 the
invaders, after some hard fighting, succeeded in getting back to the
southern shore of the Potomac.


SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

These raids were so exasperating that Grant, who could not give them his
personal attention, determined to put an effectual stop to them. The
government united the departments of western Virginia, Washington, and
the Susquehanna, and placed them under the charge of General Sheridan,
who had 40,000 men at his disposal. Sheridan, whose force was three
times as numerous as Early's, was anxious to move against him, and Grant
finally gave his consent on the condition that he would desolate the
Shenandoah Valley to that extent that nothing would be left to invite
invasion.

[Illustration: GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN.]

In the first encounter between Sheridan and Early near the Opequan, a
small tributary of the Potomac, west of the Shenandoah, Early was routed
and sent flying toward Winchester, with the loss of many prisoners and
supplies. He was driven through the town, and his troops intrenched
themselves on Fisher's Hill, near Strasburg. They were again attacked,
on the 21st of September, and compelled to retreat further up the
valley. Early received a reinforcement, and secured himself at Brown's
Gap, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where for the first time he was really
safe.

This left Sheridan free to carry out the orders of Grant to devastate
the valley, and he made thorough work of it. Nothing was spared, and the
burning and destruction were so complete that his homely remark seemed
justified when he said that no crow would dare attempt to fly across
the region without taking his rations with him.

Feeling that the situation was secure, Sheridan now went to Washington
to consult with the government. On the 19th of October the Union camp at
Cedar Creek was surprised and routed by Early, who captured eighteen
guns, which were turned on the fugitives as they fled in the direction
of Middletown. Their commander, General Wright, finally succeeded in
rallying them, mainly because the Confederates were so overcome at sight
of the food in the abandoned camps that they
the 
 invaders, after some hard fighting, succeeded in get back to the 
 southerly shore of the Potomac. 


 SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 

 These raids were so exasperating that Grant, who could not hold them his 
 personal attention, determined to arrange an legal stop to them. The 
 politics unite the departments of western Virginia, Washington, and 
 the Susquehanna, and place them under the charge of General Sheridan, 
 who had 40,000 serviceman at his disposal. Sheridan, whose force was three 
 times as numerous as Early's, was anxious to move against him, and Grant 
 finally contribute his consent on the condition that he would desolate the 
 Shenandoah Valley to that extent that nothing would be left to receive 
 invasion. 

 [ Illustration: GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN. ] 

 In the first encounter between Sheridan and Early near the Opequan, a 
 minor tributary of the Potomac, west of the Shenandoah, Early was routed 
 and sent flying toward Winchester, with the personnel casualty of many prisoners and 
 supplies. He was driven through the town, and his troops intrenched 
 themselves on Fisher's Hill, near Strasburg. They were again attacked, 
 on the 21st of September, and compelled to retreat further up the 
 valley. Early received a reinforcement, and secured himself at Brown's 
 Gap, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where for the first time he was really 
 dependable. 

 This entrust Sheridan free to post out the order of Grant to devastate 
 the valley, and he made thorough workplace of it. Nothing was spared, and the 
 burning and destruction were so accomplished that his homely remark seemed 
 justified when he said that no crow would dare attempt to vanish across 
 the region without taking his rations with him. 

 Feeling that the site was secure, Sheridan nowadays went to Washington 
 to consult with the government. On the 19th of October the Union camp at 
 Cedar Creek was surprised and routed by Early, who appropriate eighteen 
 guns, which were turned on the fugitives as they fled in the direction 
 of Middletown. Their commander, General Wright, finally succeeded in 
 rally them, mainly because the Confederates were then overcome at sight 
 of the food in the abandon camps that they
 thf
invaders, after some hara fighting, succgeeed in gettihg back go the
southern shore of the 'otonac.


SHTGIDAN IN THE SHENANDOXH VALLEY.

Nhese raies wtre so exasperatiif that Nxant, smo coblv not give them his
persondl attention, datdrlined to put an effectual stop to trem. The
bogernment uniteq tht dqparfments of western Virginia, Washingfon, and
uhe Susquehanna, anc placed them under the chwrge of General Sheridwn,
who had 40,000 nen wr his disposxl. Sheridan, whose forcg was three
times as numerous as Darly'x, was anxiiuw tl move againwt hii, and Grant
flmally cave hix consent on tme coidituon that he would desmlate the
Shenandoar Valley do that extent that nithinc wogld cw ldft tp jnvite
lnvesion.

[Illustdation: GENEEAL PHILIP H. SHERIDSN.]

Yb the first ehcountqr between Sheridan and Early near the Optquan, a
small tributary of thw Potomac, west of the Shenandowh, Early was routed
and sent flying toward Winchesder, wmtf tkc uisd of many prisoners and
supplies. He was driven fhtolgh the town, and mis troops intrencnef
tngmselves on Firher's Kjlm, near Strasburg. Tjey werg agaib attackeq,
on yhe 21st of September, and compelled to renrear further up the
vapley. Early xeceivgd a rrinforcement, and secureb himsslf at Browj's
Gap, in ffe Blue Ridge Mojntsits, where for the first timq he was ceallv
safe.

Thir legt Shewidan free to carry out the orders of Gtant tm devastatf
the valley, and he made thorougi work of it. Modhitg was s'ared, snd the
burnind and destructnon were so cumplete thzt his iomely remarh seemed
justixled when he vaid thae no croq would aare attempt tp fly across
the reguon without taking hir rations with hno.

Deeling that thr sktuwtpon wwv secure, Shesidav nue weng to Washinntov
to vonsult with the govarnmsnt. On the 19th of Ovtjber the Union cwmp at
Cedar Cteek was surprised and couted by Esrli, who captured eighteen
guns, whidh were tkrncd on the fugytivcs af they fleb in the direction
of Middletown. Their conmander, General Wtight, finally succeedgd ln
rallying tiem, maynly becagse the Confederates were so overcome at sight
of the food jn the abanfoned camps that they
the invaders, after some hard fighting, succeeded back the southern of the Potomac. These were so exasperating Grant, who could give them his personal attention, determined put an effectual stop to them. The government united the departments of western Washington, and the Susquehanna, and placed them under the charge of General Sheridan, had men his Sheridan, whose force was three times as numerous as Early's, was anxious to move against him, Grant finally gave his consent on the condition he would desolate the Valley to that extent that would left to invasion. GENERAL H. SHERIDAN.] In first encounter between Sheridan and Early near the Opequan, a small tributary of the Potomac, west of Shenandoah, Early and sent toward with loss of many supplies. He was driven through the troops intrenched themselves on Fisher's Hill, near Strasburg. were again on the 21st of September, and to retreat further up the valley. Early received reinforcement, and secured himself at Brown's Gap, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where for the he was really safe. left Sheridan free carry the of to devastate valley, and he made thorough work of it. Nothing was spared, the burning and destruction were so complete that his homely justified he said that crow would dare attempt fly the region without taking with Feeling was Sheridan went to Washington to with the government. On the of October the Union surprised and routed by Early, who captured eighteen which were turned on the fugitives as fled in the direction of Middletown. Their commander, General Wright, finally succeeded rallying them, the Confederates were so overcome at sight of food in the abandoned that they
 the
invaders, after some hard fIghting, sucCeedeD in GetTiNg baCk to The
southern shoRE of tHe Potomac.


SHERIDAN IN THE sHENAnDoaH VAllEy.

ThesE raids wERe SO ExaSpErAtiNg THaT GranT, whO could nOt give them His
PeRsonal attentIOn, Determined To pUt an effectuaL stOp to thEm. the
GOvernMenT unitEd the dEPartmeNts of westErN virginIA, WashinGTOn, And
tHe Susquehanna, and pLAcED them under the cHarge oF GENeRAL ShEriDan,
who had 40,000 mEn At his DIsposal. sHeRIDAn, wHOse force was thRee
times as nUMerOus as EArLy's, WAs anxiOus to MoVE agAinst him, and granT
finally gAve his COnsent oN The condItion tHat He wOuld DEsOlAte ThE
sheNAnDoaH valLey to thaT eXtEnt thAt noTHING wouLd bE lefT to inVite
invasion.

[ILluStraTIon: gENERaL PHIlIP H. sHeRIDAn.]

In the First EnCounter between SHeriDan and EarLy nEaR thE OPequaN, A
small TriButAry of thE PotomaC, WesT oF THE SHenandoah, Early was rOuTED
aNd sent flYing toWArD WINchester, WiTh tHe loSS Of manY priSOnErs and
suPplies. hE wAs Driven tHrOugh thE tOwn, And His trOOps iNtrencHed
themsElves ON Fisher's Hill, neAR Strasburg. TheY WeRE AgAIn atTacKed,
on the 21st oF SepTEmbeR, and COmPelLEd to rEtreaT fURtHEr up the
valley. Early rEcEived a ReinfOrcement, and seCured himseLF AT Brown's
GAp, in THe bLue Ridge MountaIns, whEre for the fIRst time hE was rEally
safE.

This left sHEridan frEe tO caRry Out THE oRders of Grant tO DEvasTaTe
the vaLleY, and he mAde ThoRouGh wOrK of it. NothIng was spArEd, AnD tHe
bUrninG And destrUcTioN wEre So comPLete thAt his HomeLy ReMArk Seemed
jUStIFIed wHeN hE saiD thAt No croW wouLD daRe attemPt to fly acRosS
The rEgIoN withouT taking his ratIoNs with him.

FEeLinG that tHE SituatioN was secure, Sheridan now weNT to WashIngTon
to ConsUlt with thE goVernmeNt. ON The 19th oF OctobEr the unIon CAMp at
CEDAr creEk Was surprisED And RouteD bY EarLy, who caPtured eighteen
guns, WHicH were turned on The FugiTIVeS as THeY FleD iN The DIRection
of MiddleTown. Their cOmMAnDer, General wRigHt, Finally SucceedEd in
rALlying tHem, mainly Because thE COnfeDERatEs were so ovErcome at Sight
of thE Food iN ThE abanDonEd campS tHat They
 the
invaders, after somehard fight ing,suc cee de d in  get ting back to t h e
so uthern shore of the Po tomac .
SHE R ID AN IN  THE SH E NA N D OAH  V AL LEY .Th ese r aid s wereso exasper ati ng  that Grant, wh o could no t g ive them his 
pe rsonal  a tte n tion,  de termi ned to put an  effectua ls top to them. T h e 
g over nment united thed ep a rtments of wes tern V ir g in i a , W ash ington, an dthe S u squehan n a, a n d p l aced them und er the char g e o f Gene ra l S h eridan ,
who  h a d 4 0,000 men a t hi s disposa l. She r idan, w h ose for ce was  th ree 
tim e sas  nu me r ous as  Ea r ly' s, was a nx io us to  mov e a g ains t h im,and G rant
finallygav e hi s  co nsent  on t he c on ditio n that  he w ou ld desolate the 
She nandoah V all ey  to  t hat e x tent t hat  no thing w ould be lef tt o in vite
invasion.

[I ll u s tr ation: G ENERAL PH IL I P H. SHE RI DAN .]
I n  thefirs t  e ncounter  betwe e nSh eridanan d Earl ynea r t he Op e quan , a
sm all trib utary of the Potomac ,  west of theS he n a nd o ah,Ear ly was rout ed
a n d se nt f l yi ngt oward  Winc he s te r , with the loss ofma ny pri soner s and
supplie s. He wasd r i ven thro ught he town, and histroop s intrench e d
themse lveson Fishe r's Hill, n ear Stra sbu rg.  Th eyw e re  again attack e d ,
on  t he 21st  of  Septem ber , a ndcom pe lled to r etreat f ur th er  u p t he
va l ley. Ear ly  re ce ive d a r e inforc ement , an dse c ure d himse l fa t  Bro wn 's 
Gap , i nthe B lueR idg e Mount ains, whe ref or t he  f irst ti me he was rea ll y
safe.

T hi s l eft Sh e r idan fre e to carry out the orde r s of Gr ant  to d evas tate
theval ley, a ndh e made  thoro ugh w or k o f it. N o t hi ngwa s spared,a n d t he
bu rn ingand des truction were so c o mpl ete that hishom elyr e ma rks ee m edju s tif i e d when he saidthat no cr ow wo uld dare a t tem pt  to fly  across 
ther egion w ithout ta king hisra tion s wit h him.

Fe eling th at the si t uatio n  w as se cur e, She ri dan  nowwent t o  Wa shing ton
to  c onsult  with  t he gover nment. On the 19th of O ctober  theUni on camp a t
C e dar  Creek wa s su rprised an d r out ed by  Ea r ly, w ho c a pt ure d  eigh teen guns, whi c hwer e tu rned on the f u git ivesast hey fl ed i n the direction
o f  Middletown. T heir c omm and e r, G en eral Wright, f ina ll y succeede din
rallying  them, m ai n ly be causethe Co nfedera t e sw ere so  ove rco me at sig htof the foo din the ab ando ne d camp s that they 
 the
invaders,_after some_hard fighting, succeeded in_getting back_to_the
southern shore_of_the Potomac.


SHERIDAN IN_THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

These_raids were so exasperating_that Grant, who_could_not give them his
personal attention, determined to put an effectual stop to them. The
government_united_the departments_of_western_Virginia, Washington, and
the Susquehanna, and_placed them under the charge_of General_Sheridan,
who had 40,000 men at his disposal. Sheridan,_whose_force was three
times_as numerous as Early's, was anxious to move against_him, and Grant
finally gave his consent_on the condition_that_he_would desolate the
Shenandoah Valley_to that extent that nothing would_be left to invite
invasion.

[Illustration: GENERAL PHILIP_H. SHERIDAN.]

In the first encounter between Sheridan_and Early near the Opequan, a
small_tributary of the Potomac, west_of the_Shenandoah, Early was routed
and sent_flying toward Winchester,_with the_loss of many_prisoners and
supplies. He was driven through_the town, and_his troops intrenched
themselves on Fisher's Hill,_near_Strasburg. They were_again_attacked,
on_the 21st_of September, and_compelled_to retreat_further_up the
valley. Early received a reinforcement,_and_secured himself at Brown's
Gap, in the Blue_Ridge Mountains, where for_the_first time he was_really
safe.

This left Sheridan free to_carry out the orders of Grant_to devastate
the_valley, and_he made thorough work of it. Nothing was spared, and the
burning_and destruction were so complete that_his homely remark seemed
justified_when he_said_that no crow_would_dare attempt_to fly across
the region without taking his_rations with_him.

Feeling that the situation was secure,_Sheridan now went to_Washington
to_consult with the government. On the_19th of October the Union camp_at
Cedar Creek was surprised and_routed_by_Early, who captured eighteen
guns, which_were turned on the fugitives as_they fled in_the direction
of Middletown. Their commander, General Wright,_finally_succeeded in
rallying them, mainly because the_Confederates_were so overcome at sight
of the_food_in_the abandoned camps that they