The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-08-22
GENERAL. SHERIDAN.
Review or the Siiunflan In the ShcnI

The operations Of General Sherdan's army Tor
tho last few wosks have been marked with the
highest interest. When General Sheridan assumed
the command. our forces lay In Maryland, on the
line OF the Mopocacy, while the bulk of General
Ear'y's army was also in that State only q COM
parsuvcly small force of the enemy bong south of
the Potomac. General Sheridan at once instituted
movements for forcing tie enemy back or compel.
ling him to give battle and also to recover tic
Valley Of the Shenandoah. With this view he
transferred his army to IIsrpers Ferry, and await.
ed the south bank oi the Potomac the arrival Of
a large cavalry force from City Point. Up to the
9th OF August, the rebels were still on the north
bank Of the river, and 1t WAS expected shat our
forces would hold them there, and compel them to
fight at u disadvantage or surrender. General
Early anticipated the design, and prepared to
thwart It. To do this the rebels made a fcint Of
throwing up Notifications at Antetan and secretly
Withdrew 10 the south side Of tie Potomac, occupy
ing Mnrtinsburg before their passage had been dis
covered. General Sheridan nj put his entire
army in motion, aud reached Winchester
on tho 11th. AHcr brief halt the
place was again abandoned, aud the
army marched ~ Ito direction Of Mwood. In
'H'o NJ uiiiottuuutc WHiuu
caused our forces to take the longest road, and
tually march back from Early, In place Of pursuing
him, or moving in parallel lines. Despite these
disadvantages and the delays imposed by bad,
narrow roads, while the enemy moved over the
finest turnpike in Virginia our advance reached
Mddletown on the 12th, only few hours amer the
rebel resr-yusrd left IL. The people of this section
| OF ofcounuy, our Correspondent states have worn
and terror-struck appearance, that painfully i'm.
| presses observers with the horrors Of war. There
were absolutely no alie-bod!ei men, the entire pop
ula,on consisting Of covering women, who seem
| to take In almost sntcipa,ve submission the DIS
tresses imposed upon them by the opposing et,
that lay waste their country and devour their sub
stance.
Our troops arrivng at s,rashurg, on the line OF
Cedar Creek, found their hopes OF gaining possess
sion Il the key of the valley frustrated by the ob-
vous arrival Of rein!or emens to the enemy, whose
position was remarkably strong. situated upon q
high ridge that commands Strashur', the Cumber-
land river lay between their trout aud the town.
The Manchschu Mountains, or spur Of the Three
Top Mountains hay on tie right, nnd on the left
the great North Mountains stretched away and pro-
tected his wings, rendering . flank movement inn
possible except by circuit Of twenty niles which
would expose TO the inevitable danger of having
our communications cut of. The arrival at this
time OF Confederate reinforcement flng through
Thoroughfare Gap and threatening our fanks on
the Front Royal road, eft Gen. Sheridan no other
alternative than to retreat The most eEirsvasant
stories OF the strength Of the rebel forces
were Circulated in the Valley. It was stated that
General LhE was present in person with eighty
thousand men. Th!s however, Ia an exagg,ratou,
and it ia not probable that the enemy's strength
exceeded forty thousand men. For these, our me n
were more than equal in an open, fair fghI but the
rebels held position which could DO defended BY
N thousand msa agans hny thsussnd. Undsl