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subsistence for armies； exercise your own judgment as to who should
be exempt from arrest； and as to who should receive pay for their
stock； grain； etc。 It is our interest that that county should not be
capable of subsisting a hostile army； and at the same time we want to
inflict as little hardship upon Union men as possible。
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。〃
〃CITY POINT； Va。； Nov。 9； 1864。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL SHERIDAN； Cedar Creek； Va。：
〃Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of
the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock；
grain； and provisions of every description？ There is no doubt about
the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not
support Mosby's gang。 And the question is whether it is not better
that the people should save what they can。 So long as the war lasts
they must be prevented from raising another crop； both there and as
high up the valley as we can control。
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。〃
He had rightly concluded that it was time to bring the war home to a
people engaged in raising crops from a prolific soil to feed the
country's enemies； and devoting to the Confederacy its best youth。 I
endorsed the programme in all its parts； for the stores of meat and
grain that the valley provided； and the men it furnished for Lee's
depleted regiments； were the strongest auxiliaries he possessed in
the whole insurgent section。 In war a territory like this is a
factor of great importance； and whichever adversary controls it
permanently reaps all the advantages of its prosperity。 Hence； as I
have said； I endorsed Grant's programme； for I do not hold war to
mean simply that lines of men shall engage each other in battle； and
material interests be ignored。 This is but a duel； in which one
combatant seeks the other's life； war means much more； and is far
worse than this。 Those who rest at home in peace and plenty see but
little of the horrors attending such a duel； and even grow
indifferent to them as the struggle goes on； contenting themselves
with encouraging all who are able…bodied to enlist in the cause； to
fill up the shattered ranks as death thins them。 It is another
matter； however； when deprivation and suffering are brought to their
own doors。 Then the case appears much graver； for the loss of
property weighs heavy with the most of mankind； heavier often； than
the sacrifices made on the field of battle。 Death is popularly
considered the maximum of punishment in war； but it is not； reduction
to poverty brings prayers for peace more surely and more quickly than
does the destruction of human life； as the selfishness of man has
demonstrated in more than one great conflict。
In the afternoon of the 16th I started back to Winchester； whence I
could better supervise our regressive march。 As I was passing
through Newtown； I heard cannonading from the direction of Front
Royal； and on reaching Winchester； Merritt's couriers brought me word
that he had been attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah by
Kershaw's division of Anderson's corps and two brigades of Fitzhugh
Lee's cavalry； but that the attack had been handsomely repulsed； with
a capture of two battle…flags and three hundred prisoners。 This was
an absolute confirmation of the despatch from Grant； and I was now
more than satisfied with the wisdom of my withdrawal。
At daylight of the 17th Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville；
and the same morning Crook and Wright reached Winchester； having
started from Cedar Creek the day before。 From Winchester； Crook and
Wright resumed their march toward Clifton； Wright； who had the rear
guard； getting that day as far as the Berryville crossing of the
Opequon； where he was ordered to remain； while Crook went ahead till
he reached the vicinity of Berryville。 On the afternoon of the 17th
Lowell with his two regiments of troopers came into Winchester； where
he was joined by Wilson's mounted division； which had come by a rapid
march from Snicker's ferry。 In the mean time Merritt； after his
handsome engagement with Kershaw near Front Royal； had been ordered
back to the neighborhood of White Post； so that my cavalry outposts
now extended from this last point around to the west of Winchester。
During all these operations the enemy had a signal…station on Three
Top Mountain； almost overhanging Strasburg； from which every movement
made by our troops could be plainly seen； therefore； early on the
morning of the 17th he became aware of the fact that we were retiring
down the valley； and at once made after us； and about sundown drove
Torbert out of Winchester； he having been left there…with Wilson and
Lowell； and the Jersey brigade of the Sixth Corps； to develop the
character of the enemy's pursuit。 After a severe skirmish Wilson and
Lowell fell back to Summit Point； and the Jersey brigade joined its
corps at the crossing of the Opequon。 This affair demonstrated that
Early's whole army had followed us from Fisher's Hill； in concert
with Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee from Front Royal； and the two columns
joined near Winchester the morning of the 18th。
That day I moved the Sixth Corps by way of Clifton to Flowing Spring；
two and a half miles west of Charlestown； on the Smithfield pike； and
Emory； with Dwight's and Grower's divisions （Grower's having joined
that morning from Washington）； to a position about the same distance
south of Charlestown； on the Berryville pike。 Following these
movements； Merritt fell back to Berryville； covering the Berryville
pike crossing of the Opequon； and Wilson was stationed at Summit
Point； whence he held a line along the Opequon as far north as the
bridge at Smithfield。 Crook continued to hold on near Clifton until
the next day； and was then moved into place on the left of Emory。
This line was practically maintained till the 21st； when the enemy；
throwing a heavy force across the Opequon by the bridge at
Smithfield； drove in my cavalry pickets to Summit Point； and followed
up with a rapid advance against the position of the Sixth Corps near
Flowing Spring。 A sharp and obstinate skirmish with a heavy picket…
line of the Sixth Corps grew out of this manoeuvre； and resulted very
much in our favor； but the quick withdrawal of the Confederates left
no opportunity for a general engagement。 It seems that General Early
thought I had taken position near Summit Point； and that by moving
rapidly around through Smithfield he could fall upon my rear in
concert with an attack in front by Anderson； but the warm reception
given him disclosed his error； for he soon discovered that my line
lay in front of Charlestown instead of where he supposed。
In the manoeuvre Merritt had been attacked in front of Berryville and
Wilson at Summit Point； the former by cavalry and the latter by
Anderson's infantry。 The exposed positions of Merritt and Wilson
necessitated their withdrawal if I was to continue to act on the
defensive； so； after the army had moved back to Halltown the
preceding night； without loss or inconvenience； I called them in and
posted them on the right of the infantry。
My retrograde move from Strasburg to Halltown caused considerable
alarm in the North； as the public was ignorant of the reasons for it；
and in the excited state of mind then prevailing； it was generally
expected that the reinforced Confederate army would again cross the
Potomac； ravage Maryland and Pennsylvania； and possibly capture
Washington。 Mutterings of dissatisfaction reached me from many
sources； and loud calls were made for my removal； but I felt
confident that my course would be justified when the true situation
was understood； for I knew that I was complying with my instructions。
Therefore I paid small heed to the adverse criticisms pouring down
from the North almost every day； being fully convinced that the best
course was to bide my time； and wait till I could get the enemy into
a position from which he could not escape without such serious
misfortune as to have some bearing on the general result of the war。
Indeed； at this time I was hoping that my adversary would renew the
boldness he had exhibited the early part of the month； and strike for
the north side of the Potomac； and wrote to General Grant on the 20th
of August that I had purposely left everything in that direction open
to the enemy。
On the 22d the Confederates moved to Charlestown and pushed well up
to my position at Halltown。 Here for the next three days they
skirmished with my videttes and infantry pickets； Emory and Cook
receiving the main attention； but finding that they could make no
impression； and judging it to be an auspicious time to intensify the
scare in the North； on the 25th of August Early despatched Fitzhugh
Lee's cavalry to Williamsport； and moved all the rest of his army but
Anderson's infantry and McCausland's cavalry to Kerneysville。 Th