Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

[574] until Crook and Merritt could perform their task, and the Sixth corps, which Grant had ordered to support the cavalry, should arrive. Accordingly, Sheridan ordered Stagg's brigade to make a mounted charge against the rebel line, while Miller's battery of horse artillery, from a crest behind, fired over the heads of the cavalry and into the trains. Stagg made a gallant charge, leaving men and horses in front of the rebel works, for even at this juncture the enemy had thrown up breastworks, while the shells of the battery set fire to the wagons beyond. The demonstration completely accomplished its object, and prevented any large force of the enemy from moving against Merritt's cavalry.

At four o'clock, the head of the Sixth corps column came up, Seymour's division leading, and Sheridan at once ordered Wright to put Seymour into position, without waiting for the remainder of the corps. Wright promptly obeyed, and Seymour, advancing, carried the road at a point about two and a half miles south of Deatonsville. Humphreys, meanwhile, was following up the rear of the same force which Sheridan was attacking in flank, while on the left Merritt and Crook were endeavoring to strike the head of the column again. As soon as the road was in Wright's possession, Sheridan ordered him to wheel to the left and push Seymour after the enemy. The rebel resistance, however, was stubborn, and Wheaton's division, now coming up, took position on the left of the road, Seymour moving on the right, and both facing south. Wright and Sheridan rode between the columns.

Just behind the rebel position was a by-way running off westward at right angles with the Deatonsville