Battle of Cedar Creek – 10 a.m.

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The Confederate Attack Winds Down

The fighting died down as Getty’s division pulled off Cemetery Hill and withdrew “slow and orderly” north of Middletown. Getty and the cavalry, which concentrated on the southeast side of the Valley Pike, were in formation and ready to continue the fight. Wheaton’s and Keifer’s divisions of the Sixth Corps were recovering from their fighting withdrawal and would soon be ready to continue. The two divisions of the 19th Corps were in less good shape but were organizing. Only the badly battered 8th Corps was too disorganized for a fight.

Situation map for the Battle of Cedar Creek - 10 a.m.

Previous map: 9 a.m. • Next map: 3 p.m.

The victorious Confederates were also resting. Kershaw had notified Early that he could not advance due to the large force of cavalry in his front and his weakened ranks. An advance by Wharton’s Division had been thrown back by Lowell’s Brigade of Merritt’s Division, sheltered behind a stone wall with repeating carbines.

Early was not greatly concerned. He had captured 1,300 prisoners and 24 of Sheridan’s guns and had sent two thirds of the Union army off in disorganized retreat. He believed the Sixth Corps and the cavalry would retire, too, after the rest of the army had made good its escape.

But within a short time the situation in the Union lines charged. Phil Sheridan rode up the Valley Pike and was welcomed by his wildly cheering men. Sheridan had heard the distant guns back in Winchester and had pushed south on his big black horse, Rienzi, rallying his retreating men as he came.

Sheridan had no interest in just trying to get out of the disaster. When William Emory told Sheridan his 19th Corps was reorganized and could cover the retreat Sheridan barked back, “Retreat, Hell! We’ll be back in our camps tonight!”