National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-05-06
Sheridan in the Shenandoah.

1t is somewhat strange that al
most the cOmpletest. certainly the
most picturesque campaign of the
late war,-SEcridan's campaign in
the Shenandoah valley-should as
yet have found no ambitious histOri
an on the Northern side to under
take its separate narration. True,
the materials are still wanting for a
full and trustworthy history; but
enough is known and enough also
may be readily imagined for brill
liant narration of historical value or
not. The scene and the result wo'd
sufficiently excite the writer's fancy
when facts were in doubt, and he
might hope that details would not
be closely scanned in glowing pic
ture of victory i'll the plain, splen-.
didly framed by mountains. Either
we are very indifferent how our war
was fought, or the noise and smoke
have dazed all possible portrayers
of it, or we should surely by this
time have had some sort of a sketch
good or bad, of this campaign.
Col. Walkers book, now before
us, is the only substitute we have
seen for what seemed likely to be
forthcoming. "The Vermont Brig
ade" belonged to Getty's division of
the Sixth Corps, and took part in
all that Sheridan's army did III the
valley, and in some rapid move
ments hither and thither before
| Sheridan was sent to meet Early
The mettlc of this brigade was well
known "at the front" and it descrv,
ed all the applause that can now be
bestowed on it. We may cordially
agree. as all their fellow soldiers
would, to the modest claims of Col.
Walhc1 for his comrades. In the
campaign of 1865, under Grant and
Meade, aud atterward under Sheri
dan, in this brigade of six regiments
ill fact of five only, for "A part OF
the time, 1.-THE total number of Yer
monters killed and wounded during
that brief period reached the teri
ble aggregate of three thousand one
hundr'ed and sirteen.' No better
troops have ever fought under any
flag.
The career of the brigade in tn,
Shenandoah valley runs like a bright
, thread through the woot of Sheri
dams operations there. Follow i,
up, with occasional glimpseS at the
large surface in which it is woven
the comple,e pattern of the cam
paign may he readily made out
Col. Walkers account is very intel
ligcnt, and he has a good idea o
) the whole field in which Nermouter
manpvred and fought, and of tn,
strategy of the rival Generals, Shcr
idan and Early. He is liberal, ant
. sometimes lavish. i'll raising his Su
perior officers. and he Is perfectly
fair in his comments on other troops
His story is graphic, with onl,
an occasional flight into other an,
less agreeable strains, and he ha
an edge of that dry humor whicl
was easily caught in army lite, if no
possessed before. We doubt not H.
has faithfully recorded the gallan
!. exploits of his own brigade, and h
: mentions himself only as Il Majo
It of the Eleventh Vermont, after
q. wards brcvcted lieutenant colonc
He is not always correct when speak
Ing Oh matters beyond his persona
knowledge, but he is IA good guid
over inc nclu TN one SuaIl com
whose scope as an eye witness wa
larger, and who has seen all tn
d proofs that happily may have bee
preserved.
We Learn from this book that th
main body of the Sixth Corps, d,
tached from the army of the Pot,
tomac to resist the invasion of Eal
ly, Ricketts, division having alread
gone on the same crrand, rcache
Washington on the morning of Jul
II, 1861. and Immediately went OF
n on the Rockville Pike to Fort st,
c vcns, where Early's troops wer
found confronting. There was
y grand council of war at the for
= President Lincoln, Secretary Stal
II ton, General llalleck and others IA
L sisting. General Wright, command
ing the Sixth Corps, threw out
y skrmish line, and, u fight ensuing
the President insisted on stal din
r. on the parapet TO see the result
v though an officer was wounded "A
his side. When Early retreated
Gen. Wright followed rapidly to til
= Shenandoah valley, through Snicl
cr's Gap IN the Blue Ridge. Their
Early was lost sight of, and was SUI
" posed to have hastily returned {
n Richmond; so there was rap
n march all the way to Wasl
il ington. Early meantime, attackc
II our forces at Winchester, and tll
II Sixth Corps was hurried again to th
ii Shenandoah valley, passing throug
ii IIarpef's Ferry, and camping Il
II Ilalltown, Just beyond, wondering
VI as Colonel Walker says, in army d
VI alcct, "why this was thus" Theme,
III "thc pace, almost almost u gallop,
and the heat overpowcring, bac
u once more to Frederick City, {
check Early, who had burned Chan
:, bcrsburg, and WAS again threaten
II ing Baltimore or Washington. I'll
10 9th of August brought Gen. Gran,
u. and later in the day Gen. Sheridan
who was lett to take charge OF %
% the forces operating against the III