached Mill Creek just
south of Winchester, with his escort following, he distinctly heard
the continuous roar of artillery, which satisfied him his army was
engaged in strong battle. As he approached Kearnstown and came
upon a high place in the road, he caught sight of some demoralized
soldiers, camp followers, and baggage and sutler wagons, in great
confusion, hurrying to the rear. There were in this mixed mass
sutlers and their clerks, teamsters, bummers, cow-leaders, servants,
and all manner of camp followers. The sight greatly disturbed
Sheridan; it was almost appalling to him. Such a scene in greater
or less degree may usually be witnessed in the rear of any great
army in battle. The common false reports of the army being all
overwhelmed and in retreat were proclaimed by these flying men as
justification of their own disgraceful conduct. Sheridan,
notwithstanding his experience as a soldier, was impressed with
the belief that his whole army was def