rear, fought
desperately, but not hopefully. The whole line was pushed slowly back.
Colonel Hayes, on seeing his right breaking up, rode over and with
vehemence gave orders to stand firm. But the line melted away, leaving
him alone and exposed. A whole volley came aimed at him, filling the air
and killing his horse with twenty balls. The horse going at great speed
when it fell, threw its rider with great violence to the ground,
dislocating an ankle and badly bruising him from the head down. He rose,
and though fired at by the pursuing enemy at forty paces, escaped
further wounds or capture. Colonel Hayes procured the horse of his
orderly, and with great exertion gradually brought his men to a stand.
Here they were alternately preparing their breakfasts, and when orders
were given, instantaneously forming lines.

At ten o'clock the Union army received a reinforcement more powerful
than was the enemy's of twelve thousand men. Sheridan had come, and with
him confidence had come. He almost instantaneously inspired a beaten
army with his own electric energy and unconquerable hope. "Boys, we must
go back to our camps," he said; and they went. The army was recreated
into a compact, advancing, aggressive organization. "The whole line will
advance," said Sheridan, and it advanced.

The enemy was charged a first and a second time, with infantry in the
center and cavalry on the left and right. Custer's cavalry kept swooping
down on the rebel flank, gathering them in as a sickle gathers grain.
The gallant Colonel Hayes, too modest to seek promotion, though long
discharging the duties of a major-general, as commander of a veteran
division, fought in the center, forcing back the rebel line to Cedar
creek. Here it broke in confusion, abandoning seventy pieces of
artillery, arms, camps, and transportation. The pursuit ceased not until
there was no longer an enemy to pursue. Early this time "stayed
whipped." In the Shenandoah valley he ceased to take much interest in
subsequent events.

It was on the field of this most complete victory of the war that
Sheridan clasped the hand of Hayes and said: "Colonel, from this day
forward you will be a brigadier-general." Ten days after the battle the
commission came. The gallant Crook presented him with the insignia of
his new rank, and he wore them. On March 13, 1865, he was promoted to
the rank of brevet major-general "for gallant and distinguished services
during the campaign of 1864 in West