The National tribune., 1910-11-03


up the Valley.
In the several days that Sheridan
remained, Merritt and Torbert, with
their cavalry burned the forage, mills,
and other property which would be ser
viceable TO the Confederacy, as far up
as Staunton. This would tend to pre-
vent the return of Early to plague the
country with threats of an advance
across the Potomac. Sheridan's cav
airy found an abundance of cattle,
forage and corn, which would have
gone far toward supporting Early s
army and that of Lee at Richmond.
Sheridan wrote Grant that he did not
regard it as practical to take his in
fantry thru the mountains to Char
lottesville, and he thot that the burn
ing of the crops in the Valley should
be an end of the campaign. He also
said Oct. /:
My judgment is that it would be best
to terminate this campaign by the de-
struction of the crops, etc, N this Val
ley and the transfer of the troops to
the armies operating against Richmond.
If the Orange & Alexandria Railroad
is opened it will take an army to pro-
tect it, as there is no enemy in the
Valley to operate against. Early is
without doubt fortifying at Charlottes-
vile, holding RockfiSh Gap. 1t is no
easy matter to pass thru mountain gaps
and attack Charlottesville, hauling
supplies thru difficult passes IA miles
in length, and with a line of commune
cation from 135 to 145 miles in length,
without the organization of supply
trains and all the appointments of an
army making permanent advance. AT
present we are organized for raid up
the Valley, with no trains except the
corps trains. All the regimental trains
had to be used as supply wagons to
subsist US as far as this place, and
can't do it at that. am ready and
know, from present Indications. that
the enemy will strongly fortify at
Charlottesville and Gordonsville. and
that these places cannot be taken with
out the expenditure of a largely supe-
rior force to keep open the line of
communication. With my present
means / cannot accumulate supplies
enough to carry me thru to the Or
ange & Alexandria Railroad"
Grant accepted this view of Sheri-
dan, as he was likely to accept any dis
tinct decision of that General. and au-
thoriZed him to take up such a position
in the Valley as he might think could
and ought to be held, and suggested
that he fall back to Front Royal, to
which point the railroad should be COM
pleted. Sheridan was to keep Crook S
forces there, and all the new troops
which had been sent him.
Sheridan Devastates tIIe Valley.
On Oct. 6, Sheridan began retiring
down the Valley with his cavalry
stretched across the Blue Ridge to the
North Mountain, and burned the mills,
barns, and crops, but sparing the build
ings except in the vicinity where there
was retaliatory destruction for the mur-
der of Lieut.. Meigs. Sheridan reported
that he had destroyed over 1000 barns
filed with hay and other crops, and
over 20 mills filed with -four and wheat
He brot back great herds of stock and
had killed and issued to the troops over
3,OOO sheep. A great many horses had
been captured and brot away. There
were also 400 wagons loaded with
Dunkers. These people, of German
descent, were conscientiously opposed
to military service, but had done eff
fective work for the Confederacy in
raising crops. In their desperate need
of men, the Confederates were no
longer respecting their religious scru-
pies and were conscripting the young
men.
Sheridan's devastation had another
important effect in defeating the Con-
federate army. Men whose families
had been reduced to great want desert
ed in large numbers to go to their re-
lief. The Virginia authorities made a
plea 10 the Confederate War Office to
cease conscription in the Valley for
this reason. There was little or no
slave labor in the Valley. and conse-
quently the absence from home of
white men in the army destroyed the
productiveness of the farms
Early Pursues.
EarIys great reverses shook the con-
fidence of the people in him, and
especially that of the Governor,
who appealed strongly to Gen. Lee
to sUpersede him. Gen. Lee re-
PEELED these opportunities, saying that
Early had done as well as he could.
and that he had no man at hand whom
he thought could have done any bet
ter Early was therefore continued in
command, and Kershaw was again sent
with his division to reinforce him. Gen.
Rosser was also sent with a brigade
of cavalry, of which high hopes were