INDEX 157

Lights and Shadows in Confederate Prisons

Lights and Shadows in Confederate Prisons

CHAPTER I

The First, or Forenoon, Battle of Winchester, Indecisive--Sheridan's
and Early's Mistakes--The Capture.

"War is Hell," said our great strategist, General W. T. Sherman.
According to its latest code, with few or no exceptions, the end
justifies the means, and, if necessary to success, it is right to do
wrong.

Fifty years ago one of the fairest regions on earth was that portion of
Virginia extending southwesterly about a hundred and twenty miles from
Harper's Ferry to the divide beyond Staunton, where rise the headwaters
of the James. Walled in by the Blue Ridge on the southeast and parallel
ranges of the Alleghanies on the northwest, it takes its name from the
beautiful river which winds along its length, and which the Indians
poetically christened Shenandoah (Daughter of the Stars!). When some
three hundred of us prisoners of war walked wearily a hundred miles from
Winchester to Staunton in September, 1864, it was still rich and lovely.
A few weeks later, the necessities of war made it a scene of utter
desolation.

Grant had rightly concluded [says Sheridan[1]], that it was time to
bring the war home to a people engaged in raising crops from a
prolific soil to feed the country's enemies, and devoting to the
Confederacy its best youth. I endorsed the program in all its parts;
for the stores of meat and grain that the valley provided, and the
men it furnished for Lee's depleted regiments, were the strongest
auxiliaries he possessed.

Accordingly Grant issued orders with increasing emphasis, particularly
in August and September, to make the whole region "a barren waste," to

destroy or carry off the crops and animals; do all possible damage
to railroads; seize stock of every description; take away all negro
laborers so as to prevent further planting; hold as prisoners of
war, if sympathizing with the rebellion, all male citizens under
fifty years of age capable of bearing arms, etc.

In obedience to these commands, Sheridan engaged with alacrity in the
work of destruction. In a few weeks he reported as follows:

I have destroyed 2000 barns filled with wheat, hay, and farming
implements; over 70 mills filled with flour and wheat; and driven in
front of m