Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 30.djvu/260

 252. Southern Historical Society Papers.

supplies. On the i8th of June, Early with his corps, formed a junc- tion with Imboden and Jones near Lynchburg, and defeated Hunter,, driving him in the direction of Salem, Va. Hunter had made an effort to cross the Blue Ridge at Rockfish gap, where the Virginia Central railroad ran through a tunnel in the mountain, but Jones and Imboden blocked his way.

While a student at Dinwiddie's school, near the tunnel, 1859-1860, I often spent my Saturdays in visiting this tunnel and the town or Waynesboro, just beyond the river. The boys would fish and hunt up and down the Shenandoah river as low down as Weyer's Cave. Early followed him up, through Liberty, from there to Big Lick (now Roanoke City), through Salem, and capturing a portion of his wagon train near Hanging Rock as he escaped into the mountains west of the valley. Early encamped on the night of the 23rd at Buchanan, and on the 24th at Buffalo creek. On the 25th he reached Lexington, where he divided his command; marching one part of it by way of Brownsburg, and the other by Midway, and met at Staunton, where it rested on the 2yth. According to instructions of General Lee, on the 28th of June Early marched down the Shen- andoah Valley with the most of his command. The old soldiers, who were tired and worn out by long marches, badly shod, and on short rations, were now animated and inspired by old familiar scenes along this beautiful valley and among its hospitable people.

THREATENING WASHINGTON.

By the 6th of July Early had crossed the Potomac with his little army and was threatening the approaches to Washington city. On the 9th of July he fought the battle of Monocacy, and defeated Gen- eral Lew Wallace after having marched his army over 300 miles inside of twenty-five days. In this battle were many Georgians, and in the charge General C. A. Evans, who commanded the lead- ing brigade, fell from his horse severely wounded through the body.

On the nth of July Early had engaged and driven in the Federal skirmishers upon their fortifications surrounding the city of Wash- ington. With Rodes in front, Early advanced at Silver Spring, on the Seventh street turnpike, on the borders of the District of Col- umbia, and in sight of the dome of the capital engaged skirmishers and drove them into the fortifications surrounding the city; 300 prisoners were captured. Early had under his command Imboden's, Bradley T. Johnson's, and McCausland's cavalry; Wharton's, Gor-