before johnson's brigades could start their attack on the advance union position, at ayres's request, warren moved a brigade from brigadier general and brevet major general samuel w. crawford's division toward white oak road in order to secure ayres's position and to disperse the confederate pickets. at 8:15 a.m., warren advised ayres that sheridan had implied in correspondence to him that merritt's force had been dislodged from white oak road and that ayres should be looking for an attack from the west or the north. due to the condition of the roads and gravelly run, crawford's men did not get into formation until 10:00 a.m.