Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/307

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the Valley across the Potomac at Leesburg or at or near Harper's Ferry, as he might deem most desirable, and threaten Washington city. General Breckinridge was to co-operate.

The battle-scarred and battle-worn veterans destined for this un- dertaking contained the men who, under Stonewall Jackson, had won the name of the Foot Cavalry of the Valley. During the month of May, Major-General Edward Johnson and a large part of his division had been captured at Spotsylvania; Major-General Early had suc- ceeded Lieutenant-General Ewell, who had become an invalid, and Major- General Rodes was the only officer above the rank of briga- dier who remained in his place. Of the twelve brigadiers but one of them was still at the head of his brigade, for Gordon and Ramsey had succeeded Early and Edward Johnson; Stafford, J. M. Jones, Doles and Junius Daniel had been killed; Pegram, Hays, James A. Walker and R. D. Johnston had been wounded, and George H. Steward had been captured.

The staff had been cut to pieces, many field officers had fallen, and the rank and file of the corps was now reduced to 8,000 muskets.

An hour ahead of time at 2 o'clock on the I5th of June Gene- ral Early moved from Cold Harbor, Hunter being then within forty miles and he within 140 miles from Lynchburg, which was Hunter's objective point. On the i6th Early was at the Rivanna, near Char- lottesville, having marched over eighty miles in four days, and there he received a telegram from General Breckinridge, at Lynchburg, that Hunter was at Liberty, in Bedford county, about twenty-five miles from that place. On the morning of the I7th Early seized a train at Charlottesville, pushed Ramseur's Division and a part of Gordon's on board, Rodes and the rest of the corps and the artillery moving along the railroad to meet the train, which was to return after it had delivered the foremost troops in Lynchburg.

AT LYNCHBURG, JUNE 17.

Quite a number of distinguished men were now giving attention to this important point a railroad centre, with factories, foundries, hos- pitals and stores. There was Breckinridge, ex-Vice-President of the United States, but he was disabled from a fall off his horse at Cold Harbor, and unable to be in the saddle. General D. H. Hill, who happened to be in town, assisted in preparing hasty entrench- ments. General Harry T. Hays, of Louisiana, there wounded, aided in arrangements. General Elzey was there to take Breckinridge' s