The Washington herald., 1914-08-17

front, in the fields on both sides OF the
valley pike, the road being reserved for
the guns and the wagons. II had left
Suasburg in the morning. and in the
evening its advance was marching
through the streets of Winchester, hav-
ing covered twenty miles since breakfast.
1t was with an air OF enthusiasm that
the lean and ragged Virginians, Georgians
and Carolinians under Early. Breckin-
ridge, Anderson, Kershaw and Fitz Lee;
footmen and troopers, entered winches-
ter. They were convinced that they were
on the road to speedy victory over Sher-
idan.
Dark faces had glOwered upon the Fed
erals. Wreathed smiles greeted the Con-
federates; smiles that were the brighter
for the stories that had been told of the
progress of the Northern troops down the
valley and back again.
Columns of smoke from burning barns,
grain houses, mills and haystacks had
told their own story as the FederaIs
marched. Sheridan was carrying out
with stern hand the orders of Grant TO
strip the valley OF supplies that might
aid the enemy.
In the midst OF this wholesale destruc-
tion II was natural that the soldiers
should not make fine distinctions be-
tween property to be destroyed for mill
tary purposes and that which, because
OF its private nature. should be protected.
as result many Individuals had suf-
fered from the passing OF the Federal
army.
As they retreatd through Winchester.
they carried off droves of cattle. milch
cows, calves. sheep, hogs and horses. and
all the chickens, ducks, turkeys and
geese wrote a Southern correspondent.
They burned every barn tht had a
head Of wheat in IT. every stack of straw
and hay, one or two mills and a number
Of dwelling houses. They DESTROYED the
machinery of a number of mills"
LRWIessncss of StraggIers.
Depredations against private property
were committed chiefly by straRglers-
and the stragGlers in any army repre-
sent the worthless element In this case
thcv were chiefly men who had enlisted
TO secure the bonus, or bounty. offered
for recruits.
Correspondents who accompanied the
army bore copious testimony to the law
lessness Of the stragglers and gave some
striking Incidents OF the spirit of the
people in resisting their depredatiops.
One Of them recited an incident of two
young girls who saw their fayorite pony
being ridden of by a negro, and who
alone rescued the animals.
AASg bONl SSA1th pony IranTlCallY
by the name, their bonnets on and hair
streaming In the wind. The negro dis
mounted and disappeared and. one on
each side Of the pony. the daughters led
him back to their father and stood hold
Ing him a long time in the dooryard
mCcn othe amusement OF our soldiers,
who were pleased with their pluck"
This correspondent, who had visited
the valley with the army of Gen. Banks
two years before, and had made some
acQuaintances in Winchester, was in
terested to note that time had caused
no abatement in the devotion of the
women Of Winchester to the cause of
the Confederaey.
Their faith in their ultimate triumph,
their persistent hope not rendering them
heart-sick by being long deferred. was
truly sublime" he wrote. "I think the
people Of this valley manifest the virtue
Of consistency"
It was virtue that was to cost them
dear, for Sheridan's retreat was only
a maneuver for position, and when he
came back, as he would shortly. IL would
be only to lay a heavier hand on the fair
country Of the Shenandoah Valley.
Copyright. l9Il
TomOrrOwI Fighting Before At
Iantn.