Harper's Round Table, March 2, 1897

At the height of the Civil War, Union General Philip Sheridan faces a delicate dilemma in the hills above Opequan Creek. While famed for bold charges, he prefers fresh troops and surprise over reckless sprints, and spends days watching the entrenched Confederates under General Early. As September 1864 wears on, meticulous orders are whispered through the camps, and the blue‑clad soldiers brace for a night‑time advance that could decide the fate of Winchester.

In the dead of night, the Second United States Cavalry, led by Captain Rodenbough, slips toward the steep, wooded banks of the creek. Dim lantern light reveals scattered pickets, brief exchanges of fire, and the crumbling stone abutments of an old railroad bridge. With dawn approaching, the men dismount, plunge into the cold water, and prepare to seize the far bank, their carbines raised in a tense, hopeful rush.