HUNTER CAPTURES STAUNTON.
We must now turn away from the theater of war around Richmond
and notice for a moment the operations in the Shenandoah Valley. A
part of Grant's plan was a joint movement up the Shenandoah under
Siegel, and up the Kanawha under Crook, their objective points being
Staunton and Lynchburg.
Accordingly, on the 1st of May, Siegel moved up the valley with a
force of 10,000 men, but was met on the 15th, at New Market, by the
Confederate General Breckinridge and signally routed with the loss of
700 men, 6 pieces of artillery and 1,000 small arms.
Crook was moving easterly from Charleston, on the Great Kanawha,
and on the waters of New river he divided his force, sending Averill
with 2,000 cavalry to destroy the coal mines at Wytheville, while he
advanced further to the north. Averill was met on the 10th by a cavalry
force under Morgan and defeated. Crook with a force of 6,000
men moved on toward Dublin Depot, and there repelled an attack, but
with the loss of 700 killed and wounded.
Siegel was now relieved of the command, and was succeeded by Hunter,
who at once took the offensive, Breckinridge having in the meantime
joined Lee. Hunter met the Confederate force at Piedmont on the
5th of June and completely routed it, taking 1,500 prisoners, three guns
and 3,000 small arms. He then advanced on Staunton, where he was
joined by Crook and Averill, augmenting his force to 20,000. He then
moved by way of Lexington toward Lynchburg. Lee foreseeing the
inevitable disasters to result upon a capture of that place, sent a strong
force to its relief, forcing the retreat of Hunter on the 18th of June.
Hotly pursued, Hunter followed the railroad westward to Salem, and
thence through Newcastle toward Meadow Bluff. Thus failed the plans
of Grant from the west as they had done from the east.
