Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-03

| WIN bbi A. tAist.N.
Early was Virginian. lie was bora in
franklin county in 1916, graduated at
West Point, served with the regulars in
Florida and with the Virginia volunteers
in Mexico, and at the first Bull Run led a
| brigade. In his second battle, Williams
burg. Va, May :, 1862, he was severely
wounded and did mot resume his command
until the hattie q Cedar Mountain, Aug.
-. 1852 He foakht at second Bull Run
and ARtietam and had the good fortur4 TO
command the line an Marye's Hill Which
lSheil leli - -pisn tiks-
lUu(ll 5114ay. 1859.
At 0etz51RurC he COMMANDED a diviSion
IN EweHSep ps and led the same troor in
the Wi1eek8eaS campaign OF 1854 up to-he
e2ttie otC0ad Harbor. After that bal, lie
ne4as sent TO Lynchburg to oppose Gtn-
erM David Hunters attacks upon that En-
portent position. After repnlsinr HuH er
he planned an invasion of the border staras.
Genera! Lee gave him full discretion in yhe
matter, and with 1900 men (accordingso
Confederate historians) he crossed the ro-
eomac ut Sherpherdstown the first weektn
July. Grants army lay at that time in
front OF Petersburg. fully engaged in the
effort to inclose the place with besie in :
lines. so rapid were Early's movements
that the Washington authorities had 10
forewarning of the raid. Maryland was IN
a state of terror.
The president called out the militia Of
the eastern states. and after considerable
urging Grant sent the Sixth corps from
Petersburg to Washington On July o
Early defeated force composed of the
garrison of Baltimore pnd division of
the Sixth corps. all under General Lew
Wallace. at Monocacy Junction, Md. and
Immediately marched to the gates of
Washington. Meanwhile his cavalry de-
tachments threateaed 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 before he was ready to attack ths
Washington defenses, aud then recon.
noissance showed him that they were gar
risoned by veterans Of the Army of the
Potomac. He abandoned the movement
and returned TO the Shenandoah valley.
sheridan soon confronted Early in the
valley with troops from the army at Pc
tersburg and defeated him in two battles
at opequon and Fishers Hill. Sept. - and
20 But on Oct. 10 Early surprised Sheri-
dams camps at Cedar Creek and came
very near redeemiRg the valley from Union
control. Sheridan saved his army by the
memorable ride from Winchester and
stirring appeal to his troops. At the opens
ing OF the spring campaign in 1865 General
Custer defeated Early at Waynesboro, and
Lee was compelled by public opinion to Sc
lect another commander for the Confeder-
ates in the valley
After the war General Early practiced
law IN Richmond and New Orleans and
was associated with Beauregard in man4
aging the Louisiana lottery He died a
bachelor. having had his first romantid
love affair spoiled by the fickleness of =
northern girl whom he rescued Snem
drowning at White Sulphur Sjlripgs AZ
ing his cadet days. q The lovers were enl
gagged. and the lieutenant was anticipating
happy termination to the romance when
his hopes were blasted by the receipt of a
newspaper containing a notice a the mar.
riage of his charmersGith "a northern man.
He PIT aside the SkiSorm, with its hate
ful associations, and left the semy until
wars alarms summondd- him to the battle
fields OF Mexico. After the Mexican war
he returned to civil life In 1861 General
Early published memoir af his cam
paigns He was for time president of the
Southern Historical society.