The Washington herald., 1914-06-18

II
Fifty years ago today a Federal ex-
peditionary force Of 1900 men under Gen.
| David Hunter, that had marched up the
| Valley of Virginia, made an attack on
Lynchburg, Va, and was beaten on by
smaller force than under Gen. Jubal
A. Early and Gen. John C. Breckin-
ridge, had been hastily brought up to
defend the place
The great game of war In which the
expedition under Gen. Hunter was in
| tended to be an important feature was
being most keenly played by Gen Grant
and Gen. Lee, and in the series of moves
eliminating in Hunters defeat before
Lynchburg. Gen. Lee had been the win
ner.
Next to Richmond. Lynchburg was the
most important city in Virginia, or In
the northern part of the Confederacy, to
the Confederates. 1t was a manufactur-
ing place. railroad point Of importance
and center for all kinds of military
supplies, including iron and the ingredi-
ents for making gunpowder.
Strategically. also, the place was inn
portant for 1t was the logical point to
which a retreat from Richmond would
be made.
Gen. Grant aimed to break Lees con-
nections with the interior Of Western
Virginia by seizing Lynchburg, Char
lottesville, or both, and destroying the
railroads that ran thence to Richmond.
His plan had embraced a movement by
his cavalry, under Gen p II. Sheridan.
under orders to ride from the vicinity of
Cold Harbor westward upon Charlottes-
Vile, and to form a junction with Gen.
Hunter. who was to move on the same
point from the Shenandoah Valley. either
directly or via Lynchburg.
In the light of the Official records II
can be seen that Gen. Grants plans. so
far as Gen. Hunter was concerned, were
not clearly worked out, or clearly con-
veyed to Gen. Hunter. He was given
discretion as to whether he should ad-
vance first on Lynchburg or on Char
lottesville. Gen Sheridan was sent out
in the assumption that he would find
Hunter at or near Charlottesville.
The combination failed. Lee sent his
cavalry rapidly ahead of Sheridan and
turned him back. Hunter arrived at
Lynchburg too late to take the place
with a force that could not risk defeat
far from its base.
Aadacfty Of Gen. Lee.
In his defense Of Lynchburg. as in a
score of other examples in the war, Gen.
Lee demonstrated the admirable pre-
cision with which he could concentrate
force upon a threatened point. Two
days before the Federals reached Lynch
burg the place was undefended; yet
defending forces had been directed to-
ward it by Gen Lee long before that
time. and their advance was timed to
bring them to the required spot in sea-
son to beat of the Federals.
Lee had detached not less than i, 900
men from his own meager army before
Richmond to hold Hunter in check-frst
1900 under Gen. John c. Breckenridge,
6 M mndar Itthar A EarIv
who commanded the fast-marching corps
once commanded by "Stonewall' Jack
son. Not content merely with defense.
Gen. Lee had ordered Early, once Hunter
was disposed of, to march on Wash
ington, as a means of insuring the fur
ther safety of Lynchburg by diverting
the enemy's attention from 1t.
The audacity of this latter project IS
the best evidence extant of the grasp
Lee had of the situation before Rich |
mond. On the day Early was detached. |
than two 20 one, was still in its trenches !
at Cold Harbor.
Nissea Mark Through Delays
In the advance upon Lynchburg the |
Federals had thrown away their chances |
of brilliant success. as they had often |
lone before by trying to do two things |
10 destroy property in the Shenandoah |
Valley he would have been at Lynchburg |
ahead of Gen. Early.
Gen. Hunters advance had been well |
but with all their costly ex-
perience in missing the mark through !
delays. the Federals had not yet learned ,
he paramount Importance of straining !
every nerve. in such cases, to beat the |
enemy TO the point they wished to gain.
Gen. Hunter had marched from near /
to Staunton, where he re-
nained four days. While he was there /
Gen. Breckenridge arrived with his 400 |
men at Rockfish Gap, in the Blue Ridge, |
IN the road from .Staunton to Charlottes-
lille.
At Staunton Gen. Hunter learned from
prisoners that Sheridan had met with a /
'everse at Trevillan Station on June II,
hat Breckenridge was at Rockfish Gap,
md that Early's corps had been detach-
d by Lee and sent toward the valley.
Gen. Hunter reasoned that IL these
hings were true, he might not reach
without bloody Sighting.
( at all, for one of these mountain gaps
ould he held by a handful against
many. He therefore had chosen the alter
iative of his orders. to advance to Lynch
,urg.
The first variation in the game thus
avored the Confederates. for it left
mountain gap, with q railroad running
through it. open in Gen. Hunters rear
. highway by which. after defending
Lynchburs. Lee could threw Early be-
. ,.f.Esi ~ \