The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-03
Sketch of the Doad Hero's Life.

Gen. Jubal A. Early was born in
Franklin county, Virginia, in 1915, and
was graduated from tho Military
Academy at West Point in 1897. Soon
after this he was appointed a lieutenant
Of artillery in the United States Army,
which position he resigned and re-
turned to his home in Virginia, where
he studied law. was admitted to the
bar and soon gained lucrative prac tice
When war between this country and
Mexico was declared he again entered
the army of the United States and
commanded regiment of Virginia
volunteers with distinction and valor.
When peace was established General
Early returned to Virginia and re-
sumed the practice of his profession
He took considerable interest in politi-
cal affairs and represented Franklin
county in the legislature of Virginia.
When the secession movement was
inaugurated it was bitterly opposed by
General EARLY, as it was by his great
chieftain, General Lee, and he plead
with the people OF his native State with
all the earnestness of his nature, from
tho stump and through the press, for
the preservation of the Union; but when
Virginia passed the ordinance of seces.
sion he volunteered his services, believ.
ing HIS uuGY 10 Dis uALlVO state 10 be
paramount to all others.
Throughout the whole four years'ser-
vice General Early was actively en-
gagged, and there was scarcely an i'm
portant battle fought by General Lee in
which he did not participate. He com
manded brigade at Bull Run, tho first
great battle; at Cedar Mou itain and at
Fredericksb burg. In 1863 he commanded
the division that held tho lines at
Fredericksburg while General Leo was
fighting the battle of Charlottesville.
He also comm anded division at
Gettysburg and did some gallant fight.
ing in that decisive battle.
General EARLY was sent TO the Shen.
andoah Valley in 1864 by General Lee,
and his operations in this campaign
have been criticized by some, praised
by others and understood by few. Gen
eral Lee always had firm faith in the
wisdom Of General Esrly's judgment,
and so expressed himself in his lotter
removing him from the command in
the valley. At fret he was very sue
cessful in the valley, when it was his
mission to defend General Lees rear
while he was fighting Grant around
Richmond
He met General Hunter at Lynchburg
the mountains. He then dashed down
the valley, breaking up the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal and cutting the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. At Fred derrick,
Md, he routed large federal force, and
advanced upon Washington, but found
IL strongly guar led and withdrew. To.
wards the latter part of July of that
year portion of his cavaly advanced
into Pennsylvania IS far north as Cham
bersburg, which they burned.
He was defeated September 10 at
Winchester after repelling very un-
equal force all day until sunset when
he withdrew. but in such an orderly
manner that not wagon was lost.
He was unsuccessful at Fishers Hill,
three days later at Cedar creek Octo-
Der 10, and was defeated by General
Custer in March, 1865, at the battle OF
Waynesborough. AT Cedar Creek he a
first won splendid victory which was
ultimately lost by over confidence of
the halfstarved victors who turned
their attention to feeding in the rich
Federal camps
During the last winter the supply of
clothing and of food for both men and
horses in the valley became exhausted,
and General Early CLOSED what was
really brilliant campaign by retiring
up the valley into Augusta county with
his ragged and halfstarved remnant of
an army and went into winter quarters
at Waynesborough. Here it was that
he was overcome by General Custer with