L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

In Sheridan's case, there were no reinforcements except himself; his army was defeated and routed; yet, at his cheering voice, and under the influence of his extra. ordinary personal magnetism, the flying, demoralized, and routed troops, turned back and hurled by his skilful hand upon the enemy, caused them in turn to fly with such precipitation as to leave cannon, arms, ammunition, every thing, behind them. Well did General Grant characterize the brave soldier who could do this as one of the greatest of generals.

With a brief description of the circumstances of the defeat, we will proceed to give the narrative of an eyewitness and participator in the subsequent victory Sheridan had, as those familiar with the history of the campaigns of the Army of the Shenandoah will recollect, repeatedly defeated Early during the previous month, driving him with heavy loss across and southward from the Opequan creek, on the 19th of September, and sending him “whirling” through Winchester; routing him — at Fisher's Hill on the 22d of September, and sending his troops in rapid flight and disorder up the valley to Harrisonburg; had “fixed” the new cavalry general, Rosser, on the 8th of October, and repelled with heavy loss a covert attack made by Early from North mountain, on the 12th of October. Supposing that the rebel general had been sufficiently punished to be willing to remain quiet, General Sheridan made a flying visit to his out-stations along the newly repaired Manassas Gap Railroad, and thence to Washington, from