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in my despatch from Front Royal； yet the enemy's desperation might
have prompted some other clever and ingenious scheme for relieving
his fallen fortunes in the Shenandoah Valley。
CHAPTER IV。
GENERAL EARLY REORGANIZES HIS FORCESMOSBY THE GUERRILLAGENERAL
MERRITT SENT TO OPERATE AGAINST MOSBYROSSER AGAIN ACTIVEGENERAL
CUSTER SURPRISEDCOLONEL YOUNG SENT TO CAPTURE GILMORE THE
GUERRILLACOLONEL YOUNG'S SUCCESSCAPTURE OF GENERAL KELLY AND
GENERAL CROOKSPIESWAS WILKES BOOTH A SPY？DRIVING THE
CONFEDERATES OUT OF THE VALLEYTHE BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO'MARCHING
TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC。
Early's broken army practically made no halt in its retreat after the
battle of Cedar…Creek until it reached New Market； though at Fisher's
Hill was left a small rear…guard of cavalry； which hastily decamped；
however； when charged by Gibbs's brigade on the morning of the 20th。
Between the date of his signal defeat and the 11th of November； the
enemy's scattered forces had sufficiently reorganized to permit his
again making a reconnoissance in the valley as far north as Cedar
Creek； my army having meanwhile withdrawn to Kernstown； where it had
been finally decided that a defensive line should be held to enable
me to detach troops to General Grant； and where； by reconstructing
the Winchester and Potomac railroad from Stephenson's depot to
Harper's Ferry； my command might be more readily； supplied。 Early's
reconnoissance north of Cedar Creek ended in a rapid withdrawal of
his infantry after feeling my front； and with the usual ill…fortune
to his cavalry； Merritt and Custer driving Rosser and Lomax with ease
across Cedar Creek on the Middle and Back roads； while Powell's
cavalry struck McCausland near Stony Point； and after capturing two
pieces of artillery and about three hundred officers and men chased
him into the Luray Valley。
Early got back to New Market on the 14th of November； and； from lack
of subsistence； being unable to continue demonstrations to prevent my
reinforcement of General Grant； began himself to detach to General
Lee by returning Kershaw's division to Petersburg； as was definitely
ascertained by Torbert in a reconnoissance to Mount Jackson。 At this
time General Grant wished me to send him the Sixth Corps； and it was
got ready for the purpose； but when I informed him that Torbert's
reconnoissance had developed the fact that Early still retained four
divisions of infantry and one of cavalry； it was decided； on my
suggestion； to let the Sixth Corps remain till the season should be a
little further advanced； when the inclemency of the weather would
preclude infantry campaigning。 These conditions came about early in
December； and by the middle of the month the whole of the Sixth Corps
was at Petersburg； simultaneously with its transfer to that line
Early sending his Second Corps to Lee。
During the entire campaign I had been annoyed by guerrilla bands
under such partisan chiefs as Mosby； White； Gilmore； McNeil； and
others； and this had considerably depleted my line…of…battle
strength； necessitating as it did large； escorts for my supply…
trains。 The most redoubtable of these leaders was Mosby； whose force
was made up from the country around Upperville； east of the Blue
Ridge； to which section he always fled for a hiding…place when he
scented danger。 I had not directed any special operations against
these partisans while the campaign was active； but as Mosby's men had
lately killed； within my lines； my chief quartermaster； Colonel
Tolles； and Medical Inspector Ohlenchlager； I concluded to devote
particular attention to these 〃irregulars〃 during the lull that now
occurred； so on the 28th of November； I directed General Merritt to
march to the Loudoun Valley and operate against Mosby； taking care to
clear the country of forage and subsistence； so as to prevent the
guerrillas from being harbored there in the future their destruction
or capture being well…nigh impossible； on account of their intimate
knowledge of the mountain region。 Merritt carried out his
instructions with his usual sagacity and thoroughness； sweeping
widely over each side of his general line of march with flankers； who
burned the grain and brought in large herds of cattle； hogs and
sheep； which were issued to the troops。
While Merritt was engaged in this service the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad once more received the attention of the enemy； Rosser； with
two brigades of cavalry； crossing the Great North Mountain； capturing
the post of New Creek； with about five hundred prisoners and seven
guns； destroying all the supplies of the garrison； and breaking up
the railroad track。 This slight success of the Confederates in West
Virginia； and the intelligence that they were contemplating further
raids in that section； led me to send； Crook there with one division；
his other troops going to City Point； and； I hoped that all the
threatened places would thus be sufficiently protected； but
negligence at Beverly resulted in the capture of that station by
Rosser on the 11th of January。
In the meanwhile； Early established himself with Wharton's division
at Staunton in winter quarters； posting his cavalry in that
neighborhood also； except a detachment at New Market； and another
small one at the signalstation on Three Top Mountain。 The winter was
a most severe one； snow falling frequently to the depth of several
inches； and the mercury often sinking below zero。 The rigor of the
season was very much against the success of any mounted operations；
but General Grant being very desirous to have the railroads broken up
about Gordonsville and Charlottesville； on the 19th of December I
started the cavalry out for that purpose； Torbert； with Merritt and
Powell； marching through Chester Gap； while Custer moved toward
Staunton to make a demonstration in Torbert's favor； hoping to hold
the enemy's troops in the valley。 Unfortunately； Custer did not
accomplish all that was expected of him； and being surprised by
Rosser and Payne near Lacy's Springs before reveille； had to abandon
his bivouac and retreat down the valley； with the loss of a number of
prisoners； a few horses； and a good many horse equipments； for；
because of the suddenness of Rosser's attack； many of the men had no
time to saddle up。 As soon as Custer's retreat was assured；
Wharton's division of infantry was sent to Charlottesville to check
Torbert； but this had already been done by Lomax； with the assistance
of infantry sent up from Richmond。 Indeed； from the very beginning
of the movement the Confederates had been closely observing the
columns of Torbert and Custer； and in consequence of the knowledge
thus derived； Early had marched Lomax to Gordonsville in anticipation
of an attack there； at the same time sending Rosser down the valley
to meet Custer。 Torbert in the performance of his task captured two
pieces of artillery from Johnson's and McCausland's brigades； at
Liberty Mills on the Rapidan River； but in the main the purpose of
the raid utterly failed； so by the 27th of December he returned；
many； of his men badly frost…bitten from the extreme cold which had
prevailed。
This expedition practically closed all operations for the season； and
the cavalry was put into winter cantonment near Winchester。 The
distribution of my infantry to Petersburg and West Virginia left with
me in the beginning of the new year； as already stated； but the one
small division of the Nineteenth Corps。 On account of this
diminution of force； it became necessary for me to keep thoroughly
posted in regard to the enemy； and I now realized more than I had
done hitherto how efficient my scouts had become since under the
control of Colonel Young； for not only did they bring me almost every
day intelligence from within Early's lines； but they also operated
efficiently against the guerrillas infesting West Virginia。
Harry Gilmore； of Maryland； was the most noted of these since the
death of McNeil； and as the scouts had reported him in Harrisonburg
the latter part of January； I directed two of the most trustworthy to
be sent to watch his movements and ascertain his purposes。 In a few
days these spies returned with the intelligence that Gilmore was on
his way to Moorefield； the centre of a very disloyal section in West
Virginia； about ninety miles southwest of Winchester； where； under
the guise of a camp…meeting； a gathering was to take place； at which
he expected to enlist a number of men； be joined by a party of about
twenty recruits coming from Maryland； and then begin depredations
along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad。 Believing that Gilmore might
be captured； I directed Young to undertake the task； and as a
preliminary step he sent to Moorefield two of his men who early in
the war had 〃refugeed〃 from that section and enlisted in one of the
Union regiments from West Virginia。 In about a week these men came
back