The sun., 1897-10-03

This report however ,Sc Sycat and r July
bee been swept away IN tho rS39iginE over Ultimate S
sSrer index to his views at tho time, 49,,
His orders evidently contemplated sharp,
RaS rotreatsd Ssore wright and Ssrdan
given the Sixth Corps, two Divisions OF the
Corps the Army and d
Potomnc. This splendid cavalry force was
down TO tho James River" With such an
army Grant did not doubt that Ffsry fpGy Would @ a ee
Icy. 'Follow the enemy to, the DEATH" hc
ordered: wherever he goos lot our troops 60
Virginia Central Railrosd." And later, by
want is prompt and active movements after
tho enemy, in accordance with tho instructions
When Kershaw was sent to the valley Grant
notified nalleck Of the move, and upon this notl.
foation Sheridan Justified his retreat from
In his telegram Grant stated that two divisions
Of infantry had gone TO the valley, and that
fensvo until UTE Early RI force should be Weakened We I
one division only had, been sent to Fairly, and
informing Sheridan of the fact practically re.
sclnded the instructions conveyed in his lot
ter to Halleck. This reinforcement" he said,
in numbers than want TO sec. and viii make 1t
necessary for you TO 90 more = cantiGns about
To Haeck he wrote that Sheridan was superior
to Early, but not sufficiently SO to attack forti.
Sheridan modifying his original instructions, for
Grant, in assigning him to the command; had
Sct on your own Judgment and viii not enc
barrass you with orders and instructions"
sheridan. however, was almost for tho first
tNIa anaHf In oil, In inv hnrn 4
devolved upon him to decide upon II course of
action, without depending upon u superior for
OF defeat had apparently been impressed upon
his mind by Stanton, who, indeed, had thought
him too young for SO SO important ia a command. 1t
that he should choose to assume defensive.
As matter of course, Grant formally np-
proved of his subordinate's action. but none tho
less persistently urged him to attack if oppor;;
tunity presented. Hardly day in August passed
Grant showing The lattors earnest desire for i'm
mediate and decisive action in the valley. To
these sheridan replied that he had not deemed
II best to attack until Early should dctach troops
for Richmond There is no interest suffering
here no wrote. except the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. and will not divide my forces to pro-
Grant, however. thought differently. He
stated that tho use OF this railway was "fndis-
campaign was held in check by Early 8 diversion
IN the valley, and the political and financial con-
OF success in the field.
He therefore determined upon immediate
action. Although Early had blinded Sheridan
as to his strength and purposes, Grant believed
that an attack would prove successful. On the
14th Of scptember, therefore, he telegraphed
headquarters and. before starting, drew up
specific instructions to attack and plan OF bat
tie to give him. On the 18th he met sheridan
at Charlestown and found him so ready to
move, so confident of success, and his plans so
thoroughly maturcd" that he kept his plan in
his pocket and simply ordered thc.attack.
In fact, the detachment for which Sheridan
had 30 long been waiting. had taken place three
learned of it only the night before. Avcrell
had also informed him of Early's move to Mar.
tinsburg. On the 18th orders were issued for
an advance of the entire army on the following
day. The advance was made and resulted,
Sept. 10, in the