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on the west side of that stream at Rude's Hill； a commanding point
about two miles south of Mt。 Jackson。 Along this line he had
constructed some slight works during the night； and at daylight on
the 24th； I moved the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through Mt。 Jackson
to attack him； sending Powell's division to pass around his left
flank； toward Timberville； and Devin's brigade across the North Fork；
to move along the base of Peaked Ridge and attack his right。 The
country was entirely open； and none of these manoeuvres could be
executed without being observed； so as soon as my advance began； the
enemy rapidly retreated in line of battle up the valley through New
Market； closely followed by Wright and Emory； their artillery on the
pike and their columns on its right and left。 Both sides moved with
celerity； the Confederates stimulated by the desire to escape； and
our men animated by the prospect of wholly destroying Early's army。
The stern…chase continued for about thirteen miles； our infantry
often coming within range； yet whenever we began to deploy； the
Confederates increased the distance between us by resorting to a
double quick； evading battle with admirable tact。 While all this was
going on； the open country permitted us a rare and brilliant sight；
the bright sun gleaming from the arms and trappings of the thousands
of pursuers and pursued。
Near New Market； as a last effort to hold the enemy； I pushed Devin's
cavalrycomprising about five hundred menwith two guns right up on
Early's lines； in the hope that the tempting opportunity given him to
capture the guns would stay his retreat long enough to let my
infantry deploy within range； but he refused the bait； and after
momentarily checking Devin he continued on with little loss and in
pretty good order。
All hope of Torbert's appearing in rear of the Confederates vanished
as they passed beyond New Market。 Some six miles south of this place
Early left the Valley Pike and took the road to Keezletown； a move
due in a measure to Powell's march by way of Timberville toward
Lacy's Springs； but mainly caused by the fact that the Keezletown
road ran immediately along the base of Peaked Mountaina rugged
ridge affording protection to Early's right flankand led in a
direction facilitating his junction with Kershaw； who had been
ordered back to him from Culpeper the day after the battle of the
Opequon。 The chase was kept up on the Keezeltown road till darkness
overtook us； when my weary troops were permitted to go into camp； and
as soon as the enemy discovered by our fires that the pursuit had
stopped； he also bivouacked some five miles farther south toward Port
Republic。
The next morning Early was joined by Lomax's cavalry from
Harrisonburg； Wickham's and Payne's brigades of cavalry also uniting
with him from the Luray Valley。 His whole army then fell back to the
mouth of Brown's Gap to await Kershaw's division and Cutshaw's
artillery； now on their return。
By the morning of the 25th the main body of the enemy had disappeared
entirely from my front； and the capture of some small； squads of
Confederates in the neighboring hills furnished us the only incidents
of the day。 Among the prisoners was a tall and fine looking officer；
much worn with hunger and fatigue。 The moment I saw him I recognized
him as a former comrade； George W。 Carr； with whom I had served in
Washington Territory。 He was in those days a lieutenant in the Ninth
Infantry； and was one of the officers who superintended the execution
of the nine Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1856。 Carr
was very much emaciated； and greatly discouraged by the turn events
had recently taken。 For old acquaintance sake I gave him plenty to
eat； and kept him in comfort at my headquarters until the next batch
of prisoners was sent to the rear； when he went with them。 He had
resigned from the regular army at the commencement of hostilities；
and； full of high anticipation； cast his lot with the Confederacy；
but when he fell into our hands； his bright dreams having been
dispelled by the harsh realities of war； he appeared to think that
for him there was no future。
Picking up prisoners here and there； my troops resumed their march
directly south on the Valley pike； and when the Sixth and Nineteenth
corps reached Harrisonburg； they went into camp； Powell in the
meanwhile pushing on to Mt。 Crawford； and Crook taking up a position
in our rear at the junction of the Keezletown road and the Valley
pike。 Late in the afternoon Torbert's cavalry came in from New
Market arriving at that place many hours later than it had been
expected。
The succeeding day I sent Merritt to Port Republic to occupy the
enemy's attention； while Torbert； with Wilson's division and the
regular brigade； was ordered to Staunton； whence he was to proceed to
Waynesboro' and blow up the railroad bridge。 Having done this；
Torbert； as he returned； was to drive off whatever cattle he could
find； destroy all forage and breadstuffs； and burn the mills。 He
took possession of Waynesboro' in due time； but had succeeded in only
partially demolishing the railroad bridge when； attacked by Pegram's
division of infantry and Wickham's cavalry； he was compelled to fall
back to Staunton。 From the latter place he retired to Bridgewater；
and Spring Hill； on the way； however； fully executing his
instructions regarding the destructLon of supplies。
While Torbert was on this expedition； Merritt had occupied Port
Republic； but he happened to get there the very day that Kershaw's
division was marching from Swift Run Gap to join Early。 By accident
Kershaw ran into Merritt shortly after the latter had gained the
village。 Kershaw's four infantry brigades attacked at once； and
Merrit； forced out of Port Republic； fell back toward Cross Keys； and
in anticipation that the Confederates could be coaxed to that point；
I ordered the infantry there； but Torbert's attack at Wavnesboro' had
alarmed Early； and in consequence he drew all his forces in toward
Rock…fish Gap。 This enabled me to re…establish Merritt at Port
Republic； send the Sixth and Nineteenth corps to the neighborhood of
Mt。 Crawford to await the return of Torbert； and to post Crook at
Harrisonburg； these dispositions practically obtained till the 6th of
October； I holding a line across the valley from Port Republic along
North River by Mt。 Crawford to the Back road near the mouth of Briery
Branch Gap。
It was during this period； about dusk on the evening of October 3；
that between Harrisonburg and Dayton my engineer officer； Lieutenant
John R。 Meigs； was murdered within my lines。 He had gone out with
two topographical assistants to plot the country； and late in the
evening； while riding along the public road on his return to camp； he
overtook three men dressed in our uniform。 From their dress； and
also because the party was immediately behind our lines and within a
mile and a half of my headquarters； Meigs and his assistants
naturally thought that they were joining friends； and wholly
unsuspicious of anything to the contrary； rode on with the three men
some little distance； but their perfidy was abruptly discovered by
their suddenly turning upon Meigs with a call for his surrender。 It
has been claimed that； refusing to submit； he fired on the
treacherous party； but the statement is not true； for one of the
topographers escapedthe other was capturedand reported a few
minutes later at my headquarters that Meigs was killed without
resistance of any kind whatever； and without even the chance to give
himself up。 This man was so cool； and related all the circumstances
of the occurrence with such exactness； as to prove the truthfulness
of his statement。 The fact that the murder had been committed inside
our lines was evidence that the perpetrators of the crime； having
their homes in the vicinity； had been clandestinely visiting them；
and been secretly harbored by some of the neighboring residents。
Determining to teach a lesson to these abettors of the foul deeda
lesson they would never forgetI ordered all the houses within an
area of five miles to be burned。 General Custer； who had succeeded
to the command of the Third Cavalry division （General Wilson having
been detailed as chief of cavalry to Sherman's army）； was charged
with this duty； and the next morning proceeded to put the order into
execution。 The prescribed area included the little village of
Dayton； but when a few houses in the immediate neighborhood of the
scene of the murder had been burned； Custer was directed to cease his
desolating work； but to fetch away all the able…bodied males as
prisoners。
CHAPTER III。
REASONS FOR NOT PURSUING EARLY THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGEGENERAL
TORBERT DETAILED TO GIVE GENERAL ROSSER A 〃DRUBBING〃GENERAL ROSSER
ROUTEDTELEGRAPHED TO MEET STANTONLONGSTREET'S MESSAGERETURN TO
WINCHESTERTHE RIDE TO