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reader's time； that the Cavalry Corps led the advance of the Army of
the Potomac into the Wilderness in the memorable campaign of 1864；
that on the expedition by way of Richmond to Haxall's it marked out
the army's line of march to the North Anna； that it again led the
advance to the Tolopotomy； and also to Cold Harbor； holding that
important strategic point at great hazard； and that by the Trevillian
expedition it drew away the enemy's cavalry from the south side of
the Chickahominy； and thereby assisted General Grant materially in
successfully marching to the James River and Petersburg。
Subsequently； Wilson made his march to Staunton bridge； destroying
railroads and supplies of inestimable value； and though this was
neutralized by his disaster near Ream's Station； the temporary set…
back there to one division was soon redeemed by victory over the
Confederate infantry at the battle of Darbytown。
In the campaign we were almost always on the march； night and day；
often unable to care properly for our wounded； and obliged to bury
our dead where they fell； and innumerable combats attest the part the
cavalry played in Grant's march from the Rapidan to Petersburg。 In
nearly all of these our casualties were heavy； particularly so when；
as was often the case； we had to engage the Confederate infantry； but
the enemy returned such a full equivalent in dead and wounded in
every instance； that finally his mounted power； which from the
beginning of the war had been nurtured with a wise appreciation of
its value； was utterly broken。
CHAPTER XXIII。
GENERAL HUNTER'S SUCCESSFUL MARCH AND SUBSEQUENT RETREATGENERAL
JUBAL A。 EARLY THREATENS WASHINGTONCHAMBERSBURG； PA。； BURNED
SELECTED TO OPERATE AGAINST GENERAL EARLYTHE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
THE CONFEDERATE ARMY。
When the attempt to take Petersburg in conjunction with the mine
explosion resulted in such a dismal failure； all the operations
contemplated in connection with that project came to a standstill；
and there was every prospect that the intensely hot and sultry
weather would prevent further activity in the Army of the Potomac
till a more propitious season。 Just now； however； the conditions
existing in the Shenandoah Valley and along the upper Potomac
demanded the special attention of General Grant； for； notwithstanding
the successful march that Major…General David Hunter had made toward
Lynchburg early in the summer； what he had first gained was
subsequently lost by strategical mistakes； that culminated in
disaster during the retreat he was obliged to make from the vicinity
of Lynchburg to the Kanawha Valley。 This route of march uncovered
the lower portion of the Valley of the Shenandoah； and with the
exception of a small force of Union troops under General Franz Sigel
posted aft Martinsburg for the purpose of covering the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad； there was nothing at hand to defend the lower valley。
The different bodies of Confederates which compelled Hunter's retreat
were under command of General Jubal A。 Early； who had been sent to
Lynchburg with Ewell's corps after the defeat of the Confederate
General W。 C。 Jones near Staunton on the 5th of June； to take command
of the Valley District。 When Early had forced Hunter into the
Kanawha region far enough to feel assured that Lynchburg could not
again be threatened from that direction； he united to his own corps
General John C。 Breckenridge's infantry division and the cavalry of
Generals J。 H。 Vaughn； John McCausland。 B。 T。 Johnson； and J。 D。
Imboden； which heretofore had been operating in southwest and western
Virginia under General Robert Ransom； Jr。； and with the column thus
formed； was ready to turn his attention to the lower Shenandoah
Valley。 At Early's suggestion General Lee authorized him to move
north at an opportune moment； cross the upper Potomac into Maryland
and threaten Washington。 Indeed； General Lee had foreshadowed such a
course when Early started toward Lynchburg for the purpose of
relieving the pressure in front of Petersburg； but was in some doubt
as to the practicability of the movement later； till persuaded to it
by the representations of Early after that general had driven Hunter
beyond the mountains and found little or nothing opposing except the
small force of Sigel； which he thought he could readily overcome by
celerity of movement。
By rapid marching Early reached Winchester on the 2d of July； and on
the 4th occupied Martinsburg； driving General Sigel out of that place
the same day that Hunter's troops； after their fatiguing retreat
through the mountains； reached Charlestown； West Virginia。 Early was
thus enabled to cross the Potomac without difficulty； when； moving
around 。 Harper's Ferry； through the gaps of the South Mountain； he
found his path unobstructed till he reached the Monocacy； where
Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps； and some raw troops that had
been collected by General Lew Wallace； met and held the Confederates
till the other reinforcements that had been ordered to the capital
from Petersburg could be brought up。 Wallace contested the line of
the Monocacy with obstinacy； but had to retire finally toward
Baltimore。 The road was then open to Washington； and Early marched
to the outskirts and began against the capital the demonstrations
which were designed to divert the Army of the Potomac from its main
purpose in front of Petersburg。
Early's audacity in thus threatening Washington had caused some
concern to the officials in the city； but as the movement was looked
upon by General Grant as a mere foray which could have no decisive
issue； the Administration was not much disturbed till the
Confederates came in close proximity。 Then was repeated the alarm
and consternation of two years before； fears for the safety of the
capital being magnified by the confusion and discord existing among
the different generals in Washington and Baltimore； and the imaginary
dangers vanished only with the appearance of General Wright； who；
with the Sixth Corps and one division of the Nineteenth Corps； pushed
out to attack Early as soon as he could get his arriving troops in
hand； but under circumstances that precluded celerity of movement；
and as a consequence the Confederates escaped with little injury；
retiring across the Potomac to Leesburg； unharassed save by some
Union cavalry that had been sent out into Loudoun County by Hunter；
who in the meantime had arrived at Harper's Ferry by the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad。 From Leesburg Early retired through Winchester
toward Strasburg； but when the head of his column reached this place
he found that he was being followed by General Crook with the
combined troops of Hunter and Sigel only； Wright having returned to
Washington under orders to rejoin Meade at Petersburg。 This
reduction of the pursuing force tempting Early to resume the
offensive； he attacked Crook at Kernstown； and succeeded in
administering such a check as to necessitate this general's retreat
to Martinsburg； and finally to Harper's Ferry。 Crook's withdrawal
restored to Early the line of the upper Potomac； so； recrossing this
stream； he advanced again into Maryland； and sending McCausland on to
Chambersburg； Pennsylvania； laid that town in ashes； leaving three
thousand non…combatants without shelter or food。
When Early fell back from the vicinity of Washington toward
Strasburg； General Grant believed that he would rejoin Lee； but later
manoeuvres of the enemy indicated that Early had given up this idea；
if he ever； entertained it； and intended to remain in the valley；
since it would furnish Lee and himself with subsistence； and also
afford renewed opportunities for threatening Washington。 Indeed； the
possession of the Valley of the Shenandoah at this time was of vast
importance to Lee's army； and on every hand there were indications
that the Confederate Government wished to hold it at least until
after the crops could be gathered in to their depots at Lynchburg and
Richmond。 Its retention； besides being of great advantage in the
matter of supplies； would also be a menace to the North difficult for
General Grant to explain； and thereby add an element of considerable
benefit to the Confederate cause； so when Early's troops again
appeared at Martinsburg it was necessary for General Grant to
confront them with a force strong enough to put an end to incursions
north of the Potomac； which hitherto had always led to National
discomfiture at some critical juncture； by turning our army in
eastern Virginia from its chief purposethe destruction of Lee and
the capture of the Confederate capital。
This second irruption of Early； and his ruthless destruction of
Chambersburg led to many recommendations on the part of General Grant
looking to a speedy elimination of the confusion then existing among
the Union forces along the upper Potomac； but for a time the
authoritie