The Washington herald., 1914-06-18

rhe Washington Herald-)
I tween Hunter and his base. and open
the road to Washington
| Yet Gen. Hunter had acted In accord
ance with his best judgment, and within
| his orders. as they had been interpreted
to him. Later instructions written by
| Gen. Grant and handed to Gen Sheridan
for delivery to him imposed on him an
advance by way of Charlottesville; but
these were destined never to reach him.
The die being thus cast for the ad-
vance upon Lynchburg. Gen Hunter had
marched his column to Lexington (where
he lost another day) and thence via
Buchanan. across the Blue Ridge at the
Peaks OF Otter to Liberty, on the Vir-
ginia and Tennessee Railroad. twenty
four miles west Of Lynchburg. which was
reached June 1s.
Early In Nick of Time.
Early had marched eighty miles in four
days. and on June 1S was at Charlottes-
lille. sixty miles from Lynchburg. csllect-
ing cars with which to forward his
troops to that place Breckinridge, on
learning that Hunter had kept on from
Staunton up the valley, had marched his
troops to Lynchburg by a shorter route
and arrived there with them on June 16.
Lynchburg was not strongly defended
by works, there being only some hastily
built intrenchments near the city and
weaker line a few miles out. Into these
Breckenridge threw his command. The
cadets of the Virginia Military Institute,
a few companies of home guards-chiefiy
old men and boys-and few hundred
invalid soldiers. completed the defending
force. Early had not yet come up. but
the defenders of Lynchburg were not
disheartened.
On reaching Lynchburg Gen. Breckin-
ridge was obliged to go to bed, as he
was suffering from injuries sustained
when his horse was shot under him at
Cold Harbor. and Mai. Gen. ID. II. Hill.
who CHANGED to be IN Lynchburg, took
charge OF the defense.
That night the Federal cavalry camped
seven miles from Lynchburg. June II
it advanced to Quaker Church. four miles
from the town. and Hunters infantry
coming up, the defenders of the advanced
lines were driven back toward Lynch
burg.
All that day the few shaky cars that
Early had gathered at Charlottesville
we're rafting slowly down the line. laden
to their limit with :he famous foot
cavalry Of Stonewall Jackson's old COM
mand BY night half OF Early's corps
the division Of Gen. S. D. Ramseur-had
arrived in Lynchburg and marched to
the firing line.
The Federals in their bivouacks heard
the whistling of the locomotives and the
rumble of the cars on the railroad,
mingled with the beating Of drums and
the cheering OF men These were omi-
nous sounds to Gen. Hunter.
Morning confirmed the disquieting signs
of the night. Troops of Early's corps
continued to come into Lynchburg.
FederaIs In Retreat.
Gen. Hunter, having come so far. felt
that he could not retire without a fight,
and In the forenoon his skirmishers were
thrown forward. with the cavalry in
force on either flank.
In the afternoon q heavy attack was
delivered. 1t failed. with the loss of
about 200 men. At nightfall the entire
Federal force fell back toward Liberty.
There was but one thing left for Gen.
Hunter to do. and that was to retreat
quickly. for his command was now short
his base. The line by which he had
advanced was no longer practicable, for
Early could cut him of. Orders were
given therefore for a withdrawal across
the Alleghanies into West Virginia by
way OF Buford's Gap. This the next
was begun, and though the |
pursued hotly, and sue
ceeded in capturing eight of Gen. Hunt |
er's guns and some wagons. the force |
made good its escape via Gauley Bridge !
TO the Kanawha Valley.
Although Gen Hunters expedition fail |
ed to accomplish the capture of Lynch |
burg or a junction with Sheridan and the |
Army of the Potomac, its work was not |
important results. 1t inaugurated !
the program of destruction thereafter to |
be followed in the Shenandoah Valley, |
by which much needed supplies were cut
off from Lees army. and 1t diverted to |
that part of Virginia about II 900 troops |
that Gen. Lee otherwise might have sent
to re-enforce Gen. Johnston in his cam
paign against Sherman in Georgia. The
attempt of the Federals to gain Lynch
burg. thereby contributed indirectly to |
The regaining of Atlanta.
Tomorrow-The Alaba,na and the |
xearssrge.
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