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

[575] road, and it was soon discovered that the enemy's line was broken, a part moving west in the direction of the Appomattox, and part still keeping the Deatonsville road. Humphreys was coming up at this moment, and Sheridan sent him word of this important news, requesting him to push on to the right, as he felt confident that together they could break up the enemy. Humphreys instantly deflected to the right in pursuit of the fragments which had broken off in the direction of the Appomattox, and was soon engaged in an independent encounter of his own; while the Sixth corps advanced on the Deatonsville road. Wright drove the enemy about two miles, through a thick jungle, until the battle reached Sailor's creek, a marshy and difficult stream, running westerly into the Appomattox. From the northern bank Sheridan could distinguish his own cavalry away to the left, on the high ground south, and the long line of smoke from the burning wagons.

Merritt had pushed on steadily in the overlapping movement, forded the creek a mile or two above the infantry, and swept around carefully to the opposite side of a ridge that rose in front of Wright; and a young cavalryman, named William Richardson, of Custer's brigade, who had cleared the rebel troops in a charge beyond the crest, and come through their lines, now reported to Sheridan the position of Merritt's command. The cavalry was on the left flank of the road which Wright was following, behind the ridge, but approaching it rapidly. Custer had the right, next to the ridge, Crook the centre, and Devin was on the left; Custer not having broken off from the right in the overlapping movement when the point of attack was reached. All