down the Charles Town Road, now Swimley Road. Sweeney bypassed the rear guard by swinging diagonally through some woods to the south and emerging just beyond the sharp turn in the road before the ford. A Yankee messenger spotted the Rebs and reported to the 1st New York Cavalry of their approach. The commander of the 1st New York deployed his troopers just as the 36th Virginia attacked. The 1st New York fell back to the ford. As the 1st New York fell back, Lieutenant Eugene Alexander's section of the Baltimore Artillery (Union) was crossing Opequon Creek. While the fighting swirled around, Alexander was able to pull one of his guns up the steep embankment on the west side of the creek, unlimber, and fire a double load of canister shot at the Rebel horsemen. The 6th Maryland posted a company of infantry on either side of the gun. The 36th Virginia reformed and charged again, but were met by fierce fire from four companies of the 6th Maryland, additional grape and canister shot from the Baltimore Battery and a countercharge from the 1st New York Cavalry. The 36th Virginia pulled back with multiple casualties including Major Sweeney who sustained a severe arm wound and lung injury. Lieutenant William Hall of the 1st New York Cavalry later stated: "the fight lasted but thirty minutes, but was one of the most desperate I ever witnessed in my more than four years' service. In this little engagement... the loss on our side was two killed, five wounded and two captured." The 36th Virginia lost four men killed and several wounded, including their commander. The KIA were John W. Anderson, James Coffman, Daniel Keiser and Clinton Dufield. The 1st New York Cavalry and the 6th Maryland Intantry held their position on the banks of Opequon Creek for about an hour until they were sure that the Rebels had left, then resumed their retreat to Winchester. Third Battle of Winchester The situation in September 1864 was that Confederate General Jubal Early had the 15,514 men of his Army of the Valley on the west side of Opequon Creek in the lower Shenandoah Valley from Winchester to Martinsburg. Yankee General Philip Sheridan had the 41,173 men of his Army of the Shenandoah on the east side of Opequon Creek from Harpers Ferry to Berryville. Leading up to the battle, this entire area was a tense