ARMY OPERATIONS. 



15.1 



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 

 hare 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 suf- 

 fered. 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 chil- 

 dren'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 tear- 

 ful 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 deso- 

 lation 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 tow- 

 ard 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 col- 

 umn 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. Ouster and Mer- 

 ritt turned and made an attack. At the same 

 time a report spread among the enemy's cav- 

 alry 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 at- 

 tack of the enemy. This was made at 1 P.M. 

 and repulsed. At 3 P. M. Sheridan attacked the 

 enemy and completely routed him, capturirg 

 fifty-four pieces of artillery, including his own 

 pieces. His despatch from the battle-field to 

 Gen. Grant was as follows : 



CEDAR CREEK, YA., Oct. 19, 10 p. u. 



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 

 hastened from Winchester, where I was on my return 

 from Washington, and found my army between Mid- 

 dletown and Newton, having been driven back about 

 four miles. I here took the affair in hand and quick- 

 ly marched the corps forward, formed a compact line 

 o'f 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 

 left to the right flank, I attacked with great vigor, 

 driving and routing the enemy, capturing, according 

 to the last report, 43 pieces of artillery and very 

 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 fol- 

 lows': 



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 oflicera 

 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 th'e enemy. 

 The whole line advanced. 



The enemy, after a stubborn resistance, broke and 

 fled, and were pushed with vigor. The artillery cap- 

 tured 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 ; th'e 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 com- 

 mand, 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. Kamseur, commanding a division in 

 Early' s armv, died this morning. 



(Signed) P. H. SHERIDAN. 



The enemy were pursued nearly to Mt. Jack- 

 son. The 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 

 wound ;d on either side have not been reported. 



