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Halleck's orders, a splendid opportunity of beginning a soldier's larger life. How well he availed himself of this all the world knows. It is part of its current history. But even then, as always thereafter, it was Sheridan's unaided genius that carved for him name and fame. When he reached Grant, the golden gates of opportunity were held back so firmly by that man and soldier of calmest equipoise, patience, and courageous trust, that his gallant and daring lieutenant was always able to dash through them unimpeded.

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General Sheridan in August, 1864, was, though small in stature, a very model for a soldier. He was molded as if in bronze. Not an ounce of superfluous flesh was to be seen on that energetic frame. He bore in every line and motion the outward evidence of concentrated energy, while his face and head were the picture of vitalized mental power. Lincoln had looked into the little trooper's brain, and with that deep, penetrative, patient glance of his, had fathomed its capacity, and grown confident of its ability to succeed. The likeness in mold and line to Napoleon Bonaparte at Sheridan's age, was being generally commented upon. Stanton came to observe it later and after Sheridan's historic ride a little later, it is recorded that Mr. Stanton had in his room, on the marble mantel, a little book of about five hundred pages, which contained, as a frontispiece, a likeness of Napoleon; and, says a writer in the Washington Star, he took it, and, turning to the frontispiece, handed it to the President, saying that there was a resemblance about the forehead and bust. Sometime prior to this, when our armies were being slaughtered by piecemeal, in Virginia, Mr. Stanton had received a letter from some prominent person calling his attention to a saying of Napoleon's that one commander for an army was better than two armies with independent commanders. "He then told me to get him this book on Napoleon from the library. They talked for sometime about General Sheridan, who had, several days before his Cedar Creek battle, defeated Early, and I heard Mr. Stanton then say to the President that Grant and Sheridan would end the war very soon with such fighting." It was after and in connection with this saying of Napoleon's, that the President is reported as having said that one bad general was better than two good ones.

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GEN. W. H. H. ROSSER, PITTED AGAINST SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IN 1864.

COL. HARRY GILMORE,

A CONFEDERATE PARTISAN FROM MARYLAND.

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CHAPTER XVI.

IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

SHERIDAN AS DEPARTMENT COMMANDER HIS FIRST CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE HIS ABILITY TO COMMAND-EARLY IS REINFORCED BY GORDON AND LOMAXTHE APPEARANCE OF THE REBEL COMMANDER-THE ARMY ROSTER-SHERIDAN'S PREPARATIONS ATTACK AND PURSUIT THE STORY OF THE LOYAL QUAKERESS-HOW HE GOT INTELLIGENCE- -THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTERCAVALRY CHARGE AT OPEQUAN- -VICTORIES OF FISHER'S HILL AND CEDAR

CREEK.

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GEN. SHERIDAN'S HEADQUARTERS,

AFTER the Monocacy, Maryland, on the 4th of August, 1864, our troops were rapidly moving south on the kibes of Early's army. Sheridan, on the 10th instant, was ready to follow the veteran rebel commander to Strasburg, whither he had fallen back.

The confidence inspired

Sheridan

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in Grant was re

warded by the lat

ter's energetic efforts

EAST SIDE OF CEDAR CREEK, AFTER THE BATTLE OF FISHER'S HILL. to prevent Lee's reinforcing Early,

at least to a dangerous degree. On the 12th of August, Sheridan was informed from City Point via Washington, that two divisions of infantry, twenty guns, and a considerable force of cavalry under Gordon and

Lomax had been sent to Early by Lee. It arrived in time to prevent Sheridan attacking Early in his chosen position, thus greatly strengthened. The position in Virginia could be likened to an irregularly formed triangle, the base of which was occupied by the Confederates under Lee, with the rebel capital to hold and guard. City Point with Grant and Meade's army might well be considered the most easterly point. Washington could be considered the northernmost point of our triangle. The irregular western side was formed of the Valley of the Shenandoah, contested by Sheridan and Early. In other words, the Union armies held the left flank entirely, were penetrating the centre as an occupying force, and contested the right flank (viewed from Washington), so as to be ready to strike at the rebel rear from that direction. This was the purpose of Grant's plans, and by it he expected to smash their southwestern railroad communications at Lynchburg. In order, then, to aid Sheridan, Grant gave orders to Meade to again threaten Richmond by another move to the north side of the James River. Hancock was placed in command with his own corps, part of the Ninth under Birney, and Gregg's cavalry division. They crossed on the night of the 13th. Sheridan was near Strasburg on the 12th when Early had received his reinforcements. The movement on the James seriously threatened Lee, and effectually prevented the sending of more troops to Early. During these days of severe skirmishing, prisoners were captured belonging to a rebel division it had been supposed was in the valley. Of all this Sheridan was made aware. Grant's field movements lasted till the latter part of the month, and we retained as a result our hold on the Weldon railroad.

Sheridan, as the press dispatches of the period show, was not idle. The New York Tribune of the 1st of August repeats an admirer's statement that "Sheridan is physically the smallest major-general I know, but he is mentally one of the largest." On the 10th a valley telegram says: "General Sheridan has assumed command of all the troops in the field belonging to the Department of West Virginia, the Susquehanna, and defenses of Washington. His headquarters will be in the saddle."

On the morning of the 10th, the march up the Shenandoah Valley began. Early was supposed to be at Winchester. The army consisted of the Sixth Corps, the Nineteenth Corps, Crook's Kanawha Division of West Virginia, infantry; and Averill's, Torbett's, and Wilson's divisions of cavalry, which included among the brigade commanders, Custer, Deven, and Wesley Merritt. Torbett's cavalry division

under Davies was holding the roads and the country in the rear; Torbett was serving as chief of cavalry. The march was made in three columns, and the first halt was at Berryville, eleven miles east of Winchester. On the 13th the two armies were at Cedar Creek, “the enemy," says the current news dispatches, "being sorely pressed by our advancing columns, who are harassing their rear and flanks. Early marched down the valley but a few hours in advance of Sheridan, and from our bivouacs at night you can see the rebel camp-fires." "Little Phil's" mettle was beginning to tell; his quality was raising the morale of our own troops. On the 17th Sheridan's headquarters were established at a farm-house on Cedar Creek, a locality which was so soon to be inseparably associated with his military renown. Skirmishing and picket firing were frequent. Strasburg was taken and retaken several times. The reports of the 22d and 24th say "Sheridan is taking good care of Early," and tell of a brisk engagement between the advanced brigades of both armies, two miles beyond Charlestown, memorable as the place where Captain John Brown, of Kansas, was hung by the State of Virginia, on the 2d of December, 1859. In the engagement of the 24th, our skirmishers were compelled to give way, the enemy outnumbering us, and also occupying a very strong position.

The latter, however, steadily, if slowly, was pressing the Confederates southward, becoming intimately familiar with the topography, conditions, and resources of the region over which he was to operate, strengthening his rear and means of supply; in fact, during this August month, Sheridan was proving himself as capable a general "in taking care," as he was already proven to be in forcing the fighting. Since the death of General Sheridan, in a notable review of his career, shaped and colored, it is evident, by Charles A. Dana, if not actually written by him, the New York Sun has said:

"This necessarily took time, but time which the sequel showed had been well spent.

"The government was filled with apprehension, the country was alarmed, not only at the deadlock which existed on the James, but at the danger which was now clearly menacing the national capital. The newspapers had become impatient, and asked with significant intensity, 'Why doesn't Sheridan do something?' Stocks began to decline, and gold, already alarmingly high, to rise still higher, which showed with unmistakable certainty how anxiously the business men had come to regard the situation of military affairs. There was marching and counter-marching; an advance and a counter-advance; then a demonstration

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