Sheridan started back during the night of the 12th, and made his way north and farther east, coming around by the north side of White House, and arriving there on the 21st.  Here he found an abundance of forage for his animals, food for his men, and security while resting.  He had been obliged to leave about ninety of his own men in the field-hospital which he had established near Trevilian, and these necessarily fell into the hands of the enemy.

White House up to this time had been a depot; but now that our troops were all on the James River, it was no longer wanted as a store of supplies.  Sheridan was, therefore, directed to break it up; which he did on the 22d of June, bringing the garrison and an immense wagon train with him.  All these were over the James River by the 26th of the month, and Sheridan ready to follow.

In the meantime Meade had sent Wilson’s division on a raid to destroy the Weldon and South Side roads.  Now that Sheridan was safe and Hampton free to return to Richmond with his cavalry, Wilson’s position became precarious.  Meade therefore, on the 27th, ordered Sheridan over the river to make a demonstration in favor of Wilson.  Wilson got back, though not without severe loss, having struck both roads, but the damage done was soon repaired.

After these events comparative quiet reigned about Petersburg until late in July.  The time, however, was spent in strengthening the intrenchments and making our position generally more secure against a sudden attack.  In the meantime I had to look after other portions of my command, where things had not been going on so favorably, always, as I could have wished.

General Hunter who had been appointed to succeed Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley immediately took up the offensive.  He met the enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and defeated him.  On the 8th he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which he reached and invested on the 16th.  Up to this time he was very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a hostile country, he would, no doubt, have captured Lynchburg.  The destruction of the enemy’s supplies and manufactories had been very great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee sent Early with his corps, a part of which reached Lynchburg before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately, this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by the way of the Gauley and Kanawha rivers, thence up the Ohio River, returning to Harper’s Ferry by way of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  A long time was consumed in making this movement.  Meantime the valley was left open to Early’s troops, and others in that quarter; and Washington also was uncovered.  Early took advantage of this condition of affairs and moved on Washington.