Then the second battle of Cedar Creek was fought. At ten o'clock in
the morning the Federals had been defeated. By five in the afternoon
the Confederates were not only defeated, but utterly routed. Their
army was shattered and the war swept out of the Shenandoah Valley
for good and all. Then Sheridan marched his victorious troops to
join Grant before Petersburg.
__________
Chapter 90 - Lincoln - Sherman's March to the Sea - Lincoln Re-Elected
President
Grant's plan of action was twofold, and while he was fighting the
second Confederate army under General J.E. Johnston. At the beginning
of the campaign Sherman's army was at Chattanooga in Tennessee,
and while Grant was fighting the battle of the Wilderness, he began
his march to Atlanta, Georgia. Fighting all the way, the Confederate
army always retreating before him, he slowly approached Atlanta.
At length on September 2nd he entered and took possession of it.
Here for a few weeks the soldiers rested after their arduous labours.
The preparation for the next campaign began. All the sick and
wounded, extra tents and baggage, in fact every one and everything
which could be done without, was sent back to Tennessee. For the
order had gone forth that the army was to travel light on this
campaign. None but the fit and strong were to take part in it, and
they were to carry with them only three weeks' rations.
Pages:
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671