Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 3

[559] undisturbed behind their hastily constructed breastworks. When the sun was well up and the enemy yet made no demonstration, Sheridan sent a brigade, under Davies, as far to the left as Paine's crossroads, five miles north-west of Jetersville, to ascertain if Lee was making any attempt to escape in that direction. Davies soon discovered that Sheridan's suspicions were correct. Lee was already moving a train of wagons toward Painesville, escorted by a considerable body of cavalry. Davies struck this force at the cross-roads, defeated the cavalry, burned a hundred and eighty wagons, and captured five pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. The rebels promptly sent out a force of infantry to attack and cut him off; but Smith and Gregg's brigades of Crook's division were at once dispatched to the support of Davies. A heavy fight ensued, and the rebel attempt was repelled.

By two o'clock Meade had arrived at Jetersville, in advance of the Second corps, which came up an hour later. Meade, however, was still unwell, and requested Sheridan to put the army of the Potomac in position as it arrived. Accordingly Sheridan put two divisions of Humphreys on the left of the Fifth corps, and one on the right, while Meade retired to a little house near by, where Sheridan had slept the night before. Merritt had also now come up, and was placed on the left of the infantry. The vigorous movement against Crook on the left led Sheridan to believe that Lee was attempting to escape in that direction, and he was anxious to attack at once with the force in hand—his cavalry and two corps of infantry; but at this juncture Meade felt himself well enough to come out and assume command, and, much