The Washington herald., 1915-02-28
GEN. SHERIDAN STARTED ON
SHENANDOAH RAID.
February II, 1865.

Fifty years ago today Gen. p. II. Sher.
idan. with 1000 troopers. left Winches
ter and rode southwark, to clear the
Shenandoah Valley of the remnants oil
Gen. Jubal A Early's Confederate COM
mand. and to march to Join Grant fol
the final operations at Petersburg.
Sheridan's cavalry had wintered in
comfortable quarters at Kernstown, or
the southern border Of Winchester. The
regiments had been recruited to their
full strength. and remounted. during the
winter. and Sheridan now had at his
command the finest body of horsemer
that ever rode in the valley.
There were two divisions, under COM
mand of Gen. Wesley Merritt as chief OF
cavalry. In the First Division. under
Gen. Thomas c. Devin. were 5.0sT effect
i've men, and in the Third. under Gen.
George A. Custer. 1870 They were &C
companied by two sections of artillery,
and minimum of transportation. con-
sisting of a small supply train. with fif-
teen days rations of coffee, sugar and
salt; sixteen ammunition wagons, eight
ambulances and eight pontoon boats for
crossing the bridgeless streams Of the
valley. The men carried five days
cooked rations in their haversacks.
Thus lightly equipped. the column
started up the historic Valley Pike on
wet, cold morning. The mountains
were still white with snow, but coplous
rains had barred the fields and roads and
the latter were deep with mud.
The troopers cared little for that, as
they anticipated a short stay in the val
ley and a swift march across Virginia
to Grants base. A feeling that the end
Of the war was in sight inspired the
men with enthusiasm and no serious
resistance on the part of the enemy in
their path was to be anticipated.
Early's Forces Scattered.
Gen. Early. indeed. was in no position
to offer resistance to such a body of
troops. Following the heavy fighting
that closed the campaign of 1864 he had
been obliged virtually to disband his
army. in order that 1t might find sub
sistence.
His cavalry was sent o~er tho noun
tains into the West Virginia counties
held by the Confederates. or to South
western Virginia. while his artillerymen
were allowed to depart for their homes
and take their horses with them. as the
animals would have starved in the val
ley.
The Confederate infantry, with the ex-
ception of two brgades, under Gen. q.
c. Wharton. was sent to Gen. Lee at
IeterSOurR. ne feQerdl udO
been sent by Sheridan to Grant.
Early had managed to make feint of
picketing the valley through the winter
at a point below Strasburg, while max
ing his headquarters at Staunton. sev-
enty miles south of Winchester. His in
fantry camped at Fishersville, a few
miles east of Stanton.
Thus the winter had passed, with one
or two cavalry expeditions on both sides,
until the melting snow OF late Febru-
airy prompted the Federals to resume
action. 1t was now proposed to carry
out a plan that Gen. Grant had wished
Sheridan to follow the preceding autumn.
namely. to destroy the Virginia Central
Railroad between the valley and Rich
mond, and II practicable to take Lynch
burg.
Either Of those things being done.
Sheridan was to ride to join Grant. or
IL more desirable to find Sherman. then
advancing through the Carolinas. and
ride with him upon Lees rear at Rich
mond and Petersburg.
Gen. Sheridan's '.Fox Hunt"
Although virtually beaten beyond fur
Their power of resistance in the fall cam
paisn. Gen. Early had made a desperate
last show Of strength In order to hold
large Federal force in the valley.
His scouts and spies had watched the
Federal camps and pickets for the first
Sign of an advance. Gen. Sheridan had
hoped to deceive the Confederate gen.
eral as to the time of his advance. and
adopted a ruse. which he describes in
his memoirs, for the benefit OF his spies.
This was to arrange for fox hunt.
such as the Federal officers had INDUCED
In during the winter. Under cover of
me supposed hunt Gen. Sheridan plan
ned to start his column up the valley.
Knowing there were two Confederate
spies In his camp. he caused q large
pack of hounds that had been collected
for the purpose to be displayed a. II
ready for a grand hunt. The spies. after
seeing the hounds. were permitted to
start south on an ostensible bridge
burning mission for Gen. Sheridan. II
was supposed they carried the news Of
the hunt to Gen. Early. with the result
that he believed Sheridan's troopers
were not yet ready to move from their
winter quarters
Whatever. the merit OF this arrange