New-York tribune., 1911-11-19

TO his advantage 10 have some knowledge.
He had keen eyed sentinels on the summit
Of Three Top Mountain. where they could
look out over the camp of the enemy as
if it were map, but they had not per-
ceived the departure Of Crooks troops i'm
the direction Of Early's flank at the base
OF Little North Mountain across the val
ley They did not note the blue line creep
ing along the base of that mountain
through the shadows and under the cover
OF the woods In the mean time Rickettss
division Of the Sixth Corps had been
thrown forward on the left Of the Con-
federate centre, creating the impression
that an assault would be made at that
point.
Eaily's comfortable feeling began 10 dis
solve lie wished that he might reverse
the miracle of Joshua and hasten the go
ing down Of the sun, for he wanted TO
leave. orders were given that as soon as
il was dark the troops should retire. The
sun. however continued its usual course;
the earth rcvolved with its customary
speed neither faster nor slower. At last
the sun did set. Suddenly. as the lightning
bursts without warning from the cloud.
Crooks corps shot out OF he woods on
I.omaNs left. taking the works in reverse.
The Confcderates fed in wild disorder.
Rickctts's troops now joined in, and
Wriehrs and Emory's men swept like a
tidal wave down into the ravine of Tum.
bling Run and up the other side. The Con-
federates, startled by the sudden appari-
tion Of Crooks men pouring out of the
darkness like a host Of ghosts, and believ-
ing that they had taken possession of the
broad pike leading southwark TO the rear
fled IN dismay toward the Massanutten
range and the North Fork, on their right.
/ The rout of September 22 wa complete.
sixty abandoned Confederate guns and a
/ thousand prisoners feil INTO Sheridan S
bands If Torbert had known how thor
ouclly The enemy had been defeated he
could have pushed aside Wickhams dis
mounted cavalry, rushed through the Mas
sanutter Gap and cut off the retreat. capt
uring or destroying the major part Of the
/ Confederate army. Early'5 men ran al
! hcadlong speed up the valley, speed So
great that even Sherdan's cavalry could
not overtake them. Shelter and snccor
awaited them al Browns Gap, which they
reached on September 3D.
il EncllUdn lIlouSll Iif ildI llDN B'i iii'''
ncntly cleared the valley Of Confederates
he was mistaken. Like d ball of rubber,
they could not be- kept down. rhc posses
sion Of the Shenandoah was too important
10 them for q ready abandonment Lee
condcIed with Early over his reverses anl
sent him all the available troops at hand,
consisting Of Kershaws infantry and Ros-
ser's cavalry. lie also promised that
Rrcckinlidge should cooperate with him.
and contributed some encouraging words
and suggestions. While Lee and Emor.
were thus occupied IN planning fresh
campaign. Sheridan was thoroughly deNas-
tating the valley as far south as Harrison
burg. destroying bridges and capturing oi
destroying all produce. On october 9, hav-
ing reached the southern limit set for mill
tary reasons 10 his campaign, he started
north again.
Early stil demonstrated that he did not
know the man in his front. He thought
sheridan was actually retreating in the face
81 his reinforced army. The cavalry were
sent on in advance in what he imagined