When driven from
Winchester (see
Winchester, battle of)
Early did not halt until he reached
Fisher's Hill, beyond
Strasburg, and 20 miles from the battle-field.
It was strongly fortified, and was considered the most impregnable position in the valley.
In his despatch to the
Secretary of War (Sept. 19, 1864)
Sheridan wrote: “We have just sent the enemy whirling through
Winchester, and are after them to-morrow.”
He kept his word, and appeared in front of
Fisher's Hill on the 22d.
There
Early was strongly intrenched.
Sheridan sent
Crook's corps to gain the left and rear of the position, and advanced to the attack of the left and front, with
Wright's and
Emery's corps.
The assault began at four o'clock. The Confederate line was soon broken, and the entire force retreated in disorder up the valley, leaving behind them sixteen guns and over 1,000 men as prisoners.
Early's army was saved from total destruction by the holding in check of
Torbert's cavalry in the
Luray Valley, and the detention of
Wilson's cavalry, who fought at
Front Royal the day before (Sept. 21).
Sheridan chased
Early to
Port republic (q. v.), where he destroyed the
Confederate train of seventy-five wagons.
Thence his cavalry pursued as far as
Staunton, where the remnant of
Early's army sought and found shelter in the passes of the
Blue Ridge.
The
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377]
National cavalry destroyed a vast amount of supplies at
Staunton, passed on to
Waynesboro, and laid waste the Virginia Central Railway.
Then
Sheridan's whole army went down the Shenandoah Valley, making his march a track of desolation.
He had been instructed to leave nothing “to invite the enemy to return.”
placed his forces behind
Cedar Creek, halfway between
Strasburg and
Middletown.
Early's cavalry had rallied, under
Rosser, and hung upon
Sheridan's rear as he moved down the valley.
Torbert and his cavalry turned upon them (Oct. 9) and charged the
Confederates, who fled, leaving behind them 300 prisoners, a dozen guns, and nearly fifty wagons.
They were chased 26 miles. Three days later
Early attempted to surprise
Sheridan, while resting at
Fisher's Hill, when the
Confederates were severely chastised.
