warfare. The
Institute, however, was a preparatory school for Confederate
officers, and its Principal, Colonel Smith, with 250 cadets, united
with McCausland's troops in the defence of Lexington. Letcher had
issued a violent and inflammatory proclamation inciting the population
to rise and wage a guerilla warfare on the Union troops.( 6)

Hunter proceeded _via_ Buchanan and by the Peaks of Otter road
across the Blue Ridge, and arrived at Liberty, twenty-four miles
from Lynchburg, on the 15th. Here he heard rumors through Confederate
channels of disasters to Grant and Sherman's armies, and of Sheridan's
fighting at Trevilian Station. Hunter was also told Breckinridge
was in Lynchburg with all the rebel forces in West Virginia, and
that Ewell's corps, 20,000 strong, was arriving to reinforce him.
Notwithstanding these reports, Hunter commenced an advance on the
16th on Lynchburg. His several columns met stubborn resistance on
this and the succeeding day, but at night, after a spirited affair
at Diamond Hill, he encamped his forces near the town. It became
known to Hunter on the 18th that Lieutenant-General Jubal A. Early,
with Ewell's corps from Lee's army, was at Lynchburg. Early and
Breckinridge's combined commands far outnumbered Hunter's forces.
The situation was critical for Hunter. He maintained a bold front,
however, until nightfall, and then withdrew _via_ Liberty and
Buford's Gap to New Castle and Sweet Springs. General Wm. A.
Averell with the cavalry covered the rear. The enemy pursued rather
tardily to Salem, where Early concentrated his army. Hunter chose,
in his retreat, the Lewisburg route to Charleston on the Kanawha,
rather than retire down the Shenandoah Valley or by Warm Springs
and the South Branch of the Potomac. The latter route would have
had the advantage of bringing him out at Cumberland or New Creek
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, much nearer to his proper base
at Martinsburg or Harper's Ferry. His retreat, on the line chosen,
left the Valley, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and Baltimore
and Washington practically without defence. Hunter arrived at
Charleston on the 30th, having marched through White Sulphur Springs,
Lewisburg, and Meadow Bluff. From near Liberty, on the 16th, he
sent his supply train of 200 wagons, 141 prisoners, and his sick
and wounded in charge of Captain T. K. McCann, A.Q.M. of Volunteers,
with orders to reach the Kanawha at Charleston. The train was
g