At midday on September 22, Union Gen. Philip Sheridan ordered a demonstration against the Confederate left center to make the Confederates expect a formidable assault there and to distract attention from Gen. George Crook's impending flank march. Gen. James Ricketts's infantry division and Gen. William Averell's cavalry division were directed to move conspicuously to the Union right and seize the heights across from the position. Confederate skirmishers from Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur's division had occupied the ridge to the front and built bull pens, makeshift structures of fence rails covered with earth. As Ricketts moved into place, companies of the 110th and 122nd Ohio from Col. Joseph Keifer's brigade attacked the bull pens. The Confederates resisted stubbornly, but repeated Federal charges forced them to abandon the ridge, cross the run, and retreat within their works, with many falling before they reached the line. Keifer's skirmishers then advanced over the hill to the front while his main line formed behind the ridge under protection from Confederate artillery. The conspicuous, aggressive movement of Ricketts and Averell unnerved the southern defenders, led some to expect an immediate attack, and diverted Confederate attention just as Crook was about to begin his pivotal flank march.

Photo: Bradley Owen

Strasburg, Virginia · USA