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Sheridan Prepares a Counterattack
Sheridan was determined but unhurried. For the next five hours he formed his troops, made his plans, and gave as much time as possibe for stragglers to rejoin their units.
Previous map: 10 a.m. • Next map: 4 p.m.
By 3 p.m. the two divisions of the 19th Corps were solidly in line next to the Sixth Corps. Custer’s cavalry was moved to the right flank, overlapping Evans’ Divison and placing a strong and aggresive cavalry division on each flank. Only the still unsteady Eighth Corps was left in reserve along the Valley Pike.
Early had not been entirely still during this time. Around 1 p.m. he had sent Evans, Kershaw and Ramseur forward in what amounted to a strong reconnaissance in force.
Sheridan had been concerned enough to shift Grant’s Vermont Brigade to the support of the 19th Corps, but the Confederate line was thrown back after a few volleys. They fell back to a position halfway to their starting point.
The result left Early’s line more vulnerable than before. It was drawn up behine stone walls but otherwise not helped by terrain features. It also had a sizable gap between Kershaw and Evans, with Evans’ flank exposed and overlapped.
The last delay to Sheridan’s attack was a rumor that Longstreet was approaching Winchester on the Front Royal road. The specter of additional reinforcements from Longstreet had haunted Sheridan throughout the campaign, and in fact Kershaw’s division had come from Longstreet, only to be withdrawn and then returned.
The reality was that it was Lomax’s Comfederate cavalry on the Front Royal Road, which was confirmed by a courier from Winchester and prisoners that Sheridan had his cavalry gather from Wharton’s men. Lomax was not a threat. The attack was on.