The National tribune., 1886-02-11
q battle at

dangerous move that compelled Lee to detach
Early's Corps to relieve Lynchburg, and Hun
ter then retreated by a circuitOus route through
| the Kanawha Valley, leaving open the Shenan-
doah Valley, down which Early promptly
marched to threaten Washington.
This unex pected result of Hunters campaign
provoked some sharp official correspondence
Grant seemed to think that the stroke had
been a good one, as whole although Hunter
"had allowed himself to be squeezed out to one
side," while Jefferson Davis told the people of
Atlanta that IAN audacious movement of the
enemy up to the very walls of Lynchburg had
rendered it necessary that the Government
should send a formidable body of troops to
cover that vital point, which had otherwise
been intended for the relief of Atlanta" But
at Washington the vital question just then
was not what had happened to Lynchburg or
Atlanta, but what was threatening the National
Capital. When Early at last retreated from
Washington, Halleck wrote to Hunter, who
had moved his troops back to Harper's Ferry
by way of the Ohio River, and thence across
that "Gen. Crook would be a suitable per-
son" to command such forces as he might
send to cooperate with Wright in pursuing
Early, and added that for the last two weeks
nothing of q reliable character has been heard
from you" Hunter replied in a letter to Sec
rotary Stanton, saying that it was true that he
could have telegraphed many alarming
mors every hour" but that he had judged they
had abundant supplies of that sort at Balti-
more and Washington. OF any important facts
occurring within his department. which the
War Office must not necessarily have learned
earlier than he no information had yet been
brought him.
Grant took Hunters part. u am sorry to
see such disposition" he wrote, to condemn
so brave an old soldier as Hunter is known to
be- without hearing. He is known to have
advanced into the enemy's country toward
-, "a. -
damage upon them than they have inflicted
upon US, with double his force, and moving di-
rectly away from our main army" Hence,
when Hunter wrote to President Lincoln ask.
ing to be relieved from the command of his de-
partment, on the ground that " when an officer
is selected as the scapegoat to cover up the
blunderS of Others the best interests of the
country require that he should at once be re-
lieved from command" the President, with
some kindly words, asked him to remain in
command.
Hunter at once went to work with great &C
tiyity, and from Harper's Ferry, whittier he
had returned, pushed forward troops to attack
Early's flank and rear as he retreated to the
Shenandoah Valley, while Wright should press
in 'front.' When he learned that Crook, whom
he had moved to cooperate with Wright, was
to attack Early at Smokers and Ashby's Gaps,
he directed Col. II. b. Hayes to march directly
up the Shenandoah Valley from Reyes Ferry
and strike the enemy, and then join Crook.
Col. Hayes did not succeed in doing this, and
fell back. .for which Hunter took him to task,
and again sent him forward. 1t turned out
that Early made good his escape, but Hunters
earnestness and energy in cooperation were
not disputed. Afterward Sheridan went into
the Valley and began his famous campaign
against Early.
On March Is, 1865, Hunter was made Brevet
Brigadier- General. United States Army, for
gallant services at the battle of Piedmont on
the same day he was made Brevet Major
General for gallant and meritorious service
during the rebellion. After that he served on
the military court which tried Mrs. Surratt.
On Jan. ID, 1866, he was mustered out of the
volunteer service. He served on special duty
until July 81, 1866, when he was retired, being
then over the age of 62 years" Gen. Hun
ter's service in the army in the vicinity of this
city, at time when it was feared Washington
would be taken, made him a prominent figure
to the older residents