passed. Tears were running down her cheeks, and we knew they were caused by sympathy for our misfortunes. For her own safety, with her Confederate neighbors looking on, we dared not make any effusive display of sorrow at her condition, but McKinley in his great kindness of heart reined his horse to the curbstone and in a low voice said: 'Don't worry, my dear madam. We are not hurt as much as it seems, and we shall be back here again in a few days.' A smile directly spread over her face, and her heart was made almost happy by these timely spoken words.

"During most of the afternoon we were marching in line of battle on the east side of the pike. Occasionally, though, after we had given the pushing infantry of the enemy a reminder that there was still some pluck left in us, we would change the column to route march, and on the pike make good time to the rear. After we were past Winchester the infantry annoyed us very little, but the cavalry harassed us more or less during the afternoon.

AN INTERESTING INCIDENT

"I will relate an incident of the afternoon which occurred some eight miles north of Winchester, to show that valor did not reside alone on either side, that we were brethren of the same. Anglo-Saxon lineage, of like characteristics, and the two armies, each in the other, found 'a foe worthy of their steel.' Some Confederate cavalry had, while we were marching to the rear in line of battle, formed column and charged down upon what had now become our right and front. On they came with the usual Confederate yell and sabres drawn. This was a frightful sight to men who a few hours before had become somewhat demoralized by the onset at Kernstown, but not a thought of fear was seen upon the faces of the men. Cavalry to them was a mere pastime, and, with a few well-directed volleys poured at the charging columns, with many empty saddles this cavalry broke and fled away in great confusion. Only the officer in command charging at the head of his troops did not flee, but continued right on, veering to his right;

he kept at a respectful distance from us, riding the whole length of our line. We discovered that his horse was running away with him, and the only guiding power he had was exerted to prevent the horse from running into us. Very little firing was directed upon him during these moments, as every one watched with interest his efforts. Finally he stopped his horse and, turning, retraced his steps in the direction where his troops were disappearing over a hill. This again carried him along the front of our line. An occasional shot was fired at him, but now the word passed along our line, 'Don't shoot-he is too brave to kill,' and instead a cheer broke forth, to which he responded by taking off his hat and bowing in the most cavalier style. He soon gained the crest of the hill, seemingly unhurt, halted a moment, and again saluting us, turned away and passed out of sight. After this incident we were not again disturbed by the cavalry. Perhaps a liking for us had sprung up in this officer's breast, and he felt he would no longer, at least for this day, quarrel with us. I have often hoped I might, during the peaceful days after the war, meet that officer and talk things over.

We now changed our column into route march, and, walking along the pike, settled down to a comparative peace, each man beginning to hunt in his haversack for a stray bit of hard tack which might happen to be there. Up to this time there had been but little opportunity to think of food. It was now nearly dark, and while plodding along, wondering where we would find the balance of the command and the wagon train, so we might go into camp, we discovered that some time during the afternoon there had been a stampede of our wagon train and several wagons had been abandoned and left on the pike. Quick investigation was made for food, but, finding none, a jolly fire was built in each wagon, and they were soon reduced to ashes or so disabled that they would be wholly useless to the enemy. Further along the pike we found a battery of artillery, consisting of four guns with their caissons, which had been abandoned and left for peaceable capture by the enemy.

"Here, again, McKinley showed his force of character and indomitable will-power. He asked the privilege of carrying away these guns, thus saving them from the enemy. It did not, with the exhausted condition of our men, seem practicable, yet he insisted it could be done, and he thought his regiment, the Twentythird, would gladly aid him. Hayes, with a smile, said: 'Well, McKinley, ask them.' Going first to his old company (E), he called for volunteers; all stepped out to a man, and, the infection spreading, soon the whole regiment took hold of these guns and caissons and hauled them off in triumphal procession. When we went into camp that night long after dark, this artillery captain was found and the guns were turned over to him. He cried like a baby. "Now this fearful day was over, and in a drizzling rain, dinnerless and supperless, we wound ourselves in our blankets and slept soundly until morning.

"Our losses were very heavy. Hayes' little brigade of 1,700 men alone lost one-fourth of its number in killed and wounded, and most of the wounded were left in the enemy's hands. The balance of the command lost in nearly the same proportion. The cause of the disaster was simply that we were outnumbered three to one, and the surprise is that we were not all captured, as General Early anticipated.

"Considerable effort was made at that time to impugn the bravery of Crook's Eighth Corps in this disaster, but a noted and unbiased historian has said the following, which I quote with much pleasure:

"Crook's troops had campaigned too well at Floyd's Mountain and during Hunter's march to Lynchburg to be disgraced by this encounter; and while some of them, chiefly the recent additions, had proved of little value, it must be remembered that whatever efforts had been made to challenge Early's retreat from Washington were the work of this command. Their defeat was not strange, for the force soon after assembled in the valley as needful to match Early was thrice Crook's at Kernstown.'"

CHAPTER VI

From Captain to Major

CKINLEY'S gallantry at Kernstown was rewarded by his

being raised to the rank of captain, his commission dating from July 25th, the day after the battle. On the succeeding day the command began a series of marches and counterimarches in the Shenandoah Valley. These were continued until the middle of August, fighting occurring whenever the enemy could be reached. The campaigns in the valley, which were described in the last chapter, were by no means satisfactory to General Grant. They had so far proved a series of misadventures which were far from acceptable to one accustomed, like himself, to rarely interrupted victory. He was now at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, far away to the south, and found communication with Washington far from certain, the lines being often broken. This fact rendered the presence in the valley of some capable leader, who could be trusted to give a good account of himself, indispensable.

The politics of the Administration were then directed by Secretary Stanton, whose judgment was influenced by the effect which military operations were likely to have upon the approaching elections, a line of policy which did not appeal to General Grant. Stanton particularly dreaded a defeat of the Union forces in the valley and the possible capture of Washington by the ConfedThe effect of this mingling of politics with military affairs was to hamper General Hunter to such an extent that he was rendered unable of giving Early a crushing blow should an opportunity arise. General Grant, growing more and more dissatisfied, decided during the first week in August to go to Washington

erates.

himself and see if the state of affairs in the valley could not be radically changed. He was quite tired of the game of retreat and pursuit which Hunter and Early had been so long playing. Since the war began, this region had been the scene of incessant movements by the hostile forces, the Union troops now advancing, now retreating, but the advantage always remaining on the side of the Confederates. No less than four commanders, Banks, Shields, Siegel and Hunter, had succeeded each other in this region, and all had failed in effort to hold the valley and prevent the Confederate raids; and what was equally unsatisfactory was the fact that the fertile fields of the Shenandoah were constantly furnishing food for Lee's army.

General Grant saw but one way to put an end to this, which was to put his best fighting general in command of that section. With this view President Lincoln strongly sided. Grant's choice for the position was General Sheridan, who had added greatly to his renown by his performances as chief of cavalry of the Army of the Potomac in the recent campaign. Grant's confidence in Sheridan was not shared by the authorities at Washington, largely on account of his youth, and it may be with some fear that he might be too headstrong for a commander on whom so much. depended. His method of driving straight at the enemy was one which would seem to have in it an element of rashness.

MCKINLEY SERVES UNDER GENERAL SHERIDAN

The result of the conference was that the various military departments around Washington were consolidated into what was known as the Middle Military Division, Sheridan being appointed commander. Hunter retired to make way for the new chief. The advent of Sheridan to command in the valley proved especially happy, and rapidly made a change in the state of affairs. Without hesitation he advanced up the valley, Early at the same time drawing in his scattered commands and concentrating them along Opequan Creek. Here the armies encamped within watching