Sheridan, with all his energy, and with all the courage and zeal of his men could not absolutely crush his foe.

Some portions of the hostile force were continually slipping away, and now Early, refusing to give up, was gathering them together again, and was meditating a daring counter stroke.

The task might well have appalled any general and any troops, but if Early had one quality in preeminence it was the resolution to fight.

And most of his officers and men were veterans.

Many of them had ridden with Jackson on his marvelous campaigns.