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fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson。 But to go
on down the scale of rank； describing the officers who commanded in
the Army of the Shenandoah； would carry me beyond all limit； so I
refrain from the digression with regret that I cannot pay to each his
well…earned tribute。
The force that I could take with me into the field at this time
numbered about 26；000 men。 Within the limits of the geographical
division there was a much greater number of troops than this。
Baltimore； Washington； Harper's Ferry； Hagerstown； Frederick；
Cumberland； and a score of other points； besides the strong
detachments that it took to keep the Baltimore and Ohio railroad open
through the mountains of West Virginia； and escorts for my trains；
absorbed so many men that the column which could be made available
for field operations was small when compared with the showing on
paper。 Indeed； it was much less than it ought to have been； but for
me； in the face of the opposition made by different interests
involved； to detach troops from any of the points to which they had
been distributed before I took charge was next to impossible。
In a few days after my arrival preparations were completed； and I was
ready to make the first move for the possession of the Shenandoah
Valley。 For the next five weeks the operations on my part consisted
almost wholly of offensive and defensive manoeuvring for certain
advantages； the enemy confining himself meanwhile to measures
intended to counteract my designs。 Upon the advent of Torbert； Early
immediately grew suspicious； and fell back twelve miles south of
Martinsburg； to Bunker Hill and vicinity； where his right flank would
be less exposed； but from which position he could continue to
maintain the break in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad； and push
reconnoitring parties through Smithfield to Charlestown。 These
reconnoitring parties exhibited considerable boldness at times； but
since they had no purpose in view save to discover whether or not we
were moving； I did not contest any ground with them except about our
outposts。 Indeed； I desired that Early might remain at some point
well to the north till I was fully prepared to throw my army on his
right and rear and force a battle； and hence I abstained from
disturbing him by premature activity； for I thought that if I could
beat him at Winchester； or north of it； there would be far greater
chances of weighty results。 I therefore determined to bring my
troops； if it were at all possible to do so； into such a position
near that town as to oblige Early to fight。 The sequel proved；
however； that he was accurately informed of all my movements。 To
anticipate them； therefore； he began his retreat up the valley the
day that I moved out from Halltown； and （consequently was able to
place himself south of Winchester before I could get there。
CHAPTER XXIV。
MOVING ON GENERAL EARLYGENERAL GRANT'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS
DESTROYING THE RESOURCES OF THE VALLEYREASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION
WITHDRAWAL TO HALLTOWNALARM IN THE NORTH OVER THE RETROGRADE
MOVEMENTRENEWING THE ADVANCE UP THE VALLEYGENERAL ANDERSON'S
ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO PETERSBURGSTRENGTH OF THE ARMIES。
For a clear understanding of the operations which preceded the
victories that resulted in almost annihilating General Early's army
in the Shenandoah Valley； it is necessary to describe in considerable
detail the events that took place prior to the 19th of September。 My
army marched from Harper's Ferry on the l0th of August； 1864； General
Torbert with Merritt's division of cavalry moving in advance through
Berryville； going into position near White Post。 The Sixth Corps；
under General Wright； moved by way of Charlestown and Summit Point to
Clifton； General Emory； with Dwight's division of the Nineteenth
Corps； marched along the Berryville pike through Berryville to the
left of the position of the Sixth Corps at Clifton； General Crook's
command； moving on the Kabletown road； passed through Kabletown to
the vicinity of Berryville； and went into position on the left of
Dwight's division； while Colonel Lowell； with a detached force of two
small regiments of cavalry； marched to Summit Point； so that on the
night of August 10 my infantry occupied a line stretching from
Clifton to Berryville； with Merritt's cavalry at White Post and
Lowell's at Summit Point。 The enemy； as stated before； moved at the
same time from Bunker Hill and vicinity； and stretched his line from
where the Winchester and Potomac railroad crosses Opequon Creek to
the point at which the Berryville and Winchester pike crosses the
same stream； thus occupying the west bank to cover Winchester。
On the morning of the 11th the Sixth Corps was ordered to move across
the country toward the junction of the Berryville…Winchester pike and
the Opequon； and to take the crossing and hold it； Dwight's division
being directed to move through Berryville on the White Post road for
a mile； then file to the right by heads of regiments at deploying
distances； and carry the crossing of Opequon Creek at a ford about
three…fourths of a mile from the left of the Sixth Corps； while Crook
was instructed to move out on the White Post road； a mile and a half
beyond Berryville； then head to the right and secure the ford about a
mile to the left of Dwight； Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's
division up the Millwood pike toward Winchester； attack any force he
might run against； and ascertain the movements of the Confederate
army； and lastly； Lowell received instructions to close in from
Summit Point on the right of the Sixth Corps。
My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester
from the southeast； since； from all the information gathered during
the l0th； I still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that
point； but in this I was mistaken； as Torbert's reconnoissance
proved； for on the morning of the 11th； when Merritt had driven the
Confederate cavalry； then covering the Millwood pike west of the
Opequon； off toward Kernstown； he found that their infantry and
artillery were retreating south； up the Valley pike。
As soon as this information was obtained Torbert moved quickly
through the toll…gate on the Front Royal and Winchester road to
Newtown； to strike the enemy's flank and harass him in his retreat；
Lowell following up through Winchester； on the Valley pike； Crook was
turned to the left and ordered to Stony Point； while Emory and
Wright； marching to the left also； were directed to take post on the
night of the 11th between the Millwood and Front Royal roads； within
supporting distance of Crook。 Merritt meeting some of the enemy's
cavalry at the tollgate； drove it in the direction of Newtown till it
got inside the line of Gordon's division of infantry； which had been
thrown out and posted behind barricades to cover the flank of the
main force in its retreat。 A portion of Merritt's cavalry attacked
this infantry and drove in its skirmish…line； and though not able to
dislodge Gordon； Merritt held the ground gained till night…fall； when
the Confederate infantry moved off under cover of darkness to Hupp's
Hill； between Strasburg and Cedar Creek
The next morning Crook marched from Stony Point to Cedar Creek； Emory
followed with Dwight； and the cavalry moved to the same point by way
of Newtown and the Valley pike； the Sixth Corps following the
cavalry。 That night Crook was in position at Cedar Creek； on the
left of the Valley pike； Emory on the right of the pike； the Sixth
Corps on the right of Emory； and the cavalry on the flanks。 In the
afternoon a heavy skirmish…line had been thrown forward to the
heights on the south side of Cedar Creek； and a brisk affair with the
enemy's pickets took place； the Confederates occupying with their
main force the heights north of Strasburg。 On the morning of the
13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg； on the
middle road； about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike； and
discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's Hill； where he had
thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the
narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains。 On the
left of these works he had Vaughan's； McCausland's； and Johnson's
brigades of cavalry under General Lomax； who at this time relieved
General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces。
Within the past day or two I had received information that a column
of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching
Front Royal through Chester Gap； and although the intelligence was
unconfirmed； it caused me much solicitude； for there was strong
probability that such a movement would be made； and any considerable
force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon
my rear and destroy my communication with Harper's Ferry； or； moving
along the base of