FISHER'S HILL, Battle of. General Early was defeated at the battle of the Opequon, Va., 19 Sept. 1864, and retreated during the night 20 miles up the Shenandoah Valley to Fisher's Hill, two miles south of Strasburg, Va. General Sheridan followed at daylight of the 20th up the Valley pike, General Wilson's cavalry division covering his left and General Averell's division on his right. During the afternoon of the 20th, Wright's Sixth corps and Emory's Nineteenth corps arrived at Cedar Creek, crossed and took position on the heights fronting Strasburg. Crook's Eighth corps halted on the left bank of the creek On 21 September Sheridan pushed through the town, drove Early's skirmishers to the entrenchments and reconnoi tered the position, which, naturally strong, Early had strengthened with works of earth and stone, behind which was Wharton's division on the right, then Gordon's, Pegram's and Ramseur's, with Lomax's division of dismounted cavalry on the extreme left. Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry was at Millford, 12 miles above Front Royal, guard ing Luray Valley and Early's right. Sheridan ordered General Torbert, with Merritt's and Wilson's cavalry divisions, to the Luray Valley to drive out any force of the enemy in that quarter, and cross over from the valley to New Market, and intercept Early's retreat. During the afternoon the Sixth corps, after a serious re pulse, succeeded in gaining a commanding posi tion near the Confederate works, which was immediately entrenched and artillery put in posi tion. Early's right was too strongly posted to attack in front, so Sheridan concluded to turn and attack his left. During the night of the 21st Crook crossed Cedar Creek and, hidden in a clump of timber, remained until daylight, when, under cover of woods and ravines, he marched in rear of and beyond the right of the Sixth corps, and was again concealed, while Rickett's division of the Sixth corps was pushed out and confronted the left of Early's infantry, ready to join Crook's left when he should attack While Rickett's division was threatening in front, Crook marched unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little North Mountain, until he gained the rear of Early's works when, facing to the left, he marched down the mountain side, at sunset. He was seen by
Lomax, artillery was turned upon him, but too late; he struck Lomax's dismounted men in flank and rear, driving them hack on Ramseur, who endeavored to change front, but Rickett's division advancing struck Ramseur in the act, joined Crook's left, and the two commands moved along in rear of Early's entrenchments, his men giving way all along the line, abandon ing many guns. The swinging movement of Rickett's division on the right was taken up from right to left, and between sunset and dark ness Early's entire army was defeated and in disorderly retreat. Early reported next morn ing to General Lee that the enemy °succeeded in driving back the left of my line which was defended by the cavalry, and throwing a force in the rear of the left of my infantry, when the whole of the troops gave way in a panic and could not be rallied.° Early retreated four miles beyond Woodstock and Sheridan pursued him all night, to Woodstock, 12 miles, which was reached at daybreak next morning. The Union loss was 509 killed and wounded. Early re ported a loss in infantry and artillery of 240 killed and wounded and 995 missing. The loss in Lomax's cavalry would swell the entire Con federate loss to about 1,400. Consult Lane, J. H.,