New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IN lsCi BY n SE 4sSg
f. PoYD, Associate Editor OF ne Army ara a H"og g
Journal Campaigns OF the Civil Wai'I I-Ho' PP'
H. 2S7. Charles ScrbnePs SOBs.
The eleventh volume of the admirable historical
series which is now near its conclusion deals WIN
operations far inferior in the number of troops en-
Moved 10 some of the other campaigns we nave nau
occasion to review but equal to any IN shrihg III
cidents aud dramatic surprises, ana certainly Vi no
slight importance in their bearing upon 'o Icsui'
of the war; The story of the last year OF war III inc
Shenandoah Valley embraces the first successes OF
Jubal Eariy. the Confederate raid upon the out
skirts of Washington, the burning OF Chambers
burr the repeated forays upon the Baltimore ana
Ohio Railroad, the rapid and iucessant movement
of that formidable detachment of the Rebel forces
which 50 long held the national capital and the Dor
dercounties d Maryland and Pennsylvania in ALARM
and indirectly affected the greater operations in
front of Richmond; and then it describes a sudden,
almost a theatrical transformation in the whole
aspect of affairs The first chapters, dealing with
small and inconclusiye battles and unsteady plans,
must have been tedious to write and ale not exactly
exhilarating TO read. 1t is gratifying to observe
that the historian does justice TO the gallant and
patriotic services of General Hunter during this
depressing PERIOD and that he does not fail to put
upOa record the appreciative comments OF General
Grant upon that worthy soldier But it was I'M
possible to accomplish much IN the Valley until a
more stable policy was established at Washington.
Several commanders, independent of each other,
took their orders from Halleck at the War Depart
mcnt. and Halleck waited for advice and requests
from Grant at City Point, day or two being often
sacrificed by the delay. When Sheridan was sent
t. the Shenandoah the horizon changed as II by
magic This was one of the most impressive
moments of the war; and in the volume before us
Al ofi Il 1pgCrihG0
effect though in simple language The first condi-
tlon of success was fulfilled by the concentration OF
authority for Grant while retaining of course the
supreme direction, scrpulouSly left the fullest
possible discretion TO q subordinate in whom he
placed the fullest confidence. And IN the selection
of Sheridan for this Important command Grant
gave a striking proof of his own generalship. Inc
capacity of the young leader had hardly been
tested but his superior OWNED it, or inferred 1t
from slight evidences long before it was understood
In Washington OF in the ranks of the army or at
all suspected by tho able Confederate commander
From the first the relations of Grant and Sheridan
were marked by mutual trust and loyalty which
are not without little tuge of romance. The
memorable brief campaign in which Sheridan per-
manently cleared the Shenandoah Valley of the
forces winch for three years had made that region
a source of terrible vexation and danger to the
Union Is best remembered perhaps by the conspcu-
GUS battles of the Opequan, Fishers Hill and Cedar
Creek and popular imagination dwells upon the
figure of the farorite general sending Early "wbrl-
ing through Winchester" and hurrying towards
the sound of the cannon the famous ride which
turned a defeat into a signal victory but the cam
paign was not less memorable for the boldness,
prudence and accuracy of the design than for the
dash and vigOr of the execution, and ii fixed the
celebrity of Sheridan as not only one of the most
brilliant fighters of Onr time but also one OF the
safest commanders The author does not fail also
10 remind us that exploits like those of Winchester
and Fishers Hill wOald not have been possible If
Sheridan had not already shown his men. by his
whole conduct of operations, that he possessed the
supreme qualities of eeneralSmp.