Page:A Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence in the Confederate States of America.djvu/102

98 engineer party was put to work repairing the bridge, which had been but partially destroyed.

On the 1st of October, I moved my whole force across the country to Mount Sidney on the Valley Pike, and took position between that place and North River, the enemy's forces having been concentrated around Harrisonburg, and on the north bank of the river. In this position we remained until the 6th, awaiting the arrival of Rossor's brigade of cavalry which was on its way from General Lee's army. In the meantime there waft some skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry on the North River,at the bridge near Mount Crawford and at Bridgewater above.

On the 5th, Rosser's brigade arrived and was temporarily attached to Fitz Lee's division, of which Rosser was given the command, as Brigadier-General Wickham had resigned. The horses of Rosser's brigade had been so much reduced by previous hard service and the long march from Richmond, that the brigade did not exceed six hundred mounted men for duty when it joined me. Kershaw's division numbered 2700 muskets for duty, and he had brought with him Cutshaw's battalion of artillery. These reinforcements About made up my looses at Winchester and Fisher's hill, and I determined to attack the enemy in his position at Harrisonburg, and for that purpose made a reconnoissance the 5th, but on the morning of the 6th, it was discovered that he had retired during the night down the Valley.