[
429]
At light on the morning of the 20th, my troops moved to
Fisher's Hill without molestation from the enemy, and again took position at that point on the old line
Wharton's division being on the right, then
Gordon's,
Ramseur's and
Rodes', in the order in which they are mentioned.
Fitz. Lee's cavalry, now under
Brigadier General Wickham, was sent up the
Luray Valley to a narrow pass at
Millwood, to try to hold that valley against the enemy's cavalry.
General Ramseur was transferred to the command of
Rodes' division, and
Brigadier General Pegram, who had reported for duty about the 1st of August, and been in command of his brigade since that time, was left in command of the division previously commanded by
Ramseur.
My infantry was not able to occupy the whole line at
Fisher's Hill, notwithstanding it was extended out in an attenuated line, with considerable intervals.
The greater part of
Lomax's cavalry was therefore dismounted, and placed on
Ramseur's left, near
Little North Mountain, but the line could not then be fully occupied.
This was the only position in the whole Valley where a defensive line could be taken against an enemy moving up the
Valley, and it had several weak points.
To have retired beyond this point would have rendered it necessary for me to fall back to some of the gaps of the
Blue Ridge, at the upper part of the
Valley, and I determined therefore to make a show of a stand here, with the hopes that the enemy would be deterred from attacking me in this position, as had been the case in August.
On the second day after our arrival at this place,
General Breckenridge received orders from
Richmond, by telegraph, to return to
Southwestern Virginia, and I lost the benefit of his services.
He had ably co-operated
[
430]
with me, and our personal relations had been of the most pleasant character.
In the afternoon of the 20th,
Sheridan's forces appeared on the banks of
Cedar Creek, about four miles from
Fisher's Hill, and the 21st, and the greater part of the 22nd, were consumed by him in reconnoitring and gradually moving his forces to my front under cover of breastworks.
After some sharp skirmishing, he attained a strong position immediately in my front and fortified it, and I began to think he was satisfied with the advantage he had gained and would not probably press it further; but on the afternoon of the 22nd, I discovered that another attack was contemplated, and orders were given for my troops to retire, after dark, as I knew my force was not strong enough to resist a determined assault.
Just before sunset, however,
Crook's corps, which had moved to our left on the side of
Little North Mountain, and under cover of the woods, forced back
Lomax's dismounted cavalry and advanced against
Ramseur's left.
Ramseur made an attempt to meet this movement by throwing his brigades successively into line to the left, and
Wharton's division was sent for from the right, but it did not arrive.
Pegram's brigades were also thrown into line in the same manner as
Ramseur's, but the movement produced some disorder in both divisions, and as soon as it was observed by the enemy, he advanced along his whole line and the mischief could not be remedied.
After a very brief contest, my whole force retired in considerable confusion, but the men and officers of the artillery behaved with great coolness, fighting to the very last, and I had to ride to some of the officers and order them to withdraw their guns, before they would move.
In some cases, they had held out so long, and the roads leading from their positions into the
Pike were so rugged, that eleven guns fell into the hands of the enemy.
Vigorous pursuit was not made, and my force fell back through
Woodstock to a place called the
Narrow Passage, all the trains being carried off safely.
[
431]
Our loss in killed and wounded in this affair was slight, but some prisoners were taken by the enemy, the most of whom were captured while attempting to make their way across the
North Fork to
Massanutten Mountain, under the impression that the enemy had possession of the
Valley Pike in our rear.
I had the misfortune to lose my
Adjutant General,
Lieutenant Colonel A. S. Pendleton, a gallant and efficient young officer, who had served on
General Jackson's staff during his Valley campaign, and subsequently to the time of the latter's death.
Colonel Pendleton fell mortally wounded about dark, while posting a force across the
Pike, a little in rear of
Fisher's Hill, to check the enemy.
He was acting with his accustomed gallantry, and his loss was deeply felt and regretted.
