follows: 6th corps, about 12,000; 19th corps (two divisions), 9,000; Crook's corps, 12,000; cavalry (three divisions), 10,000; artillery, about 2,000; total, 45,000, and 20 or 22 batteries, 6 guns each.

That of the enemy was known to consist of Gens. Early and Breckinridge's corps, amounting to about 20,000 men, exclusive of cavalry and artillery, which was estimated at 10,000 more. The artillery consisted of 14 batteries of 6 guns each.

On Sept. 22d Gen. Sheridan attacked the enemy's position at Fisher's Hill, and by forcing back the left of his line and throwing a force in his rear, compelled him to abandon it. He thus described and reported his success:

HEADQ'RS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
SIX MILES FROM WOODSTOCK,
11.80 P. M. September 22d.

Lieut.-General Grant:

}

I have the honor to report that I achieved a most signal victory over the army of General Early at Fisher's Hill to-day. I found the rebel army posted with its right resting on the north fork of the Shenandoah, and extending across the Strasburg valley westward to North Mountain, occupying a position which appeared almost impregnable.

After a great deal of manoeuvring during the day, General Crook's command was transferred to the extreme right of the line on North Mountain, and he furiously attacked the left of the enemy's line, carrying every thing before him. While General Crook was driving the enemy in the greatest confusion, and sweeping down behind their breast works, the Sixth and Nineteenth army corps attacked the works in front, and the whole rebel army appeared to be broken up. They fled in the utmost confusion. Sixteen pieces of artillery were captured, also a great many caissons, artillery horses, &c., &c.

I am to-night pushing down the valley. I cannot say how many prisoners I have captured, nor do I know either my own or the enemy's casualties. Only darkness has saved the whole of Early's army from total destruction. My attack could not be made until 4 o'clock in the evening, which left but little daylight to operate in.

The 1st and 3d cavalry divisions went down the

Luray Valley to-day, and if they push on vigorously to the main valley, the result of this day's engagement will be still more signal. The victory was very complete.

(Signed,) P. H. SHERIDAN, Maj.-Gen. Com. The number of prisoners taken was eleven hundred. The pursuit was made and continued to Staunton, which Gen. Sheridan occupied with his cavalry and inflicted much damage upon the enemy. He then leisurely and destructively fell back toward Strasburg. The losses of the enemy in these battles in killed, wounded, and missing was estimated at nearly ten thousand men. The losses of Gen. Sheridan were also severe.

On the night of the 27th Gen. Averill met with a repulse near Brown's Gap, and on the following day fell back six miles. He lost some twelve men. While Gen. Sheridan was at Staunton all public property was destroyed, including the railroad and factories. His cavalry then proceeded to Waynesboro for the purpose of destroying the iron railroad bridge and all the barns and mills in that section of country. The force of Gen. Early, in the mean time, had

I have the honor to report my command at this point to night. I commenced moving back from Port Republic, Mount Crawford, Bridgewater, and Harrisonburg yesterday morning. The grain and forage in advance of these points had previously been destroyed in coming back to this point.

The whole country, from the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, has been made untenable for a rebel army. I have destroyed over 2,000 barns filled with wheat, hay, and farming implements, over 70 mills filled with wheat and flour; four herds of cattle have been driven before the army, and not less than 3,000 sheep have been killed and issued to the troops. This destruction embraces the Luray and Little Fork Valleys as well as the main valley. A large number of horses have been obtained, a proper estimate of which I cannot now make.

murdered beyond Harrisonburg near Dayton. For Lieut. John R. Meigs, my engineer officer, was

this atrocious act all houses within an area of five from Harper's Ferry, up to Harrisonburg, every train, miles were burned. Since I came into this valley small party, and every straggler has been bushwhacked by people, many of whom have protection papers from commanders who have been hitherto in that valley.

tofore they have had no reason to complain, because The people here are getting sick of the war; herethey have been living in great abundance.

I have not been followed by the enemy up to this

point, with the exception of a small force of rebel cavalry that showed themselves some distance behind my rear guard. To-day a party of 100 of the 8th Va. cavalry, which I had stationed at the bridge over the North Shenandoah near Mount Jackson, was attacked by McNeil with seventeen men while they were asleep, and the whole party dispersed or captured. I think they will all turn up. that 56 of them had reached Winchester. McNeil was mortally wounded and fell into our hands. This was most fortunate, as he was the most daring and dangerous of all bushwhackers in this section of the country. (Signed)

I learn

P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-Gen.

A correspondent, who was present with the army, thus describes the scenes of this march:

The atmosphere, from horizon to horizon, has been black with the smoke of a hundred conflagrations, and at night a gleam, brighter and more lurid than sunset, has shot from every verge. The orders have been to destroy all forage in stacks and barns, and to drive the stock before for the subsistence of the army. The execution of these orders has been thorough, and in some instances, where barns, near dwelling houses, have been fired, has resulted in the destruction of the latter. In no instance, except in retaliation for the murder of Lieut. Meigs, have that of the burning of dwellings within five miles, in orders been issued for the burning of houses, or have such orders been sanctioned by Gen. Sheridan. Such wholesale incendiarism could not have been pursued, however, without undue license being taken by the worst class of soldiers, and there have been frequent instances of rascality and pillage. Indis criminating (for with such swift work discrimina

tion is impracticable), relentless, merciless, the torch has done its terrible business in the centre and on either side of the valley. Few barns and stables have escaped. The gardens and cornfields have been desolated. The cattle, hogs, sheep, cows, oxen, nearly five thousand in all, have been driven from every farm. The poor, alike with the rich, have suffered. Some have lost their all.

"The wailing of women and children mingling

with the crackling of flames, has sounded from scores of dwellings. I have seen mothers weeping over the loss of that which was necessary to their children's lives, setting aside their own, their last cow, their last bit of flour pilfered by stragglers, the last morsel that they had in the world to eat or drink. Young girls with flushed cheeks, and pale with tearful or tearless eye, have pleaded with and cursed the men whom the necessities of war have forced to burn the buildings reared by their fathers, and turn them into paupers in a day. The completeness of the desolation is awful. Hundreds of nearly starving people are going north. Our trains are crowded with them. They line the wayside. Hundreds more are coming -not half the inhabitants of the valley can subsist on it in its present condition. Absolute want is in mansions used in other days to extravagant luxury. A committee, consisting of thirty-six citizens and the same number of magistrates, appointed by the county court of Rockingham for the purpose of making an estimate of the losses of that county by the execution of Gen. Sheridan's orders, made an investigation and reported as follows:

Dwelling houses burned, 30; barns burned, 450; mills burned, 31; fencing destroyed (miles), 100; bushels of wheat destroyed, 100,000; bushels of corn destroyed, 50,000; tons of hay destroyed, 6,233; cattle carried off, 1,750; horses carried off, 1,750; sheep carried off, 4,200; hogs carried off, 3,350; factories burned, 3; furnace burned, 1. In addition to which there was an immense amount of farming utensils of every description destroyed, many of them of great value, such as McCormick's reapers, and threshing machines; also household and kitchen furniture, money, bonds, plate, &c., &c., the whole loss being estimated at the enormous sum of $25,000,000.

As Gen. Sheridan moved down the valley toward the Potomac River, he was followed close by the enemy's cavalry in considerable force, under Gen. Rosser, the infantry being further in the rear. On Oct. 9th the head of the column of infantry having entered Strasburg by the eastern road, while the rear was some four miles further south, and the enemy following the cavalry on the western road had advanced so far as to bring the infantry upon their right rear, the cavalry under Gens. Custer and Merritt turned and made an attack. At the same time a report spread among the enemy's cavalry that the Federal infantry were flanking them. They immediately gave way, and a stampede ensued. The pursuit continued to Columbia Furnace, seven miles south of Fisher's Hill. The loss of the enemy was eleven pieces of artillery and about three hundred men. Gen. Sheridan then continued to fall back as far as Cedar Run. While at this position, on Oct. 19th, his force was suddenly attacked by the enemy before daylight, and his lines thrown into confusion with every prospect of a serious disaster. The left flank of the 8th corps was

turned and the army driven back four miles with the loss of twenty-four pieces of artillery. At this moment Gen. Sheridan arrived on the field, and re-forming his lines, awaited the attack of the enemy. This was made at 1 P. M. and repulsed. At 3 P. M. Sheridan attacked the fifty-four pieces of artillery, including his own enemy and completely routed him, capturing pieces. His despatch from the battle-field to Gen. Grant was as follows:

CEDAR CREEK, VA., Oct. 19, 10 P. M. Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point:

I have the honor to report that my army at Cedar Creek was attacked at Alacken this morning before daylight, and my left was turned and driven in in confusion. In fact, most of the line was driven in confusion, with the loss of 20 pieces of artillery. I from Washington, and found my army between Midhastened from Winchester, where I was on my return four miles. I here took the affair in hand and quickdletown and Newton, having been driven back about ly marched the corps forward, formed a compact line of battle to repulse an attack of the enemy, which was done handsomely at about 1 o'clock, P. M. At 3 P. M., after some changes of the cavalry from the attacked with great vigor, left to the right flank, to the last report, 43 pieces of artillery and very driving and routing the enemy, capturing, according many prisoners. *

*

I have to regret the loss of Gen. Bidwell, killed, and Gens. Wright, Grover, and Ricketts, wounded. Wright is slightly wounded. Affairs at times looked badly, but by the gallantry of our brave officers and men disaster has been converted into a splendid vic tory. Darkness again intervened to shut off greater results. I now occupy Strasburg. As soon as prac ticable I will send you further particulars. (Signed)

P. H. SHERIDAN, Maj.-General. On the next day he further reported as follows:

CEDAR CREEK, VA., Oct. 20, 11.30 A. M. To Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point: We have again been favored by a great victory won from disaster, by the gallantry of our officers and men. The attack on the enemy was made at 3 P. M., by a left half-wheel of the whole line, with a division of cavalry turning each flank of the enemy. The whole line advanced.

The enemy, after a stubborn resistance, broke and fled, and were pushed with vigor. The artillery captured will, probably, be over fifty pieces. This, of course, includes what were captured from our troops early in the morning. At least 1,600 prisoners have been brought in; also wagons and ambulances in large numbers. This morning the cavalry made a dash at Fisher's Hill and carried it; the enemy having fled during the night, leaving only a small rear guard.

I have to regret the loss of many valuable officers killed and wounded. Among them is Col. James Thorburn, commanding a division of Crook's command, killed; Col. Sherwood, commanding a brigade, but would not leave the field. I cannot yet give a full account, as many of our men who were captured in the morning have since made their escape and are coming in. Ramseur, commanding a division in Early's army, died this morning.

son.

(Signed)

P. H. SHERIDAN.

The enemy were pursued nearly to Mt. JackThe loss of Gen. Sheridan's army in the morning was between 800 and 1,000 taken prisoners. He took afterwards from 1,500 to 2,000 of the enemy prisoners, and 300 wagons and ambulances. The losses in killed and wounded on either side have not been reported.

They are known to have been severe. With the exception of a few affairs of small consequence, this closed the military operations in the Shenandoah valley for the remainder of the year; Gen. Early's force took a position further up the valley, while Gen. Sheridan's army was scattered in detachments widely separated. On Nov. 14th the President issued the following order:

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Nov. 14th, 1864. Ordered by the President :-1. That the resignation of George B. McClellan as major-general in the United States Army, dated November 8th, and received by the Adjutant-General on the 10th inst., be accepted as of the 8th of November.

2. That for personal gallantry, military skill, and just confidence in the courage and patriotism of his troops displayed by Philip H. Sheridan on the 19th of October, at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of Providence, his routed army was reorganized,

a great national disaster averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels for the third time in pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H. Sheridan is appointed Major-General in the United States Army, to rank as such from the 8th day of November, 1864.

By order of the President of the United States.
E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

All that district of country west of Washington and immediately south of the Potomac River was infested with guerrillas throughout the year. Col. Mosby was their leader. Many of their expeditions were conducted with great boldness. Sometimes they came within a few miles of Washington. On one occasion during the year they captured a passenger train on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, between Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg. A rail was removed, and the train thus running off the track was brought to a stop. Their proceedings have been thus graphically described:

In an instant we heard the guerrillas entering the cars from both ends. Surmising their errand, I jerked my watch from my pocket, handed it to a lady companion, telling her to secrete it, which she did. Just then one of the fellows stood before me with a pistol close to my head and demanded my pocket book. I obeyed with commendable diligence. He passed on to relieve my neighbor of hat, coat, watch and pocket book. Another of the band approached, pistol in hand, "Here, you d-d Yank, hand over your watch." "You're too late," I answered promptly, "it is gone." The fellow seemed satisfied with this and went on.

A very demonstrative fat lady, seated near the end of our car, just then jumped up, caught one of the rebels in her arms. "Oh my love, my dear man, you will not kill me," she screamed, and at the same time clinging to him until in ungallant anger he roared, "Confound you, let me go; I will lose my part of the plunder with your stupidity." We were then ordered out, as the train was to be set on fire. On leaving the cars we had to climb a steep sand bank about twenty feet high, there to await further orders. The passengers in the sleeping-cars fared worse, as all, with one exception, lost their hats, coats, boots, watches, and money. When they were ejected from their quarters, and ascended the hill, they presented a sorry appearance-just conscious of their loss, trembling with cold, and fearing they might be invited to visit Richmond. In one car there were sixty German emigrants bound for Ohio, who, when the thieves demanded their money,

showed fight. To intimidate the rest, two men were instantly shot by the butchers and a woman wounded. The remainder were then ordered to leave the cars, but did not understand the command. Mosby ordered his men to fire the cars and burn the "damn Dutch." The conductor begged of him to hold on until he could find a man who could speak German. They left the car; it was set on fire, and the two men The poor creatures were at last made to understand. and one wounded woman left in the flames.

There were about thirty Union soldiers on board, unarmed, returning to their commands. Those were taken prisoners, and also forty or fifty of the passengers were ordered to fall in line to be taken off. About this time I felt a little nervous, not having any strong desire to visit Libby; but fortunately as I had a screaming babe in my arms I was not one of the chosen. The whole party were soon ordered to march. Then followed hurried, agonizing farewells, and the victims moved forward. We all supposed they were on their way to Richmond, but only the soldiers met with this fate. The citizens were taken a short distance to a piece of woods and thoroughly searched and robbed of whatever money they had left and the best of their clothes. Then arose a cry that the Yanks were in the woods; the guerrillas mounted and started off in a hurry, but in five minutes they were back and exclaimed, "a false alarm!" and they fell to plundering still further. By this time the mail, express, and baggage had been robbed, and what they generally did not want was in flames, and the gentlemen were left no extra clothing, and certainly no surplus cash.

One of the ladies of our party lost all her baggage spare her clothing and that of her child. "There In vain she begged a plethoric-looking guerilla to are no valuables in the trunk; you certainly can do nothing with its contents," she pleaded. "Pooh," sneered the "chivalry," as he swaggered past her, flames they accordingly did. "they will do to help on the flame," and help the

It was then announced by one of the officers that every rider had a place for a woman in front of him on his horse, but this beastly threat was not carried out. They then made a final search, and saw the work was complete; the train had been burned, a paymaster with $63,000 robbed, the passengers plundered of their hats, coats, boots, watches and money, and, locking and burning the mail, express, and baggage, they made us a boisterous farewell.

Missouri became the scene of a hostile invasion under Gen. Price, in the autumn. Various rumors and threats had been in circulation among the enemy for some months previous. About the 21st of September these rumors ripened into a certainty by a movement of Gen. Sterling Price across the Arkansas with two divisions of cavalry and three batteries of artillery. He joined Gen. Shelby near Batesville, sixty miles south of the boundary line of the Missouri, and was prepared to advance with 15,000 to 20,000 mounted veterans. The Federal force then in the Department under Gen. Rosecrans consisted of 6,500 mounted men for field duty scattered over a country four hundred miles long, and three hundred broad, with partially organized new infantry regiments and dismounted men. were employed to cover the great depots at St. Louis, Jefferson City, St. Joseph, Macon, Springfield, Rolla, and Pilot Knob, to guard railroad bridges and protect as far as possible the lives and property of citizens from the guerillas who swarmed over the whole country

These latter

bordering on the Missouri River. At this time Gen. A. J. Smith being at Cairo with 4,500 troops was ordered to Missouri. Preparations were made to concentrate the forces as soon as it should become manifest what course Gen. Price would pursue, and the enrolled militia of the State made ready to take the field.

When it became evident that Springfield was safe from the blow, Gen. Sanborn moved with all his available cavalry to reënforce Rolla, where Gen. McNeil was preparing to secure the depots and supply trains, while Gen. Ewing, with the 47th Missouri volunteer infantry, detachments of the 1st, 2d, and 3d State militia, and the 14th Iowa, defended Pilot Knob on Sept. 27th, and proved the presence of the enemy's entire force in southeast Missouri. The defence of Gen. Ewing was a severe blow to the enemy, and allowed time for the enrolled militia and citizens of St. Louis to prepare for its defence. At this time it was covered only by Gen. Smith's infantry and three regiments of cavalry thrown as far as practicable toward the enemy.

In the midst of the preparations at St. Louis, the 132d, 134th, 136th, 139th, 140th, and 142d regiments of Illinois hundred days' volunteers arrived, which secured the safety of that city. Meantime the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 10th, 11th, 13th, and 80th regiments of enrolled militia, and the National Guard of St. Louis, organized under Gens. Pike, Wolff and Miller, to support Gen. Smith's infantry, and turn the tide of invasion westward.

The troops of the central district of the State were concentrated by Gen. Brown at Jefferson City, and being reënforced by Gen. Fisk with all the available troops north of the Missouri River, they were prepared for the defence of the State capital. In these efforts the citizens cooperated with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Gen. Price with his army, after awaiting a day or two at Richwood's, and threatening St. Louis, started for the State capital. At the same time Gens. McNeil and Sanborn, with all their available cavalry, moved by forced marches and reached the point of danger a few miles in advance of Price, and, uniting with Gens. Fisk and Brown, saved the State capital, and struck another blow to the hopes of the invaders.

On Oct. 8th, Gen. Pleasanton assumed command at Jefferson City, and sent Sanborn with all his mounted force, four thousand one hundred strong, to follow the enemy and harass them until the remaining cavalry and infantry supports could come up. The rear-guard of the enemy was thus driven upon their main force near Burnville, and Gen. Price was kept between the Federal force and the Missouri River until the latter were joined on the 19th by the command of Winslow, consisting of fifteen hundred men who had followed the enemy from Arkansas. This formed a provisional cavalry division of sixty-five hundred men under Gen. Pleasanton exclusive of escort

guards. On the 221, this force fell upon Gen. Fagan at Independence and routed him, capturing two guns. On the 23d, the Big Blue was passed, and a contest with the main force of the enemy took place, by which they were driven by dark beyond the Little Santa Fé. On the 24th, after a march of sixty miles, the enemy were overtaken at midnight at Marais des Cygnes. Skirmishing began at 4 A. M. on the 25th with artillery, when the enemy were driven from the field with loss of mules, horses, etc. They fell back skirmishing to the Little Osage Crossing, where a charge was made upon two divisions of them by two advanced brigades under Cols. Benteen and Phillips, and eight pieces of artillery and nearly one thousand prisoners, including Gens. Marmaduke and Cabell, were captured. The pursuit was kept up by Gen. Sanborn's brigade with repeated and successful charges to the Marmiton, whence the enemy fled under cover of night toward Arkansas. Kansas troops and Gen. Benteen's brigade followed rapidly, and on the 28th Sanborn reached Newtonia, where the enemy made his last stand, in time to turn the tide of battle, which was going against Gen. Blunt, and routing the enemy, thus giving the final blow to the invasion.

The loss of the enemy was ten pieces of artillery, a large number of small arms, nearly all his trains and plunder, and, besides his killed, wounded and deserters, 1,958 prisoners. Gen. Price claimed to have added to his force 6,000 Missourians. All his schemes were defeated, and the injury done was confined to the narrow belt of country over which his army marched. The Federal loss was 346 officers and men. After crossing into Arkansas the force of the enemy became greatly reduced.

Some military operations took place in East Tennessee near the close of the year, the most important of which was the defeat of Gen. A. C. Gillem by the enemy under Gen. Breckinridge. On Nov. 12th Gen. Breckinridge attacked the Federal forces and drove them from their intrenchments. On the 13th he again attacked them near Russellville. Gen. Gillem gradually fell back in the direction of Knoxville, and was pursued by the enemy as far as Strawberry Plains. Gen. Gillem lost heavily in killed and wounded, besides several hundred prisoners. Later in the year an expedition from East Tennessee was made by Gen. Stoneman, in conjunction with Gen. Burbridge, with better

success.

On Dec. 12th Gen. Stoneman, with a mounted force of four thousand men, and the brigade of Gen. Gillem, moved against the enemy, who were drawn up at Kingsport, on the Halsten River, to dispute its passage. This force was flanked by Gen. Gillem, with a loss of a hundred men and a wagon train, and pursued to Bristol, where Gillem captured two hundred and fifty more, two trains of cars, five engines, and a large amount of stores. On Dec. 14th Gen. Burbridge advanced to attack Gen. Vaughn at Zollicoffer, but the latter withdrew to Abing