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particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding the Shenandoah
Valley； even down to the farmhouses。 He imparted with great
readiness what he knew of this； clearly pointing out its
configuration and indicating the strongest points for Confederate
defense； at the same time illustrating scientifically and forcibly
the peculiar disadvantages under which the Union army had hitherto
labored。
The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit
along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the
North Mountain； and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue
Ridge。 The southern limit is south of Staunton； on the divide which
separates the waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to
the James。 The western boundary is the eastern slope of the
Alleghany Mountains； the eastern； the Blue Ridge； these two distinct
mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch of quite
open； undulating country varying in width from the northern to the
southern extremity； and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of
heavy woods： At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad；
and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester about forty…
five； while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty…five。 Just
southeast of Strasburg； which is nearly midway between the eastern
and western walls of the valley； rises an abrupt range of mountains
called Massanutten； consisting of several ridges which extend
southward between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River
until； losing their identity； they merge into lower but broken ground
between New Market and Harrisonburg。 The Massanutten ranges； with
their spurs and hills； divide the Shenandoah Valley into two valleys；
the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray； while that next
the North Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah。
A broad macadamized road； leading south from Williamsport； Maryland；
to Lexington； Virginia； was built at an early day to connect the
interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal； and
along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the
Shenandoah Valley； with lateral lines of communication extending to
the mountain ranges on the east and west。 The roads running toward
the Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized； and the principal ones
lead to the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's；
Ashby's Manassas； Chester； Thornton's Swift Run； Brown's and Rock…
fish gaps； tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond。 These gaps are
low and easy； offering little obstruction to the march of an army
coming from eastern Virginia； and thus the Union troops operating
west of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank
attack； for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to
Gordonsville and Charlottesville； from which points they could move
with such celerity through the Blue Ridge that； on more than one
occasion； the Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate
success； due greatly to the advantage of possessing these interior
lines。
Nature had been very kind to the valley； making it rich and
productive to an exceptional degree； and though for three years
contending armies had been marching up and down it； the fertile soil
still yielded ample subsistence for Early's men； with a large surplus
for the army of Lee。 The ground had long been well cleared of
timber； and the rolling surface presented so few obstacles to the
movement of armies that they could march over the country in any
direction almost as well as on the roads； the creeks and rivers being
everywhere fordable； with little or no difficulty beyond that of
leveling the approaches。
I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had
operated in this region hitherto under 〃Stonewall〃 Jackson with
marked success； inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every
time the two armies had come in contact。 These men were now commanded
by a veteran officer of the Confederacy…General Jubal A。 Earlywhose
past services had so signalized his ability that General Lee
specially selected him to take charge of the Valley District； and；
notwithstanding the misfortunes that befell him later； clung to him
till the end； of the war。 The Confederate army at this date was
about twenty thousand strong； and consisted of Early's own corps；
with Generals Rodes； Ramseur； and Gordon commanding its divisions；
the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia； three
battalions of artillery； and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn； Johnson；
McCausland； and Imboden。 This cavalry was a short time afterward
organized into a division under the command of General Lomax。
After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's
Ferry； Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity
of Martinsburg； in positions from which he could continue to obstruct
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad； and yet be enabled to retire up the
valley under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive
campaign。
When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force
comprised the Sixth Corps； one division of the Nineteenth Corps； and
two divisions from West Virginia。 The Sixth Corps was commanded by
Major…General Horatio G。 Wright； its three divisions by Brigadier…
Generals David A。 Russell； Geo。 W。 Getty； and James B。 Ricketts。
The single division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its immediate
chief Brigadier…General William Dwight； the corps being commanded by
Brigadier…General Wm。 H。 Emory。 The troops from West Virginia were
under Brigadier…General George Crook； with Colonels Joseph Thoburn
and Isaac H。 Duval as division commanders； and though in all not more
than one fair…sized division； they had been designated； on account of
the department they belonged to； the Army of West Virginia。 General
Torbert's division； then arriving from the Cavalry Corps of the Army
of the Potomac； represented the mounted arm of the service； and in
the expectation that Averell would soon join me with his troopers； I
assigned General Torbert as chief of cavalry； and General Wesley
Merritt succeeded to the command of Torbert's division。
General Wright； the commander of the Sixth Corps； was an officer of
high standing in the Corps of Engineers； and had seen much active
service during the preceding three years。 He commanded the
Department of the Ohio throughout the very trying period of the
summer and fall of 1862； and while in that position he； with other
prominent officers； recommended my appointment as a brigadier…
general。 In 1863 he rendered valuable service at the battle of
Gettysburg； following which he was assigned to the Sixth Corps； and
commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at Rappahannock
Station and in the operations at Mine Run。 He ranked me as a major…
general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission； but my
assignment by the President to the command of the army in the valley
met with Wright's approbation； and； so far as I have ever known； he
never questioned the propriety of the President's action。 The Sixth
Corps division commanders； Getty； Russell； and Ricketts； were all
educated soldiers； whose records； beginning with the Mexican War； had
already been illustrated in the war of the rebellion by distinguished
service in the Army of the Potomac。
General Emory was a veteran； having graduated at the Military Academy
in 1831； the year I was born。 In early life he had seen much service
in the Artillery； the Topographical Engineers； and the Cavalry； and
in the war of the rebellion had exhibited the most soldierly
characteristics at Port Hudson and on the Red River campaign。 At
this time he had but one division of the Nineteenth Corps present；
which division was well commanded by General Dwight； a volunteer
officer who had risen to the grade of brigadier…general through
constant hard work。 Crook was a classmate of mineat least； we
entered the Military Academy the same year； though he graduated a
year ahead of me。 We had known each other as boys before we entered
the army； and later as men； and I placed implicit faith in his
experience and qualifications as a general。
The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left
Merritt； as I have already said； in command of the First Cavalry
Division。 He had been tried in the place before； and from the day he
was selected as one of a number of young men to be appointed general
officers； with the object of giving life to the Cavalry Corps； he
filled the measure of expectation。 Custer was one of these young men
too； and though as yet commanding a brigade under Merritt； his
gallant fight at Trevillian Station； as well as a dozen others during
the summer； indicated that he would be equal to the work that was to
fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson。 But to go