Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/530

490 Abraham's creek, where he encamped, while Ramseur marched to Winchester, to meet a reported advance of the enemy from Romney, Rodes remaining at Stephenson's. The Federal advance made demonstrations on the Martinsburg, the Berryville and the Millwood roads, in the afternoon of the 10th, but was easily repulsed. On the morning of the 11th, Early concentrated his forces and formed a line of battle covering the approaches to Winchester from the east and southeast, also from the south and southwest. Ramseur observed the Front Royal road, Breckinridge the roads leading to Berryville and Millwood, and Rodes the one leading to Martinsburg. Some skirmishing and cannonading took place on the Millwood road, but it was soon ascertained that the Federal forces were aiming to reach the Valley turnpike, in Early's rear; to check this, Gordon was moved to the vicinity of Newtown, and took position covering the approaches to that place from the south and southeast, the remainder of the army following. About dark, Gordon had a brisk skirmish with the enemy, repulsing them, at the double toll-gate, where the turnpike road leading from Charlestown, by way of Berryville, Millwood and White Post, intersects the turnpike leading from Winchester to Front Royal, by which Sheridan was advancing to get in Early's rear. The latter encamped in the vicinity of Newtown.

On the morning of the 12th, the Confederate army marched, took position, and formed a line of battle behind Cedar creek, the enemy forming on the north side, and the armies engaged in skirmishing. In the afternoon Early retired beyond Strasburg to Fisher's hill, posting cavalry on his flanks and in front. The next day a line of defense was selected on Fisher's hill, following the bluff on the south bank of Tumbling run and extending from the North Fork of the Shenandoah northwest across the valley to the back road and the Little North mountain. Along this, rude intrenchments were made. On the 14th the enemy's skirmishers advanced across Cedar creek and engaged those of Early. A detachment of Federal troops drove the Confederate signal men from the peak on the end of Three-top mountain, or Massanutton; but this was soon driven off, with loss, by a detachment of sharpshooters, and this admirable point of observation recovered. On the 15th the