Sheridan along his whole line was forcing the enemy back toward Winchester, raking him with his heavy guns, and sending charge after charge of cavalry against him.

Unable to withstand the weight hurled upon them the Southern troops gave ground at an increased rate.
Yet Early and his veterans never showed greater courage than on that day.
His brave officers were everywhere, checking the fugitives and, his best division turning a front of steel to the enemy, covered the retreat.
Neither infantry nor cavalry could break it, although every man in the Southern command knew that the battle was lost.

Yet they were resolved that it should not become a rout, and though many were falling before the Union force they never shrank for a moment from their terrible task.
The Invincibles were in the division that covered the retreat, and they were exposed at all times to the full measure of the Union attack.
Dalton had joined them that morning, but the bullets and shells seemed resolved to spare the four youths and the two colonels, or at least not to doom them to death.

Nearly every one of them bore slight wounds, and often men had been killed only a few feet away, but the valiant band, led by its daring officers, fought with undimmed courage and resolution.
"I fear that we have been defeated, Hector," said Colonel Leonidas Talbot.
"Don't call it a defeat, Leonidas.

It's merely a masterly retreat before superior numbers, after having inflicted great loss upon the enemy.
As you see, we are protecting our withdrawal.