The condition of the roads was such that nothing was done on the 17th.  But that night Hancock and Wright were to make a night march back to their old positions, and to make an assault at four o’clock in the morning.  Lee got troops back in time to protect his old line, so the assault was unsuccessful.  On this day (18th) the news was almost as discouraging to us as it had been two days before in the rebel capital.  As stated above, Hancock’s and Wright’s corps had made an unsuccessful assault.  News came that Sigel had been defeated at New Market, badly, and was retreating down the valley.  Not two hours before, I had sent the inquiry to Halleck whether Sigel could not get to Staunton to stop supplies coming from there to Lee.  I asked at once that Sigel might be relieved, and some one else put in his place.  Hunter’s name was suggested, and I heartily approved.  Further news from Butler reported him driven from Drury’s Bluff, but still in possession of the Petersburg road.  Banks had been defeated in Louisiana, relieved, and Canby put in his place.  This change of commander was not on my suggestion.  All this news was very discouraging.  All of it must have been known by the enemy before it was by me.  In fact, the good news (for the enemy) must have been known to him at the moment I thought he was in despair, and his anguish had been already relieved when we were enjoying his supposed discomfiture, But this was no time for repining.  I immediately gave orders for a movement by the left flank, on towards Richmond, to commence on the night of the 19th.  I also asked Halleck to secure the cooperation of the navy in changing our base of supplies from Fredericksburg to Port Royal, on the Rappahannock.

Up to this time I had received no reinforcements, except six thousand raw troops under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler, just arrived.  They had not yet joined their command, Hancock’s corps, but were on our right.  This corps had been brought to the rear of the centre, ready to move in any direction.  Lee, probably suspecting some move on my part, and seeing our right entirely abandoned, moved Ewell’s corps about five o’clock in the afternoon, with Early’s as a reserve, to attack us in that quarter.  Tyler had come up from Fredericksburg, and had been halted on the road to the right of our line, near Kitching’s brigade of Warren’s corps.  Tyler received the attack with his raw troops, and they maintained their position, until reinforced, in a manner worthy of veterans.

Hancock was in a position to reinforce speedily, and was the soldier to do it without waiting to make dispositions.  Birney was thrown to Tyler’s right and Crawford to his left, with Gibbon as a reserve; and Ewell was whirled back speedily and with heavy loss.

Warren had been ordered to get on Ewell’s flank and in his rear, to cut him off from his intrenchments.  But his efforts were so feeble that under the cover of night Ewell got back with only the loss of a few hundred prisoners, besides his killed and wounded.  The army being engaged until after dark, I rescinded the order for the march by our left flank that night.