The Washington herald., 1914-05-02


Fifty years ego today Federals un-
der Gen Franz slgei occupied Win
chester. in the Shenandoah Valley. and
an expedition Of infantry and cavalry
rtarted southwark from Charleston.
". Va, in pursuance of orders from
Gen z. s. Grant.
These movements were preliminary
10 Grants great Virginia campaign,
which was 10 begin the next day. Not
Formidable In themselves. they consti-
tuted an important feature in proposed
operations that should have for their
object common point-the Army un-
der CEN Robert &. Lee. They were
also q part Of the wider plan which
embraced a movement by Gen. Sher-
man against the Confederate army in
Georgia under Gen. Joseph E. John
ston.
Grants aim was, TO keep the enemy
occupied "an along the line" as he
nut II, in order that he might not de-
fach troops from one point to re-en-
force, another.
The Confederate forces in the Shen-
andoah Valley and in Western Vir-
rfnia were not heavy. but they were
well trained and experienced and IL
not occupied might be drawn upon by
Lee for material re-enforcements. In
the valley were about 1000 cavalry,
under Gen. J. d. Imboden. and IN
western Virginia about 5000 infantry
and cavalry under Maj. Gen John 7.
Breckinridge, who had recently been
assigned TO that district. with head
quarters at Dublin, Pulaski County.
Neither side had aimed to occupy the
Lower Shenandoah Valley through the
winter and Gen.s Imboden's headquar-
ters had been seventy miles south OF
winchester, at Mount Crawford. while
the Federal post nearest Winchester
was Harpers Ferry, twenty-five miles
northeast.
Gen. Grants orders TO Gen Sigel
were that he should occupy Winches-
ter. but should not advance south OF
Cedar Run fifteen miles south Of that
town. Gen. Sigel, though feeling that
he did not have force enough at his
disposal TO conduct a successful cam
paign in the valley-he had with him
about $500 men-later advanced much
farther south. This cut short his ca
reer in the valley. Three weeks to a
day after his occupation OF Winchester,
he was relieved of command there.
His successor, Gen. David Hunter, also
failed there. 4
The way was thus prepared for the
appearance of Sheridan in the Shenan-
doah. and the Inauguration OF has
devastating raids there, which are
of modern warfare.
To Cut Important Road.
Gen. sigel. as commander of the dis
trict of West Virginia, to which he had
been appointed on March by President
Lincoln, had control of the expeditionary
movement from Charleston.
The object Of this movement was the
cutting Of the Virginia and Tennessee
n 81
was the only line between Virginia and
Tennessee The Confederates then used
il to within a few miles of Knoxville. 1t
traVersed a country rich in supplies, and
might afford link between the army of
Gen Johnston and that Of Gen. Lee in
the event of Gen. Sherman meeting with
reverses.
With this road disabled. there would
be no opportunity in the event of Con-
federate successes in Georgia for Gen.
Johnston TO send re-enforcements rapidly
TO Gen. Lee.
It was an important mission, therefore,
on which the troops at Charleston were
dispatched. There were two columns,
one OF infantry, under Gen George Crook.
other of cavalry, under Gen. W.
~ rill. The latter had already made
f- Id and successful raids in West
l. Gen. Crook was the senior,
.Ea -ected the movement of both col
u-E-.
5sI Averell, with 1900 cavalry, was
he'd from the Kanawha Valley, via
Izozsa Court House, toward Saltville,
y I rders TO destroy the railroad near
Rev IL possible, and thence On>to Dub
sin ,.pot so as to render that part of
-tla ountry untenable to the enemy;
!la Gen. Crook. with a main column
~ b. Intry, numbering 5000 men, moved
va yetteville and Princeton. his objec-
I've puint being the large and important
bridge by which the Virginia and Ten
nessee Railroad crossed the New River,
between Salem and Wytheville.
Col. Rutherford II. Hayes.
Gen Crooks troops, largely Ohio. Penn
syivania. and West Virginia volunteers,