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

He then set out to join Sheridan's column, and to hasten the emergency which, in Lee's opinion, would call for the surrender of the rebel army.

Ord marched his men from daylight on the 8th until daylight on the 9th of April, halting only three hours on the road—a terrible march; but the men understood that they were conquering their enemy as effectually by marching as by fighting, and did not murmur. Griffin did as well as Ord. His troops marched twenty-nine miles, and bivouacked at two A. M. on the 9th; then moved again at four, and reached Sheridan's position at six, just as Lee was approaching in heavy force to batter his way through the cavalry.

Ord was the senior in rank on the field, and therefore in command of the infantry. He held a short consultation with Sheridan, after which the cavalry leader proceeded to the front, while Ord deployed his two corps across the head of the valley where Lee must pass. The army of the Potomac was close in the rebel rear on the north and east, and Sheridan, apparently with cavalry only, in front. Sheridan directed the cavalry, which was all dismounted, to fall back gradually, resisting the enemy, so as to give time for Ord to form his lines and march to the attack; and when this was done, the troopers were to move off to the right flank and mount.

Crook was soon hotly engaged. He ran his guns to the front and held his ground, in spite of a heavy onset of the enemy, for the rebels must make their way through now, or all was lost. Lee's force was