Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-07-04
ON TO LYNCHBURG.
Story of the Movement eliminating There
In 1868.


In 1868.
(Eynchburg News)
Instead of at least throwing cavalry
force between Staunton and Waynes
boro so as to intercept trains and fugi
tives which he must have known were
moving on that road, Hunter on the
5th of June issued for the next day
specifications as to the exact order OF
march for every command, using all
the precautions that are employed
when moving in the presence of su
perior hostile force. The two guns OF
Bryan's Battery were as much surpris
ed as relieved, when on June 9th, hav
ing slept by the road side some miles
east of Staunton, they came unmolest-
ed to the army near the west end OF the
Blue Ridge tunnel. On the same day
the army, now under Vaughn, retired
to the summit in Rockfish Gap and
| took position, while Hunter occupied
StauntOn and burned Confederate pro-
perty except what be could use. About
noon on the Sth, Crook and Averell,
who had been marching from western
Virginia, joined Hunter at StauntOn,
having been retarded some by the
cavalry under McCausland. The COM
bined army remained here the rest of
the 8th and all the 9th, reorganiZing,
sending off prisoners, and making 9TH
er preparations for vigorous attempt
upon Lynchburg.
In the meantime Breckinridge's COM
mand had been sent back from Lee g
army, reaching Rockfish Gap on the
8th, under Brighten. G. G. Wharton.
Breckenridge himself having gone to
Lynchburg. At Wharton's urgent re
quest he went to Rockfish Gap on the
9th and assumed personal command.
W. E. Jones' cavalry brigade, now
commanded by Col. W. E. Peters, had
also reported there The troops re.
Gently defeated felt that they had done
their part toward winning a victory
and were not so demoralized as some
have supposed; but they had danger
Gus lack of confidence in their temper
ary commander. Wharton's arrival
encouraged them, and when Breckin-
ridge harangued the assembled army
from the porch of the old house which
is still the main building of "Moun-
tain Top" their spirits rose to high
pitch.
ADVANCE ON LYNCHBURG.
On the 10th of June the Federal army
entered upon the last stage of it's cam
paign against Lynchburg, or moved,
as Hunter put it, toward the accom-
plishment of it's mission" Grant sug-
gested going by way of Charlottesville
and destroying the railroad to Lynch
burg; but Hunter, who was allowed
adopted plan submitted
by Averell Probably because it was
feared that the river might prove an
obstacle if Lynchburg was approached
from the north or east, it was decided
to cross it at Buchanan and make the
from the west. This plan
increased the distance, but secured
better roads than those running from
the gaps between Waynesboro and the
river. Sullivan's, Crooks, and Av-
oroJl,c 6ivioiono Woro to maroh tO
Buchanan, while Brighten. A. N.
Duffie [now commanding the cavalry
division of Stahel, who had been
wounded at Piedmont was to move
along the western base of the Blue
Ridge, making demonstrations at the
passes and sending raiding parties to
destroy portions of the railroad. On
reaching Buena Vista, he was to pass
through Whites Gap to Amherst CHI.
and from here send a force to destroy
the railroad to Lynchburg, while he
was himself to conduct his main force
across the James below Lynchburg,
destroying the canal and the South
side railroad, and finally to pass around
and join Hunter west of the city.
Duffie was unjustly held responsible
for the failure of this plan. He did,
it is true. manage his part badly. If
he was allowed discretion, he acted
wisely in marching through the first
pass be came to-Tye River Gap-for
there was nothing to demonstrate
against in the passes, and no sense in
bis going to Whites Gap. But when
he left a whole regiment to watch a
pass behind him and sent d sergeant and
ten men to destroy the railroad at Ar
rington, be committed double blum
der. If be had left his sergeant's guard
in the pass and sent bis regiment to
Arlington. Early would not have
reached Lynchburg on the 18th; but
this still does not mean that the city
would necessarily have fallen. On this
day, June 11th. Douthat's Battery was
on it's way by train towards Chariot
tesville, and seizing some muskets and
ammunition that were on the train,
easily disposed of the sergeant and his
| ten men before they did serious dam
age to the road The train, however,
could not proceed, and Douthat re
turned to Lynchburg, which was for
tunate, for had be gone on he would
have reached Rockfish Gap after Breck
Iinridge had left.
But the serious blunders now begin
Ion this same day Hunter sent a per
emptory order to Duffie to come at once
to-Lexington And, still more won
IderfuI, he waited for him. Duffie !
was pushing on towards Amherst &
H., still intending to destroy the rail
roads leading to Lynchburg, when al
10 a. M, on the 18th, he received Hun
] &o,,e orJor ond mont OF opoa to ay