Crook's Flanking Movement

Crook's Flanking Movement. "An avalanche of howling demons". , Seeing the strength of the Confederate defenses at Fisher's Hill, "it was evident," Union Maj. Aldace Walker recalled, "that a direct assault must fail." Union commander Gen. Philip Sheridan concurred. After conferring with his commanders, he agreed to Gen. George Crook's suggestion to send Crook's Army of West Virginia on a long march around the Confederate left flank "to strike the left and rear of the enemy's line.", While Sheridan moved the bulk of his army to Fisher's Hill on September 21, Crook's corps remained on the north bank of Cedar Creek. At sunset on the 21st, Crook moved his command to Hupp's Hill. The following morning, he began his flank march to the west. Around 2:00 p.m. on September 22 - while the rest of the Federals distracted Confederate attention - Crook's command reached the Back Road near St. Stephens Church and began its ascent to the eastern face of Little North Mountain., Crook's men reached their attack position around 4:00 p.m., and "every man nerved himself for the shock to come." When Crook gave the order to charge, one Union officer remembered, "With one wild yell, we burst from that mountain-side, like an avalanche of howling demons, on the rebel left.", As the attack surged forward across the rugged terrain, the lines "lost all formation," but the Federals swept forward "like a western cyclone, every man for himself." A Union captain recalled that the officers in the corps "were here, there, everywhere in the mass, but really were integral parts of a legion of shouting, fighting demons. No orders were given as these veterans knew well what to do.", (Captions):, Gen. George Crook , Courtesy Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Sketch artist James Taylor's depiction of part of Crook's assault , Courtesy Case Western Reserve Historical Society