THE CAVALRY AT CEDAR CREEK.



ization was already well advanced, Sheridan inspired
his men with new courage by his appearance and
words. For two hours he rode back and forth in
front of the line, encouraging the troops; and when
the order was given, "The entire line will advance,
etc.," the infantry went steadily forward upon the
enemy. Early's front was soon carried, while his
left was partly turned back; and after much desper-
ate fighting, his astonished troops turned and ; fled in
utter confusion over the field.
  "As thev streamed down into the Middletown meadow," says
Headley, "Sheridan saw that the time for the cavalry had
come, and ordered a charge. The bugles pealed forth their
stirring notes, and the dashing squadrons of Custer and Merritt
came down like a clattering tempest on the right and left,
doubling up the rebel flanks, and cleaving a terrible path through
the broken ranks. Back to, and through our camp, which they
had swept like a whirlwind in the morning, the panic-stricken
rebels went, pellmell, leaving all the artillery they had captured,
and much of their own, and strewing the way with muskets,
clothing, knapsacks, and everything that could impede their
flight. The infantry were too tired to continue the pursuit, but
the cavalry kept it up, driving them through Strasburg to Fisher's
Hill, and beyond, to Woodstock, sixteen miles distant."
  After the battle of Cedar Creek and during the
winter of 1864-5, Sheridan's army, including Cus-
ter's division, remained inactive, occupying canton-
ments around Winchester.
  On the 27th of Feb., Sheridan started out on his last
great raid, taking with hiln Gen. Merritt as chief of
cavalry, the First and Third divisions of cavalry
under Generals Devin and Custer, artillery, wagons,
and pack-mules. The raiding column, including ar-
tillerymen and teamsters, numbered 10,000 men.
  Moving rapidly up the Shenandoah Valley over the
turnpike road, they passed many villages without



103