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where a small rebel force was able for a while to hold his two divisions.
Had he succeeded in reaching Newmarket in time to intercept the broken and flying fragments of Early's command, the whole rebel army must have been destroyed.
On the 25th, Early abandoned the main Valley road to his victor, and fell back by Port Republic to Brown's Gap, one of the south-eastern exits from the Blue Ridge.
The national infantry advanced as far as Harrisonburg, and the cavalry was sent to Port Republic, Staunton, and Waynesboroa, to burn bridges, drive off cattle, and destroy all property that might be serviceable to the rebel army.
The Valley of Virginia was in the possession of Sheridan.
These important successes electrified the country, revived the courage of the weak-hearted, amazed the government, and of course delighted Grant.
The authorities at Washington, although they highly appreciated Sheridan's executive ability, had been somewhat unwilling to entrust him with an independent command.
Halleck in particular had declared that he was too inexperienced, and had urged this view upon Grant.
But these victories established Sheridan in the confidence of the President and the Secretary of War, who were afterwards always ready to allow him full discretion in the management of all the troops under his command.1 As for his soldiers, they declared, referring to the Democratic desire for compromise,
1 ‘Sheridan is entitled to all the credit of his great victory; it established him in the confidence of the President and the Secretary of War, as a commander to be trusted with the fullest discretion in the management of all the troops under him. Before that, while they highly appreciated him as a commander to execute, they felt a little nervous about giving him too much discretion.’—General Grant to Author, June, 1878.
New York Appleton 1885.
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