The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-14

Nor did his whole army ever equal In
number the casualties reported by Sheri-
dan nor did Early's cavalry ever amount
20 500.
/ now present the casualties Of losses
I'm the three battles OF Winchester. Fish
ers Hil. AMI Cedar Creek. compiled by
Lieut. COL Fox. Of the United States
Army. and given in his book Of War
Statistics. p. 57-55l.
Captur-
cd or Ag-
XIII Wound mis- gre
BATTLES. cd. ed. sing. gate.
Winchester orr. 697 1888 1913 5.olS
EisSefs Hm......... e g & ,1 ], s rs
Cedar Cgeek.. S Sal $i SS6 i'S ajs !, 5$ ~
Early.
Winchester or oo,,
A egqe I[eeN.'.. SO Sc 5.$7 1853 7,756
Not including Early's cavalry losses.
This does not include Early's losses IN
were ~ killed and 2SS wounded. and
putting them at 1000, which Is very cK-
cessive for the three battles. they would
show that SheTidanS loss in Killed ana
wounded was much greaGer than Early :,
and Earlys losses greater In prisoners
Vet all told for the three fights Earys
aggregate loss more than 1000 less.
What such a man could have done
with resources to match his genius can
bc left only 10 inspire the Imagination
As 10 prisoners Grants SAYS i'm his
memoirs that Early had lost more men
killed wounded, and captured than Shcrl-
dan had commanded from first to last.
How such an absurd statement could
have gotten into printers ink is I'M
accountable This is Contradicted by
Sheridan himself for he reports that
n TAV
the prisoners received by his provost
marshal were about 1900. (See War
Records. serial ~, D. 60 Grant forgets
he had instructed sheridan to consider
citizens under fifty years old as prison
ers of war, and not as citizen prison
crs. (see Grants order of August l6,
1864. Sheridan's Memoirs, first volume.
page 1850, and this l3uVo embraced all
deserters, stragglers. furloughed soldiers
of Lees army, army agents of all kinds
and all citizens who were carried 10
Washington whether soldiers or otherwise.
The truth is patent that ] have made
good my statement that Early killed,
wounded, and captured from Hunter,
Wallace. and Sheridan more men than ne
could ever muster upon any battle neld
against either Of them. ana Grant mas
turned the truth Of history upside down,
i'm a manner that no one who reads its
records can explain.
CRITICISMS UPON EARLY.
TO say that Early had faults is TO
say that he was human. ana as Marshal
Turcune ~eminds us ITO say lhat he made
mistakes Is 10 say that ne made war.
But even at this day IT Is dllhcuII 10
take his problem ana its resources, ana
say where or when he might have bet
ter brought them in conJunction-the one
to solve the other To figure on his case
al any time was to demonstrate idll-
IRE: and so many heroic virtues post
poned that failure and glorited II, that
/ leave If for others to search ior the
mistakes and faults For my part J am
too much filled with honor for the man
and the deed to look for. or TO exploit
them: and most of the criticisms upon
him are easily answered.
1t was said that he should have at
tackled Hunter on the 18th OF June, the
day after he got TO LynChburg. Suffice
TO answer, while he and half his corps
were there ROdes and the other half
did not get there until the afternoon OF
the 18th and Early arranged 10 attack
next morning. Meantime between two
suns Hunter gave leg bail. II was said
he should have captured Hunter; mis-
is equivalent to saying that Lee should
have captured Pope after Manassas or
Hooker after Charlottesville or Grant
after Cold Harbor IL was said that he
should have captured Washington rms
absurdity has been exposed Grant cll-
ticises Early for sending AndcrsOn's
troops back TO Lee before the battle OF
Winchester aud TWO of his own dlVSiOn
TO Martinsburg. As TO this criticism Lee,
as Early states. requested him 10 send
Anderson back and he Obeyed. Sheridan
and Lee alike. vndicate him from
the second. Early in fact got all
his troops concentrated for that bat
tie. and sheridan says in his re-
port that: Il had from early in the
morning become appraised that ] would
have TO engage Earlys entire army III
stead of two divisions General Lee
writes 10 a critic of Early October 10th,
that so far as he can judge. Early has
valley We'll and again October 18th, that
according TO his information. General
Early has conducted his operations with
Judgment, and | am reliably Informed
the best fought battles of the war.
Finally some say Early was reckless
to meet Sheridan at Winchester and TO
attack him at Cedar Creek In both
cases II was fight or run. To run was 10
disclose and confess weakness. In the
latter case to stand was 10 starve, for
he was without rations or forage. Early
had the problem that confronted the
COntinentals In the Revolution. He knew
he was weak, but when would he be
stronger: 1t may bc asked" he saws
speaking OF Cedar Creek, why with my
small force | made the attack | can
only say We had been fighting large odds
during the whole war and | knew there
was no chance for lessening them"
Those who dispute this logic had bet
ter reaSsemble the Secession Convention
l.
was heard upon il before war was re-
solved on. After that he took the conse-
quences unnurmuring. And well did he
Vindicate Honest John Letcher's opinion
when he as Governor, appointed him
Colonel Some secession members OBJ
jected on account of Early's stubborn
unionism. Il know Early" replied
Ietcher and IL you gentlemen will do
as well in the coming struggle your
state VIII have reason TO rejoice" II
none but those who did as well threw
the hrst stone 1t would remain long I'M
flung.
LEES FAITH IN EARLY.
General Early had the satisfaction OF
retaining the confidence and good opinion
OF his great commander II. T. Lee. After
all his reverSes in the Valley Lee on the
10Th OF February, 1866. extended his com
mand 10 embrace the department of
West Virginia and East Tennessee. pre-
viously commanded by General John G.
breckenridge, who had now become tho
Secretary Of War This brave and ex-
cellent officers service under Early had
famlilarized him with his merits. he had
testified TO General Lee in high terms of
his capacity and energy and of his ex
cellent dispersion of his troops. and IN
Earlys critics Lee had responded In
language winch ! have already quoted
iSec war Records, 5. 81, p. Sg7 I'M
Early had now TO accept the fate ~
waT, Tor public opinion unadVtsed -
his diticulties and eXtremities. clan,orod
for a new leader. Lee himself had seon
and felt It's frequent injustice and has
sta,eu tnaI pubic opinion is more likely
10 De erroneous on military affairs tbs4
any other, because OF their secrecy nrn
venting complete knowledge wv
IL clamQred against him when no dya
not win victory In West Virginia: agalnst