LIFE OF GENERAL CUSTER.



immediately on over the breastworks. The surprise
was complete, and after a brief struggle the Army of
West Virginia was flying in confusion toward the
second hill occupied by the 19th Corps. Emory at-
tempted to stop the progress of the enemy, but they
got in his rear, and his command soon broke and fled
with the rest toward the hill where the 6th Corps lay.
   Gen. Wright formed a new line of battle, and re-
pulsed a tremendous charge of the enemy, thus ob-
taining time to cover the immense crowd of fugitives
that darkened the rear. A general retreat was then
begun and continued in good order till 10 A. M.
when, the enemy having ceased to advance, Wright
halted and commenced reorganizing the scattered
troops. The cavalry, being at the rear and extreme
right, had not suffered in the first assault on the
Union army, but they were subsequently transferred
to the left flank, and did brave service in covering
the retreat of the infantry.
  Meanwhile Sheridan, returning from Washington,
had slept at Winchester 20 miles distant, and in the
morning rode leisurely toward his army. The
vibrations of artillery at first surprised him, and he
soon became aware that a heavy battle was raging
and that his army was retreating. Dashing his spurs
into his horse he pushed madly along the road, and
soon left his escort far behind. Further on he met
fugitives from the army, who declared that all was
lost. As the cloud of fugitives thickened he shouted,
as he drove on and swung his cap, " Face the other
way, boys; we are going back to our camp; we
are going to lick them out of their boots." The
frightened stragglers paused, and then turned back.
  On arriving at the front, where the work of reorgan-



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