f the Shenandoah
valley, had dispatched General Early with seventeen thousand men on a
flying expedition up that convenient natural sally-port, which was for
the moment undefended.

Early made such speed that he crossed the Potomac during the first week
of July, made a devastating raid through Maryland and southern
Pennsylvania, threatened Baltimore, and turning sharply to the south,
was, on the eleventh of the month, actually at the outskirts of
Washington city, meditating its assault and capture. Only the opportune
arrival of the Sixth Army Corps under General Wright, on the afternoon
of that day, sent hurriedly by Grant from City Point, saved the Federal
capital from occupation and perhaps destruction by the enemy.

Certain writers have represented the government as panic-stricken during
the two days that this menace lasted; but neither Mr. Lincoln, nor
Secretary Stanton, nor General Halleck, whom it has been even more the
fashion to abuse, lacked coolness or energy in the emergency. Indeed,
the President's personal unconcern was such as to give his associates
much uneasiness. On the tenth, he rode out as was his usual custom
during the summer months, to spend the night at the Soldiers' Home, in
the suburbs; but Secretary Stanton, learning that Early was advancing in
heavy force, sent after him to compel his return to the city; and twice
afterward, intent on watching the fighting which took place near Fort
Stevens, he exposed his tall form to the gaze and bullets of the enemy
in a manner to call forth earnest remonstrance from those near him.

The succeeding military events in the Shenandoah valley must here be
summed up in the brief statement that General Sheridan, being placed in
command of the Middle Military Division and given an army of thirty or
forty thousand men, finally drove back the Confederate detachments upon
Richmond, in a series of brilliant victories, and so devastated the
southern end of the valley as to render it untenable for either army;
and by the destruction of the James River Canal and the Virginia Central
Railroad, succeeded in practically carrying out Grant's intention of
effectually closing the avenue of supplies to Richmond from the
northwest.

XXIX

Sherman's Meridian Expedition--Capture of Atlanta--Hood Supersedes
Johnston--Hood's Invasion of Tennessee--Franklin and
Nashville--Sherman's March to the Sea--Capture of Savannah--Sherman to
Lincoln--Lincoln to Sherman--Sherman's Ma