Summary:
In late summer and fall, 1864, General Grant ordered Phillip Sheridan to clear
the Shenandoah Valley of Confederate forces, and destroy the vital food and
supplies in the region. In this September dispatch, Sheridan reports to Grant on
his progress. He discusses his cavalry's destruction of arms, food, and
buildings in Staunton.
Lieut.-Gen. GRANT.
HARRISONBURG,
September 29, 1864--7.30 p. m.
(Received October 2.)
In my last dispatch I informed you that I pressed Early so closely through New Market, at the same time sending cavalry around his flank, that he gave up the Valley and took to the mountains, passing through Brown's Gap. I kept up the pursuit to Port Republic, destroying 75 wagons and 4 caissons. I sent Gen. Torbert, who overtook me at Harrisonburg, to Staunton with Wilson's division of cavalry and one brigade of Merritt's. Torbert entered Staunton on the 26th, and destroyed a large quantity of rebel Government property--harness, saddles, small-arms, hard bread, flour, repair shops, &c. He then proceeded to Waynesborough, destroying the iron bridge over the South Branch of the Shenandoah, seven miles of track, the depot buildings, Government Tanery, and a large amount of leather, flour, and stores, &c., at that place. He found the tunnel defended by infantry, and retired via Staunton, destroying, according to your original instructions to me. This morning I sent around Merritt's and Custer's division, via Piedmont, to burn grain, &c., pursuant to your instructions. My impression is that most of the troops which Early had left passed through the mountains to Charlottesville. Kershaw's division came to his assistance, and, I think, passed along the west base of the mountains to Waynesborough. The advance of my infantry is at Mount Crawford, eight miles south of Harrisonburg. I will go on and clean out the Valley. I am getting twenty-five to forty prisoners daily, who come in form the mountains on each side and deliver themselves up. From the most reliable accounts, Early's army was completely broken up and is dispirited. It will be exceedingly difficult for me to carry the infantry column over the mountains and strike at the Central road. I cannot accumulate sufficient stores to do so, and think it best to take some position near Front Royal, and operate with the cavalry and infantry. I will, however, stay here for a few days. Kershaw had not reached Richmond, but was somewhere in the vicinity or Gordonsville, when he received orders to rejoin Early. The destruction of the grain and forage from here to Staunton will be a terrible blow to them. All the grain, forage, &c., in the vicinity of Staunton was retained for the use of Early's army; all in the lower part of the Valley was shipped to Richmond for the use of Lee's army. The country from here to Staunton was abundantly supplied with forage and grain, &c.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Maj.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 43, Serial No. 90, Pages 29-30, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
