"Sheridan Has Completed The Task"

1864 Campaigns

A summary published in a Massachusetts newspaper on October 15, 1864, of "The Burning" in the Shenandoah Valley and the belief that military operations in the region were ending. Four days later, the Battle of Cedar Creek would be final large Union victory in the Shenandoah Valley region that year and an influence on northern elections.

SHERIDAN FALLING BACK.

Gen Sheridan has completed the task allotted him in the Shenandoah valley and is falling back. While the main body of his army remained at Harrisonburg, scouting parties were out in every direction, to Staunton, Waynesboro, Port Republic and all the principal places in the upper part of the valley, which destroyed everything they could lay their hands on that could subsist a rebel army, and then, as our forces were so far from their base of supplies, the order to fall back was given, and the retrograde movement commenced on the 6^th. A party of the enemy’s cavalry followed, under the command of Gen Rosser, and though they were defeated on the 8^th, they hung round till Sunday, the 9^th when Gen Torbert was ordered to disperse them, which he did handsomely after some sharp fighting. The force of the enemy was completely routed, and pursued more than 20 miles. Eleven pieces of artillery fell into our hands, all the wagons and camp equipage of the enemy was captured, and about 550 prisoners. This defeat has probably settled the enemy for the present, and Gen Sheridan’s rear will not be likely to be much troubled in the future. At last accounts our forces had arrived at Strasburg without any more molestation. While at the head of the valley, Gen Sheridan destroyed the rail-road and bridges at Waynesboro and Staunton, over 2000 barns filled with wheat, hay and farming implements, 70 mills filled with grain, and either issued to his army or drive off all the horses, cattle and sheep. It was his intention to make the valley untenable for a hostile force during this winter, at least, and he has accomplished his object. The valley contains many guerrillas yet, however, both in Sheridan’s front and rear, and they have been successful in some of their operations. Lieut John R. Meigs, son of Gen Meigs, and Gen Sheridan’s engineer officer, was murdered by guerillas beyond Harrisonburg, and all the houses within an area of five miles were burned in retaliation. One hundred men of the 8^th Ohio, were surprised by 17 guerrillas, while guarding a bridge on the North Shenandoah, and put to flight. But the men have all come in since, and McNeil, the guerrilla leader, one of the boldest in the valley, who was mortally wounded in the attack, has fallen into our hands. Sheridan has abundant supplies to last him till the railroad from Alexandria to Strasburg can be put in running order and guarded. The road has already been put in running order as far as Rectortown, but the guerrillas are very troublesome and delay the work. The construction train was fired into, on Monday, and J.M. McCricket, assistant superintendent of the road, E.J. Bolt, conductor, and ex-Lieut Col Fuller, of the 16^th Michigan regiment killed. Gen Sheridan has now the command of the central department, which includes the scene of these operations, and he will doubtless take active measures to clear out these guerrillas. It is supposed that the main body of the Early’s army has gone to Richmond to reinforce Lee and that only cavalry now remains in the Shenandoah valley. Another report is that Longstreet has taken the place of Early and will try to retrieve the rebel disasters. It is all guess-work about the rebel plans, however, and we shall have to wait for time to develop them. But one thing is certain, the enemy will never get possession of the Shenandoah valley again, and we shall hear no more talk about another invasion from that direction.