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artillery； comprising in all about 10；000 officers and men。 On
wheels we had； to accompany this column； eight ambulances； sixteen
ammunition wagons； a pontoon train for eight canvas boats； and a
small supply…train； with fifteen days' rations of coffee； sugar； and
salt； it being intended to depend on the country for the meat and
bread ration； the men carrying in their haversacks nearly enough to
subsist them till out of the exhausted valley。
Grant's orders were for me to destroy the Virginia Central railroad
and the James River canal； capture Lynchburg if practicable； and then
join General Sherman in North Carolina wherever he might be found； or
return to Winchester； but as to joining Sherman I was to be governed
by the state of affairs after the projected capture of Lynchburg。
The weather was cold； the valley and surrounding mountains being
still covered with snow； but this was fast disappearing； however；
under the heavy rain that was coming down as the column moved along
up the Valley pike at a steady gait that took us to Woodstock the
first day。 The second day we crossed the North Fork of the
Shenandoah on our pontoon…bridge； and by night…fall reached Lacy's
Springs； having seen nothing of the enemy as yet but a few partisans
who hung on our flanks in the afternoon。
March 1 we encountered General Rosser at Mt Crawford； he having been
able to call together only some five or six hundred of his troops；
our unsuspected march becoming known to Early only the day before。
Rosser attempted to delay us here； trying to burn the bridges over
the Middle Fork of the Shenandoah； but two regiments from Colonel
Capehart's brigade swam the stream and drove Rosser to Kline's Mills；
taking thirty prisoners and twenty ambulances and wagons。
Meanwhile General Early was busy at Staunton； but not knowing my
objective point； he had ordered the return of Echol's brigade from
southwestern Virginia for the protection of Lynchburg； directed
Lomax's cavalry to concentrate at Pond Gap for the purpose of
harassing me if I moved toward Lynchburg； and at the same time
marched Wharton's two brigades of infantry； Nelson's artillery； and
Rosser's cavalry to Waynesboro'； whither he went also to remain till
the object of my movement was ascertained。
I entered Staunton the morning of March 2； and finding that Early had
gone to Waynesboro' with his infantry and Rosser； the question at
once arose whether I should continue my march to Lynchburg direct；
leaving my adversary in my rear； or turn east and open the way
through Rockfish Gap to the Virginia Central railroad and James River
canal。 I felt confident of the success of the latter plan； for I
knew that Early numbered there not more than two thousand men； so；
influenced by this； and somewhat also by the fact that Early had left
word in Staunton that he would fight at Waynesboro'； I directed
Merritt to move toward that place with Custer； to be closely followed
by Devin； who was to detach one brigade to destroy supplies at
Swoope's'depot。 The by…roads were miry beyond description； rain
having fallen almost incessantly since we left Winchester； but
notwithstanding the down…pour the column pushed on； men and horses
growing almost unrecognizable from the mud covering them from head to
foot。
General Early was true to the promise made his friends in Staunton；
for when Custer neared Waynesboro' he found； occupying a line of
breastworks on a ridge west of the town； two brigades of infantry；
with eleven pieces of artillery and Rosser's cavalry。 Custer； when
developing the position of the Confederates； discovered that their
left was somewhat exposed instead of resting on South River； he
therefore made his dispositions for attack； sending around that flank
the dismounted regiments from Pennington's brigade； while he himself；
with two brigades； partly mounted and partly dismounted； assaulted
along the whole line of breastworks。 Pennington's flanking movement
stampeded the enemy in short order； thus enabling Custer to carry the
front with little resistance； and as he did so the Eighth New York
and First Connecticut； in a charge in column； broke through the
opening made by Custer； and continued on through the town of
Waynesboro'； never stopping till they crossed South River。 There；
finding themselves immediately in the enemy's rear； they promptly
formed as foragers and held the east bank of the stream till all the
Confederates surrendered except Rosser； who succeeded in making his
way back to the valley； and Generals Early； Wharton； Long； and
Lilley； who； with fifteen or twenty men； escaped across the Blue
Ridge。 I followed up the victory immediately by despatching Capehart
through Rock…fish Gap； with orders to encamp on the east side of the
Blue Ridge。 By reason of this move all the enemy's stores and
transportation fell into our hands； while we captured on the field
seventeen battle flags； sixteen hundred officers and men； and eleven
pieces of artillery。 This decisive victory closed hostilities in the
Shenandoah Valley。 The prisoners and artillery were sent back to
Winchester next morning； under a guard of 1；500 men； commanded by
Colonel J。 H。 Thompson； of the First New Hampshire。
The night of March 2 Custer camped at Brookfield； Devin remaining at
Waynesboro'。 The former started for Charlottesville the next morning
early； followed by Devin with but two brigades； Gibbs having been
left behind to blow up the iron railroad bridge across South River。
Because of the incessant rains and spring thaws the roads were very
soft； and the columns cut them up terribly； the mud being thrown by
the sets of fours across the road in ridges as much as two feet high；
making it most difficult to get our wagons along； and distressingly
wearing on the animals toward the middle and rear of the columns。
Consequently I concluded to rest at Charlottesville for a couple of
days and recuperate a little； intending at the same time to destroy；
with small parties； the railroad from that point toward Lynchburg。
Custer reached Charlottesville the 3d； in the afternoon； and was met
at the outskirts by a deputation of its citizens； headed by the
mayor； who surrendered the town with medieval ceremony； formally
handing over the keys of the public buildings and of the University
of Virginia。 But this little scene did not delay Custer long enough
to prevent his capturing； just beyond the village； a small body of
cavalry and three pieces of artillery。 Gibbs's brigade； which was
bringing up my mud…impeded train； did not arrive until the 5th of
March。 In the mean time Young's scouts had brought word that the
garrison of Lynchburg was being increased and the fortifications
strengthened； so that its capture would be improbable。 I decided；
however； to move toward the place as far as Amherst Court House；
which is sixteen miles short of the town； so Devin； under Merritt's
supervision； marched along the James River； destroying the canal；
while Custer pushed ahead on the railroad and broke it up。 The two
columns were to join at New Market； whence I intended to cross the
James River at some point east of Lynchburg； if practicable； so as to
make my way to Appomattox Court House； and destroy the Southside
railroad as far east as Farmville。 Owing to its swollen condition
the river was unfordable but knowing that there was a covered bridge
at Duguidsville； I hoped to secure it by a dash； and cross there； but
the enemy； anticipating this； had filled the bridge with inflammable
material； and just as our troops got within striking distance it
burst into flames。 The bridge at Hardwicksville also having been
burned by the enemy； there was now no means of crossing except by
pontoons。 but； unfortunately； I had only eight of these； and they
could not be made to span the swollen river。
Being thus unable to cross until the river should fall； and knowing
that it was impracticable to join General Sherman； and useless to
adhere to my alternative instructions to return to Winchester； I now
decided to destroy still more thoroughly the James River canal and
the Virginia Central railroad and then join General Grant in front of
Petersburg。 I was master of the whole country north of the James as
far down as Goochland； hence the destruction of these arteries of
supply could be easily compassed； and feeling that the war was
nearing its end； I desired my cavalry to be in at the death。
On March 9 the main column started eastward down the James River；
destroying locks； dams； and boats； having been preceded by Colonel
Fitzhugh's brigade of Devin's division in a forced march to Goochland
and Beaver Dam Creek； with orders to destroy everything below
Columbia。 I made Columbia on the 10th； and from there sent a
communication to General Grant reporting what had occurred； informing
him of my condition and intention； asking him to send forage and
rations to meet me at