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A height in the rear of Early's po- | there was still time enough to take

sition, crowned by a fort, still held out; but Crook's column quickly stormed and carried both. And now our cavalry-which had been fighting and routing the enemy's-came up on our right, and charged superbly on the rear of the flying foe, taking 700 prisoners and 2 guns at the first onset; following till dark close on the heels of the fugitives, and gathering up prisoners, &c., as they hurried through Winchester in utter rout and disintegration.

Our loss in this battle was fully 3,000, including Gen. David A. Russell, killed, with Gens. McIntosh, Chapman, and Upton wounded. The heroic 19th corps-on which fell the brunt of the fight-alone lost 1,940 killed and wounded. Among the Rebels killed were Gens. Rhodes and A. C. Godwin. Pollard admits a loss of 3,000 on their side; but, as we took 3,000 prisoners, with 5 guns, it was probably much greater.

Early fell back to FISHER'S HILL, 8 miles south of Winchester, between the North and Massanutten mountains-regarded as the very strongest position in the Valley. Sheridan followed sharply, allowing but two days to intervene between his first and his second victory. Advancing the 6th corps against the front and the 19th on the left of the Rebel stronghold, he again sent the 8th by a long circuit around on the right, striking heavily in flank and rear, while a vigorous attack in front broke the enemy's center. The victory here was even more decisive, as well as far more cheaply purchased, than that won at the Opequan. Though our attack could not be made till 4 P. M., 93 Sept. 25.

1,100 prisoners, 16 guns, &c., &c. The pursuit hence was so sharp that Early had to abandon the Valley and take to the mountains, where cavalry could with difficulty operate. Sheridan followed with infantry and artillery to Port Republic," where he captured and destroyed 75 wagons; sending his cavalry, under Torbert, to Staunton, where they destroyed large quantities of army supplies, and thence to Waynesborough, where the Virginia Central railroad was broken up, the bridge burned, and a large Confederate tannery destroyed.

Gen. Grant, in his letter of instructions to Gen. Hunter," had directed that

"In pushing up the Shenandoah valley, where it is expected you will have to go first left to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock, wanted for the consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that use of your cominand; such as can not be the buildings should be destroyed--they should rather be protected--but the people should be informed that, so long as an army

or last, it is desirable that nothing should be

can subsist among them, recurrences of these raids must be expected; and we are determined to stop them at all hazards."

This order, Sheridan, in returning down the Valley, executed to the letter. Whatever of grain and forage had escaped appropriation or destruction by one or another of the armies which had so frequently chased each other up and down this narrow but fertile and productive vale, was now given to the torch. Some of it was the property of men who not only adhered to the Union, but were fighting to uphold it; more belonged to Quakers, Tunkers, &c., who abhorred bloodshed, and had taken no part in the strife, unless under absolute constraint. The excuse, of 34 Aug. 5.

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SHERIDAN DEVASTATES THE VALLEY.

611

"I have not been followed by the enemy to this point, with the exception of a small force of Rebel cavalry that showed themselves some distance behind my rear-guard to-day."

course, was the certainty that what-
ever was left would be used to feed
the Rebel armies and to facilitate
raids and incursions on our posts be-
low. The recent foolish as well as The Richmond Whig thereupon
culpable burning of Chambersburg-gravely proposed to retaliate by
to say nothing of the unauthorized sending incendiaries to fire the cities
but openly justified arson and butch- of the loyal States, saying:
ery at Lawrence-furnished ample
precedents; but it is not obvious that
the National cause was advanced or
the National prestige exalted by this
resort to one of the very harshest and
most questionable expedients not ab-
solutely forbidden by the laws of
civilized warfare.

Sheridan reports this devastation,
in a dispatch to Grant, as follows:
"WOODSTOCK, VA., Oct. 7, 1864–9 P. M.
"Lt.-Gen. U. S. GRANT:

"I have the honor to report my com-
mand at this point to-night. I commenced
moving back from Port Republic, Mount
Crawford, Bridgewater, and Harrisonburg,
yesterday morning.

"The grain and forage in advance of these points had previously been destroyed. "In moving back to this point, the whole country from the Blue ridge to the North mountain has been made untenable for a Rebel army. I have destroyed over 2,000 barns filled with wheat and hay and farming implements, over 70 mills filled with flour and wheat; have driven in front of the army over 4,000 head of stock, and have killed and issued to the troops not less than 3,000 sheep. This destruction embraces the Luray valley and Little Fort valley as well as the main valley.

"A large number of horses have been obtained, a proper estimate of which I can not now make.

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'Lt. John R. Meigs, my engineer officer, was murdered beyond Harrisonburg near Dayton. For this atrocious act, all the houses within an area of five miles were burned.

"There is one effectual way, and only one we know of, to arrest and prevent this and every other sort of atrocity-and that is, to burn one of the chief cities of the eneiny, say Boston, Philadelphia, or Cincinnati, and let its fate hang over the others as a warning of what may be done, and what will be done to them if the present system of war on the part of the enemy is continued. If we are asked how such a thing easier. A million of dollars would lay the can be done, we answer, nothing would be proudest city of the enemy in ashes. The men to execute the work are already there. There would be no difficulty in finding there, here, or in Canada, suitable persons to take charge of the enterprise and arrange its details. Twenty men, with plans all preconcerted and means provided, selecting some dry, windy night, might fire Boston in a hundred places and wrap it in flames from center to suburb. They might retaliate on Richmond, Charleston, &c. Let them do so if they dare! It is a game at which we can beat them. New York is worth twenty Richmonds. They have a dozen towns to our one; and in their towns is centered nearly all their wealth. It would not be immoral and barbarous. It is not immoral nor barbarous to defend yourself by any means or with any weapon the enemy may employ for your destruction. They choose to substitute the torch for the sword. We may so use their own weapon as to make them repent, literally in sackcloth and ashes, that they ever adopted it. If the Executive is not ready for this, we commend the matter to the secret deliberation of the Congress about to meet."

The atrocity here recommended was actually attempted in New York, "Since I came into the Valley from Harper's Ferry, every train, every small party, a few weeks afterward-several of and every straggler, has been bushwhacked the great hotels being simultaneously by the people; many of whom have protec-fired by emissaries who had taken tion papers from commanders who have been hitherto in that valley.

"The people here are getting sick of the war. Heretofore, they have had no reason to complain, because they have been living in great abundance.

lodgings therein for that purpose. Each was quickly extinguished, when little damage had been done.

Sheridan's rear, as he moved down

to Strasburg, being infested" by Rebel | two columns, in order to strike ours horse under Rosser, he ordered Torbert, commanding his cavalry, to turn upon and chastise the presumption. The Rebels broke and fled at the first charge, and were chased back 26 miles; losing 11 guns, 47 wagons, and 330 prisoners. Sheridan's retreat was no further molested; but, having halted near Fisher's hill, Early attempted" to steal upon him unaware, but found him ready, and, after a short struggle, the Rebel chief drew off, badly worsted.

at once on both flanks. He had of course to leave the turnpike and move over rugged paths along the mountain-side, climbing up and down steep hills, holding on by bushes, where horses could hardly keep their feet, and twice fording the North fork of the Shenandoah-the second time in the very face of our pickets. For miles, his right column skirted the left of Crook's position, where an alarm would have exposed him to utter destruction. So imperative was the requirement of silence that his men had been made to leave their canteens in camp, lest they should clatter against their muskets. The divisions of Gordon, Ramseur, and Pegram thus stole by our left; those of Kershaw and Wharton simultaneously flanking our right.

At 2 A. M., the pickets of the 5th N. Y. heavy artillery (Kitching's division) heard a rustling of underbrush and a sound as of stealthy, multitudinous trampling; and two posts were relieved and sent into camp with the report. Gen. Crook thereupon ordered that a good look

Sheridan now left" on a flying visit to Washington, supposing his adversary had had fighting enough for the season. He miscalculated. Early, aware of our commander's absence, stung by his repeated defeats, and considerably rëenforced, resolved on retrieving his ragged fortunes by a daring enterprise-nothing less than the surprise and rout of a veteran army. Having strengthened himself to the utmost, and thoroughly organized his forces in his forest-screened camp near Fisher's hill, he silently moved out at nightfall," resolved to flank our position across CEDAR CREEK, 6 miles distant, and fall on our sleep-out be kept, but sent out no reconnoiing camps at daybreak next morning. Our forces were encamped on three crests or ridges: the Army of West Virginia (Crook's) in front; the 19th corps (Emory's) half a mile behind it; the 6th corps (Wright's) to the right and rear of the 19th. Kitching's provisional division lay behind Crook's left; the cavalry, under Torbert, on the right of the 6th. It is a fact, though no excuse, that they had no more apprehension of an attack from Early than from Canada.

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tering party; even the gaps in his front line caused by detailing regiments for picket duty were not filled; and, when the crash came, the muskets of many of our men were not loaded. There was some suspicion and uneasiness in Crook's command, but no serious preparation.

An hour before dawn, the Rebels had all reached, without obstruction or mishap, the positions severally assigned them, and stood shivering in the chill mist, awaiting the order to attack. No sound of alarm, no hum

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EARLY SURPRISES CROOK AT CEDAR CREEK.

613

umn pressing fiercely on our right and front. The resistance of the 19th corps was brief and bloody; and, when it had melted away, the

of preparation, disquieted them. At
length, as the gray light of dawn
disclosed the eastern hill-tops, a tre-
mendous volley of musketry, on either
flank and away to the rear, startled | 6th, assailed in turn, gave ground-
the sleepers into bewildered con-
con-
sciousness; and the next moment,
with their well known battle-yell,
the charging lines came on.

slowly, in good order, but as if con-
sciously unable to resist the deter-
mined charge of the flushed and eager
foe. And when at length it had
gained a position where it seemed
able and willing to stand, Wright
saw that it had been crowded clear
off the turnpike, while our forces had
no other line of concentration or re-
treat; so that to hold here was to
enable Gordon to interpose between
it and the rest of our army: hence he
ordered a general retreat; which was
made in good order: our columns in-
clining toward the turnpike so as to
recover their communications. The
enemy, intent on plundering our cap-
tured camps, and doubtless hungry,
thirsty, and exhausted with sixteen
hours' arduous marching and fight-

"Tell the brigade commanders to move their men into the trenches," said Gen. Grover, calmly; and the order was given; but it was already too late. The Rebels, disdaining to notice the picket-fire, were themselves in the trenches on both flanks before our astonished soldiers could occupy them in effective force. On our side, all was amazement and confusion; on theirs, thorough wakefulness and perfect comprehension. In fifteen minutes, the Army of West Virginia was a flying mob; one battalion of its picket-line had lost 100 killed and wounded, and seven hundred prisoners. The enemy, knowing every footing, had halted, or were advancing of the ground as familiarly as their own door-yards, never stopped to reconnoiter or consider, but rushed on with incredible celerity.

Emory tried, of course, to stop
them, but with no chance of success.
Assailed in overwhelming force in
front, on both flanks, and well to the
rear, he pushed forward McMillen's
brigade to breast the Rebel torrent,
and give time for the 6th corps to
come up.
One-third of it was killed
and wounded in the effort; but to no
purpose, though two other brigades
were sent up to its support. But
Early's three divisions on our left,
led by Gordon, continued their flank-
ing advance, turning us out of every
position whereon a stand had been
made; while Kershaw led the col-

slowly and cautiously, their muskets silent, with but occasional shots at long range from their artillery. We had lost, beside our killed and wounded, the battle, our camps, defenses, equipage, 24 guns, and 1,200 prisoners.

Sheridan had slept unapprehensively at Winchester, on his return from Washington, while the enemy were executing his bold movement; but the morning breeze wafted ominous sounds to his ears; and he was soon riding rapidly southward, and not long in meeting the kind of drift that may be seen in the rear of every fighting army, more especially if that army is being worsted. Putting spurs to his horse, he reached the front at 10 A. M.; just as Wright had

halted and the enemy had ceased to indicative of more such to come. And press him.

The current notion that our army instantly faced to the front, charged, and routed the exultant foe, does justice neither to Sheridan nor to facts. The defeated are not thus easily converted into conquerors. Sheridan met his crest-fallen, shattered battalions without a word of reproach, but joyously, inspiringly, swinging his cap and shouting to the stragglers as he rode rapidly past them—“ Face the other way, boys! We are going back to our camps! We are going to lick them out of their boots!" Most of them obeyed, as the weaker will submits to the stronger. Then, having ordered each command to face to the front, form line, and advance, he rode for two hours along that line, gathering information, and studying the ground, while he rapidly and cheeringly talked to his soldiers. "Boys, if I had been here, this would not have happened!" he assured them, and they believed it. And so their spirits gradually rose, and they became convinced that their defeat was an awkward accident—unpleasant, of course, but such as might happen to any army so self-confident as to be easily caught napping. Finally, they be gan to doubt that they had actually

now, at 3 P. M., all being ready, the order was given, "The entire line will advance. The 19th corps will move in connection with the 6th. The right of the 19th will swing toward the left, so as to drive the enemy upon the pike." Steadily, not eagerly, our infantry rose to their feet, and went forward through the woods to the open ground beyond. The scream of shells, the rattle of musketry, the charging shout, rolled at once from right to left; and soon the Rebels' front line was carried and their left decidedly turned. Gordon's division, which led the charge on our left that morning, had now been flanked and driven, if not broken.

There was a pause in the advance, but not in the fight. The Rebel guns (they had a good part of ours) opened on our new position, and were replied to mainly by musketry. Again Sheridan moved along our front, cor| recting its formation, giving particular orders to subordinates, and words of cheer and confidence to all. Emory's 1st division was formed nearly at right angles with the Rebels' front, so as to face the turnpike and crowd them, when it charged, toward the way they should go. And now came the second charge, more determined, more confident, more comprehensive than the first; our cavalry advancing Emory's 19th corps was strongly on both wings and, as the Rebel front posted in a dense wood on the left, gave way, charging fiercely upon their and had thrown up a rude breast-disordered ranks, and running them work of rocks and rails along its front. Here he was attacked at 1 P. M., but not in great force nor desperately; and, after a spirited fusillade, he sent word that the enemy had been repulsed. Sheridan accepted and re-quarters to shiver through the night ported the tidings as very natural and as they could.

been beaten at all.

through Strasburg. Our weary, famished infantry-whose rations and cooks had long since paid tribute to the enemy, or found shelter in Winchester-sank down in their recovered

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