The Washington herald., 1914-07-21
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
July l864-Gn Juba Early Who Had Withdrawn
Valley After Mnacng Washington Made Good His Retreat
tahng South of Wnehestsr-Faure Pursuit
Of Early

| infantry. under Gen. W. W. Averell. who
vas operating in conjunction with
Crook
ANerelI Strikes Hard.
Coming up the pike from Martinsburg,
near the Potomac. this force, though not
large enough TO Se formidable to Early,
threatened the Confederate trains. con-
tanning all the plunder pf tho raid into
Maryland. which included many tons OF
foodstuffs
In order to protect these trains and TO
cover Winchester OF is North side Gen
Early. whose force vas then encamped
around Berryville, five miles from the
Shenandoah. sent nut division of infan-
try under Gen. s. ID. RamseUr
The task before Ramseur seemed easy
and his troops mart he'd witt confidence
down the pike on July ~ Three miles
from Winchester. on Carter's Farm, they
encountered the Federals in battle array,
across the road and in the fields on either
side. II was region OF stone walls.
thickets, rolling ground and small
streams. admirably adapted TO sharp
fighting.
The Federals struck swiftly and hard.
There was brief. terrific fignt, and al
most before the Confederates were CON-
scious Of danger the left of their line had
D,
whole force was in retreat
The Federals. both infantry and cav
airy, charged with great vigor They had
twelve guns, and these, plIsd rapidly and
at close range. completed the demoraliza-
ton OF Ramseur's ranks, which were
driven back in a stampede toward Win
chester, losing four guns and 2O3 killed
and wounded, besides nearly as many
men and seventeen officers taken r-is-
orers- AvereIl's loss was 2Os killed and
wounded.
Early HnIts and Turns Back.
Gen. Early was several mile south OF
Winchester when he heard of the reverse
suffered by Ramseur. Another division,
that OF Gen. Robert E. Rodes, was at
once put in motion down the pike. to
check the Federals.
Gen. Averell wisely refrained from
pursuit OF Ramseur with his inferior
force, expecting, with reason, that other
Federal forces would press the enemy
from the direction Of the Shenandoah.
Re-enforcements for Averel, in fact,
were coming up. A brigade under Col.
Rutherford B. Hayes had marched up
the west bank from Harpers Ferry and
Crooks force was preparing to force the
crossing Of the river.
Gen. Early, studying the situation with
a shrewd eye. saw that it was now time
for him to make another move. He with
drew from Berryville, and on July Il
concentrated his forces at Middletown, a
few miles south of Winchester, on the
Valley pike, starting his wagons south
ward for Strasburg. The next day he
followed them with his infantry. placing
Cedar Creek behind him and there halt
ing to await events.
His wait was short for on July Q ne |
heard that Gen. Wright's force had been |
toward Washington. Such |
was the fact. Gen. Grant, at City Point |
assuming that Early was in retreat to |
had ordered Gen. Wright's |
command to return to Petersburg, as he |
wished to employ 1t against Gen. Lees |
rail connections before Early could rejoin
Lee.
The news Of wrights return toward |
determined Early to resume
the offensive. He believed he could de- |
feat Crook, and start a fresh invasion OF
Maryland.
Thus the course of the great game of |
war in the Shenandoah Valley was de-
cided for the next four months. Early |
faced his little army about
and started once more down the valley. |
By this time Crook had crossed the /
and was at Winchester.
moving south. The two forces met in
battle July "A, at Kernstown, four miles
south Of Winchester. in which Gen.
Crook was driven from the field.
This battle led Gen. Grant to revoke
his orders to Gen. Wright and hold the
sixth Corps in Maryland for the defense
II Washington.
Tomorrow, Death Of Gen. McPherson.
lllouyriGht. 1874