henandoah valley. Lieutenant John
R. Meigs, Sheridan's engineer officer, while returning from a
topographical survey of the country near Dayton, accompanied by
two assistants, fell in with three men in our uniform, and rode
with them towards Sheridan's headquarters. Suddenly these men
turned on Lieutenant Meigs and, though demanding his surrender,
shot and killed him. One of his assistants was captured and one
escaped and reported the event. Sheridan was much enraged, as the
killing of the Lieutenant was little less than murder, occurring,
as it did, within our lines. The three men were probably disguised
Confederates operating near their homes. Sheridan ordered Custer,
who had succeeded to the command of Wilson's cavalry division, to
burn all houses within an area of five miles within the spot where
Meigs was killed. The next morning Custer proceeded to execute
this order. The designated area included the village of Dayton.
When a few houses had been burned the order was suspended, and
Custer was required instead to bring in all able-bodied men as
prisoners.( 8)

General T. W. Rosser, with a cavalry brigade from Richmond, joined
Early on the 5th of October, and the latter's army, being otherwise
much strengthened, soon began again to show signs of activity.

As the Sixth Corps was expected to rejoin the Army of the Potomac
in front of Petersburg, Sheridan decided to withdraw at least as
far as Strasburg, and he determined also to lay waste the Valley,
as it was a great magazine of supplies for the Confederate armies.
He commenced to move on the 6th, the infantry taking the advance.
The cavalry had begun the work of destruction at Waynesboro and
Staunton. It usually remained quiet during the day, then at night,
while moving, set fire to all grain stacks, barns, and mills, thus
leaving behind it nothing but a waste. The fires lit up the Valley
and the mountain sides, producing a picture of resplendent grandeur
seldom witnessed. The flames lighted up the fertile Valley, casting
a hideous glare, commingled with clouds of smoke, over the foot-
hills and to the summits of the great mountain ranges on each side
of the doomed Valley. The occasional discharge of artillery helped
to make the panorama sublime. Fire and sword here literally combined
in the real work of war. Of the necessity or wisdom of this
destruction of property there may be doubts, yet the war had then
progressed to an acute stage. All possib