Then he went along the slope of the Massanuttons, recrossed the river, and silently came in behind the left flank of the Union force under Crook.
Early himself, with two divisions of infantry and all the artillery, marched straight toward Cedar Creek, where he would await the sound of firing to tell him that Gordon had completed his great circling movement.
Then he would push forward with all his might, and he and Gordon appearing suddenly out of the fog and dark would strike sledge hammer blows from different sides at the surprised Union army.

It was a conception worthy of Old Jack himself, although there was less strength with which to deal the blows.
The Invincibles were with Early, and they arrived in position before Cedar Creek long before Gordon could complete his wide flanking movement.
Both artillery and infantry were up, and there was nothing for them to do but wait.

The officers dismounted and naturally those who led the Invincibles kept close together.

The wait was long.

Midnight came, and then the hours after it passed one by one.
It was late in the year, the eighteenth of October, and the night was chill.