The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-29

account OF movements Oh tue
III Sixth, Eighth, and Nineteenth Corps
In the Valley, has recalled to my
mind some facts and recollections relative to
that cam peign; and hoping to interest the COM
rades or ut least some of them, 4 have written
the following statement:
On Aug, z, 1884, q new military department
was created called the Middle Military Divis'
fon." This Department included the Depart
rnents of Western Virginia. Maryland. Wash
ington. and Pennsylvania. Gen. Philip III.
Sheridan was appointed to command all the
troops In the Department The following were
his forces: The Army of Western Virginia,
commanded by Gen. Crook two divisions; the
Sixth Corps commanded by Gen. Wright, three
divisions; the Nineteenth Corps, commanded
BY Gen. Emory, two divisions; the Cavalry,
commanded by Gen. Tor5ert. three DIVISIONS
This was the most formidable force ever as
sembied In the Valley, and was called the Army
Of the Shenandoah. Field returns for August,
1864. indicate total numerical strength, OF all
arms present for duty, in the Department. OF
51,0OS men. The troops of Gems. Stevenson,
Kelley, and Sullivan. though reckoned on the
official return, were in garrison, not in the
marching army 1t must be carefully noted that
Gen Sberjdsu's line-of-battle strength was.
from several causes at all times far below the
totals of the official returns. which, in addition,
take in the Department
The opposing forces, commanded by ten.
Early, were, Breckinridge's Corps two divi-
sions; Esrly's Corps, two divisions; detach-
ment OF Andsrson's Corps, one division;
Cavalry Corps, commanded by Gen. Ransom,
and the Valley Reserves 1t is not likely that
Early had ell these forces present at any one
time. Kershsw's Division was not present at
the battles Of the Opequon and Fishers HILL,
but was present ut Cedar Creek. There is no
way of ascertaininR the enemy's effective
strength, as the records are not complete.
Esrly's inspections report for August indicates
n total of I3.016 men present for duty, for his
FIVE infantry divisions, from the Army of
Northern Virginia His cavalry, artillery.
and Valley reserves not reported. and 1T was
from his Valley reserves that he in part. re-
paired his heavy Losses.
Lee. in letter 70 Early. dated Sept q, 1864,
says. All the reserves in the Valley have
been ordered 10 yeu. B:eekinridge will join
you with all his force" Breckinridges field
return for April, 1854, shows a total aggregate
present and absent of forces in the Valley OF
il,523; but how many of these afterward Joined
Early the records do not show. While Earlys
csvairy-which could not have been less than
Q,000-was probably inferior in quality, his
artillery arm was very effective, many OF his
feld-pieces being 12-pounder Napoleons.
The conclusion IL reached from the records
Stat Early's forces were not as small as some
people would like to make out. Early, on the
defensive, choosing bis own positions. in his
own country, was probably as strong as oheri-
dan on the offensive with his largo extent Of
country to look after.
The Signal men had belonged TO the Depart
ment of Western Virginia. which included the
shenandoah Valley. When the new Depart
made we were assigned TO Gen. Sheridan's
command, and Capt. o. ii. Howard appointed
TO command the detachment of the Signal
Corps 1t consisted of about lip enlisted men
and il Signal officers A large part of these
Signal men had come from the Department of
the SGsquehsnnA, and some of them, intending
myself. were enlisted at Chambersburg, Pa.
When We heard that that place had been
burned it caused little furry of excitement
among the boys. Comrsde - placed his
hands over his face and exclaimed, 0, what
viii mother and sister dol"
The Signal Corps under Capt. Howard, be-
came an instrument Of increased usefulness to
she army. He kept his Signal men for signal
duty, and used them for active work. The flag
and the torch were seen on every convenient
tree and housetop on the line of march, on the
high ridges. and the bsttlefelds.
Capt. Howard has Joined the great army
of the silent majority; many of his
command are with him, aud most of the
few that remain have signsled their last
message on life's battlefield; the flag has been
folded, the torch gone out. and they, too, shall
Gen. Sheridan, upon assuming command,
found the army In very strong position at
Eslltown. four miles from Harpers Ferry.
With river on either flank, compact line in
'front.' and the Hightsiiu the rear, the position
was impregnable.
Harperis Ferry. strstegicai point, and place
Of historic interest, is situated in Jefferson
County, Va, at the confluence Of the Potomac
and Shenandoah Rivers. The united streams
here pass through the Blue Ridge on their way
30 the ocean. The ridge forms an elevation OF
100 feet in hight. and its bold PERCEPTIONS
cliffs overhsnging the river. with the lesser
nights whose tops are crowned with evergreen
pines, exhibit some Of the most beautiful nat
arsl scenery to be found in this or any other
country. bridge nearly Thousand feet in
length spanned the river and connected the
town with the Maryland shore. Here were the
ruins OF the old National Armory and Arsenal,
that was destroyed by Lieut.. Jepes TO prevent
&C. with its military stores, from falling into the
hands Of the rebels at the commencement OF the
war. and who retreated with his company to
Carlisle Barracks. The high ridge on the
Maryland side was called Maryland flights;
she ridges on the Virginia side, between which
flowed the Shenandoah River, were called
Bolivar and Loudoun Nights Maryland flights
was the key TO the position, and commanded
Harper's Ferry, Bolivar Rights. and Loudoun
HiRhts. IL possessed great natural strength,
41sovt nSu pcetcu on tue cIlii5 cOuiu IOiG
10000 at bay until assistance could come to
them.
August and the first part OF September were
taken up in manuvering by the opposing
armies, marching and counter-marching; but
On the morning of Sept. 10 Gen. Sheridan
moved with his command 10 attack Gen. Early
In his strong and difsicult position west of the
OpeQuon Creek, covering Winchester. Owing
so the nature of the ground more time was con-
sEmed by the troops In taking positions than
WIS hoped. This gave the enemy time to unite
his scattered divisions, and Sheridan had the
whole rebel army 10 fight, instead of only
part or II, as was first supposed. Early had
scattered his divisions along the pike, and If the
Union troops could have got TO their positions
before the enemy could unite them, il might
have resulted in the destruction of his entire
fcrce.
Shoridan's intention was to threaten the en-
smy's right, turn his left, and assail his center
The Sixth Corps made its way through the "a
vine aud took position on Sheridans left; the
Nineteenth was on the right of the Sixth, and
the Eighth Corps debouched behind them
from the pass and moved toward the enemy's
left The advance of the Sixth Corps aud part
OF the Nineteenth, though strongly resisted
broke Early's first line, and If they could have
been supported, and The advantage followed up
tne battle might have ended then and there.
The rebels being reinforced and outnumberisg
tha Union troops on the front. drove Them back
with severe loss. but the illustrious Sixth and
excellent Nineteenth again advanced and re-
PEELED the enemy TO his original position. and
She battle WIS maintained until about D. u.
without decided ad ntsga nm aithar eide Ar