The Washington herald., 1915-03-21
FEDERALS ELUDE CONFEDER-
ATES NEAR RICHMOND
March Is.

| March Is.
Fifty years ago today a Confederate
force of infantry and cavalry. under
Gen. Longstreet. including Pickett's in
fantry division and a division of cavalry
under Gen. F'itzhugh Lee. marching out
of Richmond to intercept Sheridan on his
raid across Virginia. crossed the North
Anna River TO find that the Federals had
eludei them.
Although Sheridan had 1o,0oo troopers
Ter him, it was not his purpose to
give battle. lie had no artillery ammu-
milton train or supplies to justify his
hating or altering his original program.
This was to infiict as much damage on
the enemy as possible on his march
from Winchester. in the Shenandoah
Valley. to the vicinity of Petersburg.
where he was to join Grant.
In this, the last great cavalry raid Of
the war in Virginia, Gen. Sheridan had
fully realized his purpose. Leaving VIM
chester February -. he had captured
the last remnant of the Confederate
army in the valley under Gen. Juhal \.
Early. at Waynesboro, on March :: IL"
had then marched into Albemarle Coun-
ty. the fertile Rivanna River country
resting two days at Charlottesville, and
striking thence southwark, destroying
the Virginia Central Railroad to within
sixteen miles Of LynchburE, and the
James River Canal for many miles in an
opposite direction. TO within eighteen
miles of Richmond.
These operations had occupied the first
fourteen days of the raid-a period OF in
Cessant cold rains that made the roads
nearly impossible and brought much dis
comfort to the men.
Sheridans raid had caused unrest I'm
Richmond as his purpose was not fully
understood there. This was not extra
ordinary. for his orders from Gen. Ora MT
had covered number of possible move
ments He was TO take Lynchburg il
march south of tho James and join
sherman in North Carolina. or across
Virginia to join Grant, as he thought
| best.
Gen Lee vigilart IN TIRE last. had
/ watched Sheridan's progress hardly a
day before sending Gen. Pickett's divi-
! sion 10 LynChburg.
! knowledge of this fact deferred Shori-
dan from attacking the city. and he had
! turned eastward along the James. de-
stroyinC the canal. mills and warehouses
and stores in his path. Lee at once had
r'.caIl.d Pickett whose troops were
moved ny rail.
DestroyinS Railroad.
con- March n Sheridan'S command rest
81 ~ columbia. at the junction OF the
E.vau,t with tn" lanes. From that
l",.G.t sheridan sent cut scouts 10 carry
To- Graut news OF his plan. whirh was
t. rn1~ch his comma nd past Richmond.
%. 3n,. north. 10 White House, on the
'av.Iukcv Rive. There ne wished
s.....r :" have supplies and forage wait
.n- n,.G.
T.. ,..s; at Columbia had been 2relim-
.i4.> % more arduoms labors. tn" MIR
-...l t.ntr.l Railroad WAS as Vet I'm
h"A,u h"twecn Richmond and Gordon
vilic. aud this must be effectudIly
Nr-,.',Nd.
Marching in TWO divisions on The morn
i"G Of March =. the command struck
tn" railroad IN TWO columns, Gen. W"S-
) L. Merritt with Devins division. ~
Louisa Courthouse. and sheridan WIKI
I Custer at Frederckshal1 station.
/ The descent upon the latter place vas
! 81 sudden that a teIegrspher was sur
/ prised at his key. and had no time I"
! destroy certain military messages That
! lay at his hand One OF these appri>ei
| Gen Sheridan that Gen. Early. fleeing
/ from the valley with = handful ~ cav
airy. was in the neiGhborhood: another
! that Gen. LongStreet was in the field
! with large force. seeking the raiders.
/ Gen. Sheridan at once sent out de-
! tachment to seek Early. who escaped
/ only by hard riding getting across the
! South Anna River with hut one COM
I ramon. just ahead of his puTsuerS.
! The railroad having been completely
destroyed from near Louisa Courthouse
7 {" Beaver Dam station. \ distance Of
: about twenty miles. Gen. Sheridan was
/ ready to take up tn" march TO elude
. I.orgstr"et His plans as laid embrs Ced
. a bit Of strategy. The whole column.
marching by separate routes. was di-
rected to Ashland. fifteen miles from
! Richmond. as II heading for the ChiCka-
, hominy and possibly the city. Custer :
scouts rode TO within eleven miles OF
| Richmond on March "a.
! Then Sheridan marched his whole COM
mand rapidly northward. except one
| brigade. which was left at Ashland Ia
! divert the enemy. On the night of the
| 18th the whole force. including this rear
| guard. crossed the North Anna River
and camped at Carmel Church.
Lonestreet Too Late.
Gen. LonEstreet. with PiCkett's Infsn-
Try and FitZhugh Lees cavalry. had
marched out Of Richmond on March IA
TO mead Sheridan off before he could gain
! the road toward tidewater. Arriving at
the Pamunkey, which in spring Hood was
/ flowing wild" and strong. Gen. Long
/ street found that pontoon bridge he
: had ordered sent there had not arrived
y day was lost waiting for it. Then
/ the Confederates set TO work rebuilding
an old bridge across the stream that had
! been burned the spring before in Grant $
advance. Ry the time il was done and
! the vanguard crossed it was found Sher-
! idan had gone on. In the words OF Gen.
! Longstreet. the trail was cold and
| growing colder
Pursuit was considered useless. and
/ the Confederate troops, Worn down by
! their eXertions. hungry and detected, re-
! turned to their works before Richmond.
to wait for the rapidly approaching end
Of their struggles.
| EEnEpAIc MOVE tn ATTAcK