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he immediately began counter preparations by drawing in all his

detached columns from the north side of the Potomac; abandoning a

contemplated raid into Maryland; which his success against Crook at

Kernstown had prompted him to project; and otherwise disposing

himself for defense。



At Harper's Ferry I made my headquarters in the second story of a

small and very dilapidated hotel; and as soon as settled sent for

Lieutenant John R。 Meigs; the chief engineer officer of the command;

to study with him the maps of my geographical division。  It always

came rather easy to me to learn the geography of a new section; and

its important topographical features as well; therefore I found that;

with the aid of Meigs; who was most intelligent in his profession;

the region in which I was to operate would soon be well fixed in my

mind。  Meigs was familiar with every important road and stream; and

with all points worthy of note west of the Blue Ridge; and was

particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding the Shenandoah

Valley; even down to the farmhouses。  He imparted with great

readiness what he knew of this; clearly pointing out its

configuration and indicating the strongest points for Confederate

defense; at the same time illustrating scientifically and forcibly

the peculiar disadvantages under which the Union army had hitherto

labored。



The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit

along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the

North Mountain; and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue

Ridge。  The southern limit is south of Staunton; on the divide which

separates the waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to

the James。  The western boundary is the eastern slope of the

Alleghany Mountains; the eastern; the Blue Ridge; these two distinct

mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch of quite

open; undulating country varying in width from the northern to the

southern extremity; and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of

heavy woods: At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad;

and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester about forty…

five; while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty…five。  Just

southeast of Strasburg; which is nearly midway between the eastern

and western walls of the valley; rises an abrupt range of mountains

called Massanutten; consisting of several ridges which extend

southward between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River

until; losing their identity; they merge into lower but broken ground

between New Market and Harrisonburg。  The Massanutten ranges; with

their spurs and hills; divide the Shenandoah Valley into two valleys;

the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray; while that next

the North Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah。



A broad macadamized road; leading south from Williamsport; Maryland;

to Lexington; Virginia; was built at an early day to connect the

interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal; and

along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the

Shenandoah Valley; with lateral lines of communication extending to

the mountain ranges on the east and west。  The roads running toward

the Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized; and the principal ones

lead to the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's;

Ashby's Manassas; Chester; Thornton's Swift Run; Brown's and Rock…

fish gaps; tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond。  These gaps are

low and easy; offering little obstruction to the march of an army

coming from eastern Virginia; and thus the Union troops operating

west of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank

attack; for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to

Gordonsville and Charlottesville; from which points they could move

with such celerity through the Blue Ridge that; on more than one

occasion; the Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate

success; due greatly to the advantage of possessing these interior

lines。



Nature had been very kind to the valley; making it rich and

productive to an exceptional degree; and though for three years

contending armies had been marching up and down it; the fertile soil

still yielded ample subsistence for Early's men; with a large surplus

for the army of Lee。  The ground had long been well cleared of

timber; and the rolling surface presented so few obstacles to the

movement of armies that they could march over the country in any

direction almost as well as on the roads; the creeks and rivers being

everywhere fordable; with little or no difficulty beyond that of

leveling the approaches。



I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had

operated in this region hitherto under 〃Stonewall〃 Jackson with

marked success; inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every

time the two armies had come in contact。 These men were now commanded

by a veteran officer of the Confederacy…General Jubal A。 Earlywhose

past services had so signalized his ability that General Lee

specially selected him to take charge of the Valley District; and;

notwithstanding the misfortunes that befell him later; clung to him

till the end; of the war。  The Confederate army at this date was

about twenty thousand strong; and consisted of Early's own corps;

with Generals Rodes; Ramseur; and Gordon commanding its divisions;

the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia; three

battalions of artillery; and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn; Johnson;

McCausland; and Imboden。  This cavalry was a short time afterward

organized into a division under the command of General Lomax。



After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's

Ferry; Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity

of Martinsburg; in positions from which he could continue to obstruct

the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; and yet be enabled to retire up the

valley under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive

campaign。



When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force

comprised the Sixth Corps; one division of the Nineteenth Corps; and

two divisions from West Virginia。  The Sixth Corps was commanded by

Major…General Horatio G。 Wright; its three divisions by Brigadier…

Generals David A。 Russell; Geo。  W。 Getty; and James B。 Ricketts。

The single division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its immediate

chief Brigadier…General William Dwight; the corps being commanded by

Brigadier…General Wm。  H。 Emory。  The troops from West Virginia were

under Brigadier…General George Crook; with Colonels Joseph Thoburn

and Isaac H。 Duval as division commanders; and though in all not more

than one fair…sized division; they had been designated; on account of

the department they belonged to; the Army of West Virginia。  General

Torbert's division; then arriving from the Cavalry Corps of the Army

of the Potomac; represented the mounted arm of the service; and in

the expectation that Averell would soon join me with his troopers; I

assigned General Torbert as chief of cavalry; and General Wesley

Merritt succeeded to the command of Torbert's division。



General Wright; the commander of the Sixth Corps; was an officer of

high standing in the Corps of Engineers; and had seen much active

service during the preceding three years。  He commanded the

Department of the Ohio throughout the very trying period of the

summer and fall of 1862; and while in that position he; with other

prominent officers; recommended my appointment as a brigadier…

general。  In 1863 he rendered valuable service at the battle of

Gettysburg; following which he was assigned to the Sixth Corps; and

commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at Rappahannock

Station and in the operations at Mine Run。  He ranked me as a major…

general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission; but my

assignment by the President 

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