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At light on the morning of the 20th, my troops moved to
Fisher's Hill without molestation from the enemy, and again took position at that point on the old line
Wharton's division being on the right, then
Gordon's,
Ramseur's and
Rodes', in the order in which they are mentioned.
Fitz. Lee's cavalry, now under
Brigadier General Wickham, was sent up the
Luray Valley to a narrow pass at
Millwood, to try to hold that valley against the enemy's cavalry.
General Ramseur was transferred to the command of
Rodes' division, and
Brigadier General Pegram, who had reported for duty about the 1st of August, and been in command of his brigade since that time, was left in command of the division previously commanded by
Ramseur.
My infantry was not able to occupy the whole line at
Fisher's Hill, notwithstanding it was extended out in an attenuated line, with considerable intervals.
The greater part of
Lomax's cavalry was therefore dismounted, and placed on
Ramseur's left, near
Little North Mountain, but the line could not then be fully occupied.
This was the only position in the whole Valley where a defensive line could be taken against an enemy moving up the
Valley, and it had several weak points.
To have retired beyond this point would have rendered it necessary for me to fall back to some of the gaps of the
Blue Ridge, at the upper part of the
Valley, and I determined therefore to make a show of a stand here, with the hopes that the enemy would be deterred from attacking me in this position, as had been the case in August.
On the second day after our arrival at this place,
General Breckenridge received orders from
Richmond, by telegraph, to return to
Southwestern Virginia, and I lost the benefit of his services.
He had ably co-operated
