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Chapter 49: close of the Valley campaign.
After the return from
Cedar Creek, the main body of my troops remained in their camp for the rest of the month without disturbance, but on the 26th of October the enemy's cavalry attacked
Lomax at
Millford and after sharp fighting was repulsed.
Having heard that
Sheridan was preparing to send troops to
Grant, and that the Manassas Gap Railroad was being repaired, I moved down the
Valley again on the 10th of November.
I had received no reinforcements except about 250 cavalry under
General Cosby from
Breckenridge's department in
Southwestern Virginia, some returned convalescents and several hundred conscripts who had been on details which had been revoked.
On the 11th, on our approach to
Cedar Creek, it was found that the enemy had fallen back towards
Winchester, after having fortified and occupied a position on
Hupp's Hill subsequently to the
battle of Cedar Creek.
Colonel Payne drove a small body of cavalry through
Middletown to
Newtown and I followed him and took position south of the latter place and in view of it.
Sheridan's main force was found posted north of
Newtown in a position which he was engaged in fortifying.
I remained in front of him during the 11th and 12th,
Rosser being on my left flank on the
Back Road, and
Lomax on my right between the
Valley Pike and the
Front Royal road, with one brigade (
McCausland's) at
Cedarville on the latter road.
Rosser had some skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry on the 11th, and on the 12th two divisions advanced against him, and after a heavy fight the enemy was repulsed and some prisoners captured.
Colonel Payne, who was operating immediately in my front, likewise had a sharp engagement with a portion of the enemy's cavalry and defended it. When
