50 SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH. tions in the Shenandoah Valley and had come to the decision that it should be made untenable for either army. He was possessed of the idea that it was necessary to have some one efficient commander in the department of West Virginia, Washington, Susquehanna and the Middle Department, and therefore on August 1 ordered General Philip H. Sheridan to the Shenandoah Valley. This brought a note of despair from Lincoln. On August 3 he wrote to Grant: "I have seen your dispatch in which you say, 'I want Sheridan put in command of all the troops in the field with instructions to put himself south of the enemy and follow him to the death. Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also.' This, I think, is exactly right as to how our forces should move; but please look overthe dispatches you may have received from here even since you made that order, and discover, if you can, that there is any idea in the head of anyone here of 'putting our army south of the enemy,' or of following him to the death' in any direction. I repeat to you, it will neither be done nor attempted, unless you watch it every day and hour, and force it."* Grant then paid a visit to the army of Hunter and suggested that he establish the headquarters of his department at Cumberland or Baltimore, leaving to Sheridan the command of the troops in the field. Hunter promptly offered to resign his position if better results could be secured and Grant eagerly accepted this generous self-sacrifice, telegraphing for Sheridan to come to the Monocacy. Grant in a few words gave Sheridan the instructions he had pre * Official Records, vol. xxxvii pt. fi., p. 582. † Ibid, vol. xxxvi., pt. i., p. 30; vol. xliii., pt. i., p. 719. pared for Hunter and returned to Petersburg.* On August 7 Sheridan formally assumed command and proceeded to carry out Grant's instructions. His army, called the Army of the Shenandoah, consisted of the 6th corps under Wright, the 19th corps under General Cuvier Grover, Crook's Army of West Virginia, Torbert's division of cavalry from the Army of the Potomac, and the reserve brigade under Charles R. Lowell, Jr. Moreover, Averell's division, Alfred Duffié's troops and J. H. Wilson's cavalry division from the Army of the Potomac were on the march to join him. Thus his army consisted of about 22,000 infantry fit for duty, and about 8,000 horse.† Sheridan entered vigorously upon his work. On the morning of the 10th he marched his army, which had been moved to Halltown near Harper's Ferry, toward Early's line of communication, whereupon Early abandoned Winchester on the 11th and fell back to Cedar Creek, Sheridan following the next day. At this place Early was reinforced by a division of infantry, two brigades of cavalry and a battalion of artillery from Lee's army, all under command of General R. H. Anderson, and resumed the offensive so aggressively with his cavalry that on the night of the 16th Sheridan withdrew his infantry and Grant, Personal Memoirs, vol. ii., p. 320. Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. ix., pp. 182-183; Pond, The Shenandoah Valley, pp. 120– 121. THE ENGAGEMENT AT SHEPHERDSTOWN. the next day his cavalry, taking position near Berryville behind the Opequon, leaving his cavalry to cover the withdrawal. Wilson's cavalry division, Lowell's cavalry brigade and Penrose's brigade of New Jersey infantry (850 men) were ordered to cover the flank of the army in its march from Winchester to Berryville. The Jersey brigade was deployed along a small branch of the Opequon south of and near Winchester with dismounted cavalry on the flanks, the remainder of the cavalry being massed near the town. On the morning of the 17th Early pursued Sheridan from Cedar Creek and in the afternoon his advance, driving in the Union pickets, was checked and held by the Jerseymen until Wharton's division of infantry attacked their right and Ramseur's their front, while Gordon's division advanced against the cavalry. Under this pressure the Union line gave way about dark and fell back to Summit Point. The Jersey brigade lost 97 killed and wounded and about 200 prisoners, while 50 of the cavalry were captured. Sheridan falling back to Halltown Early again occupied Winchester and then advanced to confront him. For some days both armies felt out each other's line, and suffered some losses. On the 25th with the four infantry divisions of Rodes, Ramseur, Gordon and Wharton with their artillery, Early went northward toward Shepherdstown, his cavalry at the same time moving on Williamsport to 51 convey the idea that an invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania was contemplated. Between Lee Town, seven miles southwest of Shepherdstown, and Kearneysville, Early struck the cavalry divisions of Merritt and Wilson under Torbert, who had marched from Shepherdstown and Duffield's that morning on a reconnoissance to Lee Town. Torbert promptly attacked Wharton and drove him back in confusion nearly a mile, but Early brought up the rest of his command and after a sharp contest compelled Torbert to fall back, Wilson's division retreating by the route it had come and Merritt's by the direct road to Shepherdstown. Early followed Merritt so closely that when near Shepherdstown and on the Charlestown road Custer's Union brigade was directed to repel the Confederate advance; in this it succeeded, driving it back. But in turn Custer was struck in flank and rear by Gordon's division which had marched across the country. Devin's brigade was sent to Custer's relief and engaged Gordon, but Custer was cut off and after a sharp fight compelled to make his escape by way of the Shepherdstown Ford into Maryland. It was now dark; Merritt rejoined Wilson and both set out to join Sheridan. Early encamped near Shepherdstown and the next day moved back across the Opequon and on the 27th to Bunker Hill.* * Pond, The Shenandoah Valley, pp. 121-140. 52 THE ENGAGEMENT AT SMITHFIELD. On August 28 Sheridan advanced his army from Halltown toward Charlestown and the Opequon. Merritt's cavalry division marched by way of Lee Town, attacked Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry at that place and drove it through the village back through Smithfield, West Virginia, and across the Opequon. The next morning Merritt crossed the Opequon and was on his way to beat up Early at Bunker Hill when he was attacked by the latter with the divisions of Ramseur and Gordon and driven back across the Opequon. There was an artillery duel across the stream and, the Confederate cavalry crossing, Merritt was driven from Smithfield and two miles beyond in the direction of Charlestown. Early reestablished his cavalry east of the Opequon and marched his infantry back to Bunker Hill. Late in the day Ricketts' division of infantry came to Merritt's assistance and drove the Confederate cavalry from Smithfield and across the Opequon, Merritt then resuming his position on the Smithfield bridge. The Union loss was about 35 killed and wounded and the Confederate loss 10 killed and 75 wounded.* Several minor battles and counter demonstrations followed. On the night of September 18 Early had Ramseur's division and Nelson's artillery in position about one and a half miles. east of Winchester across the Berryville road along an elevated plateau between Abraham Creek on the south * Pond, The Shenandoah Valley, pp. 140-141. and Red Bud Run on the north. At Stephenson's Depot were the divisions of Rodes and Wharton with the batteries of Braxton and King while Gordon's division was at Bunker Hill under orders to join Rodes and Wharton by sunrise the next morning. Altogether Early had about 15,000 men. At Berryville, east of the Opequon, General Sheridan had about 38,000 cavalry and infantry. He had ordered a movement south of Winchester to Newtown, but when he heard that parts of Early's army were at Bunker Hill and Stephenson's Depot he ordered a direct attack on Winchester. Wilson's cavalry and the 6th and 19th corps were to move along the Berryville road while Torbert with Merritt's cav alry division moved to Shepherdstown Ford to join Averell's cavalry division which was to move up from Darkesville. The 8th corps under Crook was to act as a reserve at the crossing of the Opequon. Early on the morning of September 19 Wilson crossed the Opequon and cleared the way for the infantry. The 6th corps then came up and under a heavy artillery fire drew up a line in front of Ramseur. Wilson formed on the left of the 6th corps but it was nearly noon before Grover's division of the 19th corps came in on the right of the 6th with Dwight's division in reserve. Meanwhile Early had concentrated his army. After the Union movement had developed itself Gordon and Rodes were ordered up from Stephenson's Depot and under cover of a piece |