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Chapter 48: battle of Cedar Creek, or Belle Grove.
Having heard that
Sheridan was preparing to send part of his troops to
Grant, I moved down the
Valley again on the 12th.
On the morning of the 13th we reached
Fisher's Hill, and I moved with part of my command to
Hupp's Hill, between
Strasburg and
Cedar Creek, for the purpose of reconnoitring.
The enemy was found posted on the north bank of
Cedar Creek in strong force, and while we were observing him, without displaying any of my force except a small body of cavalry, a division of his infantry was moved out to his left and stacked arms in an open field, when a battery of artillery was run out suddenly and opened on this division, scattering it in great confusion.
The enemy then displayed a large force, and sent a division across the creek to capture guns which had been opened on him, but when it had advanced near enough,
Conner's brigade of
Kershaw's division was sent forward to meet this division, and after a sharp contest drove it back in considerable confusion and with severe loss.
Conner's brigade behaved very handsomely indeed, but unfortunately, after the enemy had been entirely repulsed,
Brigadier General Conner, a most accomplished and gallant officer, lost his leg by a shell from the opposite side of the creek.
Some prisoners were taken from the enemy in this affair, and
Colonel Wells, the division commander, fell into our hands mortally wounded.
The object of the reconnaissance having been accomplished, I moved back to
Fisher's Hill, and I subsequently learned that the 6th corps had started for
Grant's army but was brought back after this affair.
I remained at
Fisher's Hill until the 16th observing the enemy, with the hope that he would move back from his very strong position on the north of
Cedar Creek, and
