A Massachusetts soldier on the receiving end of the shelling declared, “A lightning flash in the broad glare of a mid-day sun could not have caused more astonishment.” In response, Crook sent two brigades across the creek to develop the situation. In the short but sharp action that ensued (see Map, Pg. 11) the Confederates routed the Federals. The total Confederate loss was 182 troops killed and wounded, including Brig. Gen. James Conner, who lost his leg to a shell fragment at the close of the battle. Crook lost 209 men, including respected brigade commander Col. George D. Wells, mortally wounded.8

While Early probed Sheridan’s defenses along the Valley Pike, Tom Rosser hit Torbert’s picket line along the Back Road. Rosser shoved his old friend Custer’s pickets back across Cedar Creek (see Pg. 52) and advanced for about one mile before Custer moved his main force out of camp and repulsed the Confederate probe. Overall, the Confederate advance partially rejuvenated the spirit that defeat had sapped from the ranks and restored some of the men’s confidence in Jubal Early. “I believe our army would make a very hard fight now,” declared a soldier of the Stonewall Brigade. “All want to wipe out the stain of Fishers Hill and Winchester.” He added, “The army has not entirely lost confidence in our old leader.”9

To Sheridan and his men, it must have seemed as if Early had risen from the dead. On the evening of October 12, Sheridan had informed Grant that Early’s force was “between Brown’s Gap and Waynes-borough,” 80 miles south of his actual position near Strasburg. Since Sheridan’s victories at Winchester and Fisher’s Hill, Union officers and men had written of the virtual destruction of the Confederate Army of the Valley. Col. W. B. French of the 77th New York declared, “The old brigade, division and corps of Stonewall Jackson — of which we have so long stood in terror — is almost, and I trust will be quite annihilated.” Even after Early’s appearance at Hupp’s Hill, Union Col. Rutherford B. Hayes noted in his diary, “General Early very timid.” Despite Early’s presence at Strasburg, the Federals, from Sheridan on down, had minimized the threat facing the victorious U. S. Army of the Shenandoah.10

Before Early reappeared, Grant had been pressing Sheridan to occupy a position “far enough south to serve as a base for future operations upon Gordonsville and Charlottesville.... Some point in the vicinity of Manassas Gap would seem best suited for all purposes.” Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton had telegraphed Sheridan requesting him to come to Washington for a “consultation.” Sheridan and Grant’s conflicting views regarding a campaign against Gordonsville and Charlottesville and the disposition of Sheridan’s force formed the agenda. Sheridan “got all ready” to go to Washington, but Early’s unexpected appearance changed the itinerary.11

With the possibility of further offensive operations looming, Sheridan had already halted the return march of the VI Corps to Alexandria on October 13 and ordered it back to Front Royal, an ideal base for the potential operations east of the Blue Ridge. When Early attacked Crook that afternoon, Sheridan recalled the VI Corps to his Cedar Creek encampment. The command returned at 2:30 p.m. on October 14. Sheridan pondered an attack that afternoon, but Early had withdrawn to his stronghold at Fisher’s Hill. Sheridan concluded that Early “could not do us serious hurt from there, [so] I changed my mind as to attacking, deciding to defer such action till I could get to Washington, and come to some definite understanding about my future operations.” A veteran of the VI Corps quipped that Early’s soldiers “are very peaceable now [that] we are here. [They] seem to be afraid of the Sixth Corps.” As for Sheridan, he wrote, “I have not yet made up my mind as to the intention of the enemy in making this move.”12

To satisfy Grant’s desire for action against the Virginia Central Railroad, Sheridan ordered two cavalry divisions to accompany him to Front Royal on the evening of October 15. From there, Torbert would “push it thence through Chester Gap to the Virginia Central railroad at Charlottesville, to destroy the bridge over the Rivanna River.” Before leaving, Sheridan sent Maj. Gen. William H. Emory on a reconnaissance at 5:00 a.m. on the 15th. “

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