SHERIDAN’S ADVANCE—­VISIT TO SHERIDAN—­SHERIDAN’S VICTORY IN THE SHENANDOAH—­SHERIDAN’S RIDE TO WINCHESTER—­CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE WINTER.

We had our troops on the Weldon Railroad contending against a large force that regarded this road of so much importance that they could afford to expend many lives in retaking it; Sherman just getting through to Atlanta with great losses of men from casualties, discharges and detachments left along as guards to occupy and hold the road in rear of him; Washington threatened but a short time before, and now Early being strengthened in the valley so as, probably, to renew that attempt.  It kept me pretty active in looking after all these points.

On the 10th of August Sheridan had advanced on Early up the Shenandoah Valley, Early falling back to Strasburg.  On the 12th I learned that Lee had sent twenty pieces of artillery, two divisions of infantry and a considerable cavalry force to strengthen Early.  It was important that Sheridan should be informed of this, so I sent the information to Washington by telegraph, and directed a courier to be sent from there to get the message to Sheridan at all hazards, giving him the information.  The messenger, an officer of the army, pushed through with great energy and reached Sheridan just in time.  The officer went through by way of Snicker’s Gap, escorted by some cavalry.  He found Sheridan just making his preparations to attack Early in his chosen position.  Now, however, he was thrown back on the defensive.

On the 15th of September I started to visit General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley.  My purpose was to have him attack Early, or drive him out of the valley and destroy that source of supplies for Lee’s army.  I knew it was impossible for me to get orders through Washington to Sheridan to make a move, because they would be stopped there and such orders as Halleck’s caution (and that of the Secretary of War) would suggest would be given instead, and would, no doubt, be contradictory to mine.  I therefore, without stopping at Washington, went directly through to Charlestown, some ten miles above Harper’s Ferry, and waited there to see General Sheridan, having sent a courier in advance to inform him where to meet me.

When Sheridan arrived I asked him if he had a map showing the positions of his army and that of the enemy.  He at once drew one out of his side pocket, showing all roads and streams, and the camps of the two armies.  He said that if he had permission he would move so and so (pointing out how) against the Confederates, and that he could “whip them.”  Before starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, which I had brought with me; but, seeing that he was so clear and so positive in his views and so confident of success, I said nothing about this and did not take it out of my pocket.