The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-03-03

The part luck plays In making or mar
ring mems fortunes is illustrated in Gen
eral Earlys career. More than once dur
ing the civil war he came very near turn
ing the scale at important crises in favor
of his people, yet he emerged from the
conflict under cloud which remained to
embitter the last thirty years of his life.
Early was a Virginian. He was born in
Franklin county in 1915, graduated at
West Point, served with the regulars in
Florida, and with the Virginia volunteers
in Mexico, and at the first Bull Run led
brigade. In his second battle, Williams
burg, Va, May 5, 1862 he was severely
wounded, and did not resume his com
mand until the battle of Cedar Mountain,
Aug. 10, 1862 He fought at second Bull
Run and Antietan, and had the good for
tune to command the line on Marye's Hill
which checked the Union advance at Fred
ericksburg in May, 1863.
At Gettysburg he commanded division
in Ewell's corps and led the same troops in
the Wilderness campaign of 1864 up to the
battle of Cold Harbor. After that battle
he was sent TO Lynchburg to oppose Gen
eral David Hunters attacks upon that inn
portant position. After repulsing Hunter
he planned an invasion of the border states.
General Lee gave him full discretion in the
matter, and with ~, 900 men according to
Confederate historians) he crossed the Po-
tomac at Shepherdstown the first week in
July. Grants army lay at that time in
front of Petersburg, fully engaged in the
effort to inclose the place with besieging
lines
So rapid were Early's movements that
the Washington authorities had no fore
warning of the raid. Maryland was in a
state of terror. The president called out
the militia of the eastern states, and after
conside able urging Grant sent the sixth
corps from Petersburg to Washington. On
July Early defeated force composed of
the garrison of Baltimore and division of
the Sixth corps, all under General Lew
| Wallace, at Monocacy Junction, Nd, and
Immediately marched to the gates of
| Washington. Meanwhile his cavalry de
] tachments threatened Baltimore and de
stroyed the railways north Of that city, but
the delay caused by those operations was
fatal to Early's plans. 1t was the 18th be-
| fore he was ready to attack the Washing
ton defenses, and then reconnaissance
showed him that they were garrisoned by
veterans of the Army of the Potomac He
abandoned the movement and returned to
Shenandoah valley.
Sheridan soon confronted Early in the
valley with troops from the army at Peters
burg and defeated him in two battles, at
Opequon and Fishers Hill Sept. 10 and
90 But on Oct. 10 Early surprised Sheri
dams camps at Cedar Greek and came very
near redeeming the valley from Union con,
troll. Sheridan saved his army by the
memorable ride from Winchester and q
stirring appeal to his troops.
At the opening of the spring campaign
in 1865 General Custer defeated Early al
| Waynesboro, and Lee was compelled by
public opinion to select another com
mander for the Confederates in the valley
After the war General Early practiceC
law in Richmond and New Orleans and wa,
associated with Beauregsrd in managing
the Louisiana lottery. He died bachelor
having had his first romantic love affan
spoiled by the fickleness of a northern gir
whom he rescued from drowning at White
Sulphur Springs during his cadet days
The lovers were engaged, and the lieu
tenant was anticipating happy terlnina
ton to the romance when his hopes wer,
blasted by the receipt of a newspaper con
tanning a notice of the marriage of hi,
charmer with a northern man. He put
aside the uniform, with its hateful associa
tions, and left the army until wars alarm,
summoned him TO the battlenelds OF Mex
leo. After the Mexican war he returned
TO civil life.
In 1861 General Early published mem
DIR of his campaigns He was Tor time
president of the Southern Historical SO
ciety.