heights on the south side of Cedar Creek, and a brisk affair with the enemy’s pickets took place, the Confederates occupying with their main force the heights north of Strasburg.  On the morning of the 13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg, on the middle road, about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike, and discovered that Early’s infantry was at Fisher’s Hill, where he had thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains.  On the left of these works he had Vaughan’s, McCausland’s, and Johnson’s brigades of cavalry under General Lomax, who at this time relieved General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces.

Within the past day or two I had received information that a column of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching Front Royal through Chester Gap, and although the intelligence was unconfirmed, it caused me much solicitude; for there was strong probability that such a movement would be made, and any considerable force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon my rear and destroy my communication with Harper’s Ferry, or, moving along the base of Massanutten Mountain, could attack my flank in conjunction with the force at Fisher’s Hill without a possibility of my preventing it.

Neither Wilson’s cavalry nor Grower’s infantry had yet joined me, and the necessities, already explained, which obliged me to hold with string garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned. had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy would outnumber me when Anderson’s corps should arrive in the valley.  I deemed it advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution, so, with the exception of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th, I remained on the defensive, quietly awaiting developments.  In the evening of that day the enemy’s skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run, his main force remaining inactive behind the intrenchments at Fisher’s Hill waiting for the arrival of Anderson.

The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept increasing every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what was up.  At the same time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side of Cedar Creek, and occupied the heights near Strasburg.  That day I received from the hands of Colonel Chipman, of the Adjutant-General’s Department, the following despatch, to deliver which he had ridden in great haste from Washington through Snicker’s Gap, escorted by a regiment of cavalry: 

“City point, August 12, 1864—­9 A. M.

“Major-general Halleck

“Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two (2) divisions of infantry have gone to Early, and some cavalry and twenty (20) pieces of artillery.  This movement commenced last Saturday night.  He must be cautious, and act now on the defensive until movements here force them to detach to send this way.  Early’s force, with this increase, cannot exceed forty thousand men, but this is too much for General Sheridan to attack.  Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of the Nineteenth Corps.