The Washington herald., 1914-09-17

Washington. Grant embarked on A
steamer at City Point, on the James. on
September ). The next day he arrived at
Baltimore and took train for Harpers
Ferry.
To the latter point a telegram had
been sent to Sheridan, who was then at
the front, near Berryville. requesting an
interview at Charlestown, near Harpers
Ferry. courier carried this message
10 the front and on the morning Of Sep
4 tember Il the two generals met in the
old and war-battered village where old
John Brown had given up his life on the
galiows as the first sacrifice in the ire
Pressible conflict for the Union.
Their conference took place in one Of
the many houses whose owners had fled
and whose floors now resounded TO the
heavy tread and the rattle Of sabers OF
Federal officers.
To Seek and Whip the Enemy.
Grant had come prepared to force the
hghting in the valley. He had believed
before receiving the important news
Whlch sheridan had in store for him that
the time was at hand to remove the en-
barSo he had thus far imposed on Sheri-
dan. Its purpose had been to gain time
Tor the Richmond operations. and to de-
termine the strength OF the enemy in the
valley.
Grant at once asked Sheridan for a map
or the scene OF his operations This
Sheridan drew from a pocket. and soon
the two men were examining II. Proba-
oly TWO soldiers with greater gifts for
sensing Typographical details had never
before been brought together in the
course OF war
Sheridan pointed out to his chief the
manner in which he purposed moving
against the enemy.
Grant had come prepared with a man
OF the valley. and a plan Of operations
OF mis- own. After listening to his subor-
dlnate, who unfolded his plans with clear
ness and enthusiasm, Grant made no
mention OF hts map or his plan, but gave
sheridan an order to move out and whip
Early"
on hearing Grant give an account of
thls interview. and the order to Sheri-
dan, an officer OF his stan remarked:
l presume the actual form of the or
oer was to move out and attack him"
(Early).
To this Grant replied: NO. I mean
just what 1 say; 1t was to move out
and whip him."
ERrly's Forces Divided.
The task thus assigned Gen. Sheridan
was by no means a small one, but the
coincidence OF Grant was fully justified
oy conditions. Early's force. never as
large as Sheridan's-the latter had now
about $4,000 men-had not only been
depleted by the departure Of Anderson,
out had been divided. BY sending one
OF mis- divisions TO Martinsburg, near
the Potomac, Gen. Early had hoped TO
gain moral advantage from appear
ing TO threaten a fresh invasion of
Maryland. He also wished to break
anew the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
This division OF the enemy's forces
became known to Gen. Sheridan on the
day following Grants visit. Orders had
already been given for the FederaIs to
prepare for battle; but at Gen. Grants
suggestion, the actual delivery of bat
tie had been deferred to September 10
in order that Anderson's troops, en-
route to Richmond, might have pro-
gressed too far on their march to be
recalled.
Gen. Early. on hearing of Gen. Grants
visit to Sheridan. properly Judged that
there would soon be an aggressive
movement by the FederaIs and has
tened to recall his troops at Martins
burg. and otherwise to prepare to meet
II.
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