Chapter 36:
- Campaign of 1864 in the Valley of Virginia. -- its general design as a strategic auxiliary to Richmond. -- the new command of the enemy in the Valley. -- Gen. Sheridan and his forces. -- views of Gen. Lee about the relief of Richmond. -- he detaches a force under Gen. Anderson to co-operate with Early, and “stir up” the enemy across the Potomac. -- Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee find Early falling back and asking for reinforcements. -- the enemy declines a battle and retreats to Harper's Ferry. -- strength and disposition of the Confederate forces about Winchester. -- nearly a month consumed in marching and counter-marching. -- Gen. Lee orders the return of Gen. Anderson with Kershaw's division. -- battle of Winchester. -- Gen. Grant advises Sheridan to “go in.” -- Early's small force. -- how it came to be scattered over twenty-two miles. -- Ramseur's division sustains the attack until the other Confederate forces come up. -- Gordon drives the enemy. -- happy stroke of a Confederate battery. -- the enemy's infantry routed. -- his cavalry get on the Confederate left and rear and change the day. -- retreat of the Confederates. -- battle of Fisher's Hill. -- how Gen. Early's position was defective here. -- he is flanked on the left, and retreats up the Valley. -- the enemy pursues to Staunton. -- Sheridan's barbarous order to devastate the Valley. -- he burns “two thousand barns.” -- Reflections upon this outrage. -- battle of Cedar Creek. -- Early, reinforced, resumes the campaign, and determines to make a surprise. -- a flanking column of Confederates crosses the North fork of the Shenandoah. -- two corps of the enemy broken and put to rout. -- the enemy pursued through Middletown. -- how the vigour of pursuit was lost. -- the foolish newspaper story about Gen. Sheridan's sudden appearance on the field. -- the Confederates demoralized by pillage. -- the enemy makes a countercharge, and sweeps everything before him. -- Gen. Early's attempt to put the censure of the disaster upon his men. -- how far he was responsible for it. -- true explanation of the pause in his victory. -- removal of Gen. Early from command. -- Gen. Lee's generous letter to him. -- how the newspapers berated him. -- the charge of habitual intoxication. -- review of the Valley campaign. -- its effects decisive upon Richmond. -- remark of a Confederate general. -- some views of the management and disposition of the Confederate cavalry forces in Virginia
To Hood's unbroken series of disasters there was a companion-piece in another part of the Confederacy: a small theatre of the war, but an important and a conspicuous one, associated with many heroic memories of
