August 17th
Left our post for
Winchester, and on our route saw where several large barns, loaded with wheat, corn and hay, had been burnt by order of
General Sheridan. One large flouring mill, of great necessity to the locality, had also been destroyed.
I suppose
Sheridan proposes to starve out the citizens, or rather the women and children of the
Valley (for the men are in the army), as well as
Early's troops.
Grant and he have resolved to make this fertile Valley a desert, and, as they express it, cause it “to be so dessolate that the birds of passage cannot find enough to subsist upon.”
This is a very ungenteel and ungenerous return for the very humane manner in which
General Lee conducted his
Pennsylvania campaign last year, and for the very kind treatment of the citizens of
Maryland and
Pennsylvania by
General Early and his command recently.
Such warfare is a disgrace to civilization; but I suppose that
Irish-Yankee Sheridan and that drunken butcher and tanner,
Grant, have little comprehension of sentiments of humanity or Christianity.
Breckinridge and
Gordon whipped out the
Yankees badly to-day in some severe skirmishing.
Rodes, for a wonder, was not engaged.
My good mother says
Rodes' division is in every battle her papers mention, and that such expressions as “
Rodes bore the brunt of the battle,” “
Rodes begun the action,” “
Rodes' command suffered severely in killed and wounded,” “
Rodes' division led the advance,” or “
Rodes conducted the retreat, serving as rear guard,” are constantly in the telegraphic column, and to be found in “Letters from war Correspondents.”
It is true that our gallant and beloved
Major-General is usually foremost at the post of honor and danger.
He is ably seconded by his efficient adjutants,
Major H. A. Whiting and
Major Green Peyton.
Reinforcements from
Longstreet's corps have reached us, and vigorous work may be expected.
Lieutenant-General Anderson is in command.