The Washington herald., 1914-08-28


ley. this was not dificult. Sheridan en-
pioyed as the eyes Of his army his cav
airy solely, as he was superior in that
arm Of the service. Gen Early employed
cavalry supported by infantry.
The Federals had developed this fact
TO their cost In following Earlys move
ment toward the Potomac The Federal
cavalry had found the enemy on August
. and had assailed them with viEor.
driving first cavalry and then infantry
before them. Early had replied with a
heavy force Of infantry and had hurled
the Federal troopers back with such
force that Clusters Brigade was cut of
from the main body and was saved only
by fording the Potomac into Maryland
On August 6 there had been a sharp
night between some Of Gen Early's in
fantry, under Gen. r. H. Anderson.
which had been left to watch the Federal
army. and troops under Gen George
Crook. which were engaged in recon-
noitering. Gen. Davis had under him
Gen. Isaac II. Duvals and a part of
Gen. Joseph Thoburn's divisions. with a
reserve brigade OF cavalry under Col.
Charles Russell. jr.
LOwell's cavalry made a dashinE charge
at the Confederate skirnish line and
broke ii. capturing eight officers and
sixty-nine privates. The losses in killed
and wounded on both sides were not
light Gen. Crook reported a loss Of al
men.
Sheridan's infantry had lain quiet dur
ing August .. but his cavalry was in the
saddle from dawn to dark. doing valiant
service His troopers across the PotO-
mac were drawn in. riding down upon
the rear guard Of the Confederates from
the direction Of Martinsburg and Shep-
herdtown, while Gen. Merritt's division
pushed out toward Bunker Hill to force
back the enemys horse on the army's
front.
East OF smithheld Merritt found the
enemy's cavalry in force. under Gen.
Fitz Hugh Lee. Merritt attacked. in a
dashing charge, in which the saber was
freely used. and the enemy was driven
through the town and across the Ope-
quon. This engagement established the
stream as the line OF demarkatiun. when
night fell. between the two armies
Strategy 10 Aid Sheridan.
The daily severe fighting Of the char
acter described. which was prosecuted
with a dash and hardihood hitherto lack
ing in operations in the Shenandoah Val
ley, crowded though its calendar had
been with bloody ARRAYS. keyed the
nerves OF both sides to further desperate
encounters
Thus, when Sheridan began to move up
the valley. every man on both sides felt
that a struggle to the death was being
inaugurated. Gen. Grant. from his head
quarters at Petersburg. by telegraph.
directed the policy Of the valley cam
paign, sending Sheridan frequent mes
sages Of advice and orders to control his
strategic movements.
Grant had been conducting heavy oper-
ations against Lee, with the purpose OF
cutting him OF from his southern rail-
road connections and Of forcing him to
recall from the valley the troops from
Longstreet's corps. which Lee had sent
to Gen. Early. 1t had been this re-en-
forcement of Early that had forced Sher-
idan to fall back after making his first
start up the valley.
Grant was now confident that he had
accomplished his purpose as to Early's
re-enforcements, and on August IS he
had so Informed Sheridan. He believed,
he stated, that all troops under Early
would be sent back except what they
believe to be the minimum number to
detain you He added: II think I do
not overestimate the loss Of the enemy
in the last two weeks at 1000 killed and
wounded. Watch closely. and II you
find this thing Grants theory correct,
push with all yigor. Give the enemy no
rest. Do all the damage to rail-
roads and crops that you can. Garry OF
stock of all descriptions, and negroes, so
as to prevent further planting. II the
war Is to last another year. we want the
Shenandoah Valley TO remain a barren
waste"
1t was in accordance with these orders.
which his observations convinced him
were wise. that Gen. Sheridan had begun
his decisive advance up the valley.
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