Here General Sheridan displayed great generalship.

Instead of retreating with his whole command on the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough to take charge of the horses.

This compelled the enemy to deploy over a vast extent of wooded and broken country, and made his progress slow.

At this juncture he dispatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie Court House.

General Mackenzie's cavalry and one division of the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance.
Soon after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two divisions of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so ordered at once.
Thus the operations of the day necessitated the sending of Warren, because of his accessibility, instead of Humphreys, as was intended, and precipitated intended movements.