We were firing very rapidly and doing good execution, as we kept the line on our left (or in front of our left section, which had swung to the left) back to the brow of the ridge; but it now became apparent that we must fall back, as the right of our support had given way and the troops on the left of the battery were only hanging on so as to give us a chance to get out; and to add to our troubles, the line of infantry on our left, which we had until now been able to keep back to the ridge, was joined by Wharton's rebel division which had moved up the pike, and they were pouring in a nasty fire.

When we received the order, "Limber to the rear," we were not long in executing it, as the rebels were now very close to us. All the pieces were taken off but the left piece of Lieut. Gray's section—three of the limber horses being down, and in a minute every horse on the limber was shot. It was impossible to take the piece by hand to the rear, and the caisson had started some minutes before. The pike had been in the hands of the rebels for the last fifteen minutes, so Lieut. Gray told the three or four cannoneers who had been trying to get the limber clear, to join the battery.

Maj. Hart, of Gen. Emory's staff, wanted to save this piece, and told Lieut. Gray to fix the prolong and he would have the infantry haul it off. It was simply sacrificing men to make the attempt under the circumstances. Maj. Hart lost his life, also Capt. Watson and Lieut. Quay, both of the Eighth Indiana, and Lieut. Col. Kenny, commanding the Eighth Indiana, was severely wounded, and four others. Lieut. Gray was the only one who escaped from the attempt to get the piece away.

The following is from Vol. XLIII. of the Official Records of the War:

Hdqrs. Fourth Brig., Second Div., 19th Army Corps,
Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864.

Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of my command in the engagement on the 19th of October, instant:

* * * * the right regiment (Eighth Indiana) supporting Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery. In consequence of the dense fog, which existed at the time, the enemy advanced on the battery and were within a short distance of it before we could distinguish whether they were friends or foes, the more so, as we supposed them to be a portion of the Eighth Corps, and notwithstanding we received a very heavy fire from that direction, we did not reply to it until they charged directly on the battery. Five pieces were withdrawn successfully, and while attempting to save the last one Major Hart (of General Grover's staff), Capt. William D. Watson, and Lieut. George W. Quay (both of Eighth Indiana) were killed, and Lieut. Col. A.J. Kenny (commanding Eighth Indiana) severely wounded. * * * * *

I cannot close this report without referring to the bravery of the lamented Major Hart (of General Grover's staff), who was killed while cheering on the men in their attempt to save the last gun of Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery. In him we have lost a noble, brave, efficient officer.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

DAVID SHUNK,
Colonel Eighth Indiana, Commanding.

Capt. E.A. Fiske,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen.,
Second Div., Nineteenth Army Corps.

Hdqrs. Third Brig., Second Div., 19th Army Corps,
Near Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864.

Sir: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this brigade in the action of the 19th instant:

* * * * the left of the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York reached nearly to and supported Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery.

These dispositions had scarcely been made, and orders given to the men to reserve their fire until the enemy was near enough to make the fire effective, when we began to receive a heavy fire of musketry from the advancing, but still hidden, enemy. The fire came from our front, our right, and our left, with a heavy, but random fire of artillery from the heights formerly occupied by General Crook's command. The enemy's lines were not developed until they were within one hundred and fifty yards of our lines, and then were but dimly visible through the fog. At this time they opened a furious and destructive fire upon us, still advancing, which was vigorously and effectively returned, checking to some extent their advance. The enemy's lines, as now developed, were nearly at right angles with the main brigade line, and facing the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York and the three companies of the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York, which had changed front. The left of their lines extended very nearly to Cedar Creek, while their right extended as far as the eye could reach through the fog and smoke. In a very few moments they were on us in force, their left swinging to the right, while their right poured heavy volleys in our rear. A desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued on the left of the brigade line. The enemy had planted their colors on our works and were fighting desperately across them, meeting with a stubborn resistance, while they swarmed like bees round the battery on our left and rear. * * * *

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ALFRED NEAFIE,
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. E.A. Fiske,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

When the battery retired, we moved to the right and rear of our position, crossed Meadow Brook, passing to the west of the Bell Grove house (Sheridan's head-quarters) and joined some infantry about one thousand yards to the rear, and went into position, firing at a line of infantry on the pike, and then fell back just beyond Middletown, and again went into position behind some light breastworks that had been thrown up. We remained there until three or four in the afternoon, firing occasionally when we could see anything to fire at.

Gen. Sheridan joined his command at about half-past ten in the morning, from Winchester. At this time Getty's division, of the Sixth Corps, was holding a position about one mile north of Middletown, his left near the pike. Col. Lowell's cavalry extended from Getty's left to near Middletown. The other two divisions of the Sixth Corps, the Nineteenth, and part of the Eighth Corps, were just south of Newtown.

Our army had lost twenty-four pieces of artillery, a large amount of camp equipage, ambulances, wagons, and thirteen hundred prisoners.