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main force the heights north of Strasburg。 On the morning of the
13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg； on the
middle road； about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike； and
discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's Hill； where he had
thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the
narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains。 On the
left of these works he had Vaughan's； McCausland's； and Johnson's
brigades of cavalry under General Lomax； who at this time relieved
General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces。
Within the past day or two I had received information that a column
of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching
Front Royal through Chester Gap； and although the intelligence was
unconfirmed； it caused me much solicitude； for there was strong
probability that such a movement would be made； and any considerable
force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon
my rear and destroy my communication with Harper's Ferry； or； moving
along the base of Massanutten Mountain； could attack my flank in
conjunction with the force at Fisher's Hill without a possibility of
my preventing it。
Neither Wilson's cavalry nor Grower's infantry had yet joined me； and
the necessities； already explained； which obliged me to hold with
string garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned。
had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy
would outnumber me when Anderson's corps should arrive in the valley。
I deemed it advisable； therefore； to act with extreme caution； so；
with the exception of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th； I
remained on the defensive； quietly awaiting developments。 In the
evening of that day the enemy's skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run；
his main force remaining inactive behind the intrenchments at
Fisher's Hill waiting for the arrival of Anderson。
The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept
increasing every hour； so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to
send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what
was up。 At the same time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side
of Cedar Creek； and occupied the heights near Strasburg。 That day I
received from the hands of Colonel Chipman； of the Adjutant…General's
Department； the following despatch； to deliver which he had ridden in
great haste from Washington through Snicker's Gap； escorted by a
regiment of cavalry：
〃CITY POINT； August 12； 18649 A。 M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK
〃Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two （2） divisions of
infantry have gone to Early； and some cavalry and twenty （20） pieces
of artillery。 This movement commenced last Saturday night。 He must
be cautious； and act now on the defensive until movements here force
them to detach to send this way。 Early's force； with this increase；
cannot exceed forty thousand men； but this is too much for General
Sheridan to attack。 Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of
the Nineteenth Corps。
〃I have ordered to Washington all the one…hundred…day men。 Their
time will soon be out； but for the present they will do to serve in
the defenses。
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。〃
The despatch explained the movement from Culpeper； and on the morning
of the 15th Merritt's two remaining brigades were sent to Front Royal
to oppose Anderson； and the Sixth Corps withdrawn to the north side
of Cedar Creek； where it would be in a position enabling me either to
confront Anderson or to act defensively； as desired by General Grant。
To meet the requirements of his instructions I examined the map of
the valley for a defensive linea position where a smaller number of
troops could hold a larger numberfor this information led me to
suppose that Early's force would greatly exceed mine when Anderson's
two divisions of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had joined him。
I could see but one such position； and that was at Halltown； in front
of Harper's Ferry。 Subsequent experience convinced me that there was
no other really defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley； for at
almost any other point the open country and its peculiar topography
invites rather than forbids flanking operations。
This retrograde movement would also enable me to strengthen my
command by Grower's division of the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's
cavalry； both of which divisions were marching from Washington by way
of Snicker's Gap。
After fully considering the matter； I determined to move back to
Halltown； carrying out； as I retired； my instructions to destroy all
the forage and subsistence the country afforded。 So Emory was
ordered to retire to Winchester on the night of the 15th； and Wright
and Crook to follow through Winchester to Clifton the next night。
For the cavalry； in this move to the rear； I gave the following
instructions：
〃。。。。In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley； as it is expected you will
have to go first or last； it is desirable that nothing should be left
to invite the enemy to return。 Take all provisions； forage； and
stock wanted for the use of your command。 Such as cannot be
consumed； destroy。 It is not desirable that buildings should be
destroyedthey should； rather； be protected； but the people should
be informed that so long as an army can subsist among them；
recurrences of these raids must be expected； and we are determined to
stop them at all hazards。。。。〃 ＇Grant's letter of instructions。＇
〃HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION；
〃Cedar Creek； Va。； August 16； 1864。
〃GENERAL： In compliance with instructions of the Lieutenant…General
commanding； you will make the necessary arrangements and give the
necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat and hay south of a
line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap。 You will seize
all mules； horses； and cattle that may be useful to our army。 Loyal
citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this
necessary destruction。 No houses will be burned； and officers in
charge of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people
that the object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding
parties of the rebel army。
〃Very respectfully；
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN；
〃Major…General Commanding。
〃BRIGADIER…GENERAL A。 T。 A。 TORBERT；
〃Chief of Cavalry； Middle Military Division。〃
During his visit to General Hunter at the Monocacy； General Grant had
not only decided to retain in the Shenandoah Valley a large force
sufficient to defeat Early's army or drive it back to Lee； but he had
furthermore determined to make that sections by the destruction of
its supplies； untenable for continued occupancy by the Confederates。
This would cut off one of Lee's main…stays in the way of subsistence；
and at the same time diminish the number of recruits and conscripts
he received； the vall