The Washington herald., 1914-08-23

Fifty years ago today Gen. Sheridan's
army, which had halted at Charlestown
on its march down the Shenandoah VAL
ley from Cedar Creek, withdrew to Hall
town, near Harpers Ferry, where it took
up strong position.
1t was now back at the point fOm
which il had started on August 10 to ad-
vance against the Confederates under
Gen. Jubal A Early. Early had fallen
back until REINFORCED. Sheridan. learn
ing OF the Reinforcement OF his OppO-
nent, had fallen back in turn, through
Winchester. and across Opequon Creek.
then TO Charlestown and finally to Hall
town. the strongest defensible position
in the valley.
The last move had been prompted by
spirited attack made upon him by
Early on August p, in which the Sixth
Corps lost $50 killed and wounded. He
assumed that Early had between So,OOe
and 1000 men. The dash and vigOr Of
the enemy seemed TO confirm the view
that his force was heavier than Sheri-
dams. After the war il became apparent
that Early at no time had as many men
as Sheridan. or in fact much more than
half as many. Sheridan at this period
had $500.
Sheridan was exercising caution under
direct orders from Grant. The young
Federal general as yet was new to his
command and to the country in which
he was operating. He did not have his
army in hand. 1t was composed Of vari-
out dissimiIar groups OF trOOps-a mix
ture Of veterans and recruits. in which
discipline was lax. While studying the
problems before him. Sheridan was I'M
der the necessity Of mOlding his COM
mand into a cohesive body OF dependable
troops. That the task was not easy Is
shown by incidents Of the army's march
down the valley and back again.
PfIIaEc by StraEEIcrs.
The army was under orders to destroy
all grain and other property that might
be used by the enemy's army. Thar
these orders had opened the door TO
pillage and oppression by an irresponsible
element among Sheridan's troops IS
shown by various accounts OF Sherldan's
march.
No more candid exposition OF this ugly
side Of war is to be found than in the
writings OF one conscientious New York
correspondent who accompanied the
army.
"A large number Of soldiers, at the
very outset of the march. appeared to
have had some sort OF idea, probably
instilled among themselves. that they
were intended to avenge the outrages
committed by the enemy in Maryland
and Pennsylvania" he wrote
This idea soon became a settled pur-
pose among the worst class Of troops and
was rapidly and indiscriminately adopted
by numerous associates. Although l am
convinced that II was officially unauthor-
lied. II affected the discipline of the army
from the first.
Robbery Of gardens and orchards, be-
ginning by stealth. became at last open
and deliberate pillage. Stragglers. after
a time. did not wait TO get I'm rear be-
fore commencing operations. They wan
dered from the ranks by scores, by hun
dreds, spreading over the surrounding
entering homes. carrying devas-
tation into dooryaTds and even beyond
thresholds.
Unauthorized and independent bands,
thus, had and used the oppor-
tunities of Ruerrillas. Citizens were way
laid and dismounted. barns and cattle
yards broken into and robbed of their
stock, sheep shot down, shouldered and
borne away, henroosts despOiled, but
teries and cellars rified without warning
and without mercy. What was Just and
proper, and even necessary for the sub
sistsnce of the troops, when performed
by the agents Of the commissary and
quartermasters' departments alone, de-
generated into pillage when taken in
hand by those whose acts were Invested
Of all authority and restraint, and who
exceeded necessity through very wan
tonness.
From the time when the army left
Opequon Creek on its way to Stras-
burg. until its arrival hither. its track
was marked not only by the inevitable
destruction which the best disciplined
troops leave upon the soil, but by per-
sonal outrages that were inexcusable.
Acts of Violence.
II do not speak on any hearsay evil |
fence whatever. The Incidents that fol- |
low are selected from numerous facts |
which myself observed and which are |
throughout the army.