Sheridan Renews The Attack

In mid-afternoon on September 19, 1864, after Union Gen. William Emory's 19th Corps had suffered heavy losses in the early fighting, Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan arrived, rejected the idea that the battle was over, and prepared to commit Gen. George Crook and his 10,000-man Army of West Virginia. Sheridan rode through the First Woods to await Crook's arrival and instructed him to place his men on the right and rear of Emory's Corps. At 2:30 pm, Crook rode through the woods to the front line at the western edge of the First Woods, conferred with officers of the 19th Corps, then rode to Red Bud Run, where an officer from the 29th Maine in a tree confirmed that this was the extreme right of the Union line. Crook returned to the rear, explained his plan, ordered Col. Joseph Thoburn's division forward to relieve Gen. George Beal's brigade on Emory's right flank, and personally led Col. Isaac Duval's division across Red Bud Run on a flanking march around the Confederate left. Crook's initiative became the key move that broke the deadlock on the battlefield.

Virginia · United States