. The battles of the war for the union. The story of the great Civil War, from the election of Abraham Lincoln to the surrender at Appomatox, Impartially told . ontrol of General Sheridan, who found him-self at the head of more than 40,000 men. Early hadonly about 13,000 troops with whom to maintain hisposition round Winchester; yet Grant refused to sanotion any offensive movement on Sheridans part, fearingthe disastrous consequences of a defeat. At length, hegave his consent, but only on the understanding thatthe Valley of the Shenandoah should be completely de-vastated, so that nothing might
. The battles of the war for the union. The story of the great Civil War, from the election of Abraham Lincoln to the surrender at Appomatox, Impartially told . ontrol of General Sheridan, who found him-self at the head of more than 40,000 men. Early hadonly about 13,000 troops with whom to maintain hisposition round Winchester; yet Grant refused to sanotion any offensive movement on Sheridans part, fearingthe disastrous consequences of a defeat. At length, hegave his consent, but only on the understanding thatthe Valley of the Shenandoah should be completely de-vastated, so that nothing might be left to invite any fur-ther invasion. On September 19, Sheridan attacked Early with com-plete success. 2500 prisoners and five pieces of artillerywere captured. Gordon and Rhodes of the Confeder-ate army were killed. The Union forces were them-selves great losers, for the Confederates fought well. Sheridan made another attack on the 21st, when SHERIDANS CAMPAIGN. 307 Early was again defeated and forced to withdraw fartherinto the Valley. A division of Longstreets corps rein-forced Early, but Sheridans divisions were too strongto be seriously GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN. Sheridan carried out only too well the instructionshe received from Grant; and a scene of desolation wasproduced in one of the most fertile and beautiful valleysin the land. These frightful excesses were much con-demned 3o8 THE BATTLES FOR THE UNION. On his return down the Cedar Creek Valley in the di«rection of the Potomac, Sheridan was closely followedby a large force of Confederates. A collision tookplace on October 5, ending in the repulse of theSoutherners; and ten days later a more importantaction was fought on the banks of Cedar Creek. TheUnion troops were entrenched on the north bank ofthat stream (which runs into the Shenandoah), when, inthe early morning of the 19th, they were unexpectedlyattacked by the Confederates. Sheridan had gone toWashington, leaving General Wright in temporary com
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherphila, bookyear1897
