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ng to the rescue of his army at Cedar Creek； twenty miles south。 〃Sheridan's Ride；〃 so widely known in song and story； was enough to shake the nerves of any but a very fit commander。 The flotsam and jetsam of defeat swirled round him as he rode。 Yet； with unerring eye； he picked out the few that could influence the rest and set them at work to rally； reform； and return。 Inspired by his example many a straggler who had run for miles presently 〃found himself〃 again and got back in time to redeem his reputation。
Arriving on the field Sheridan discovered those two splendid leaders； Custer and Getty； holding off the victorious Confederates from what otherwise seemed an easy prey。 His presence encouraged the formed defense； restored confidence among the rest near by； and stiffened resistance so much that hasty entrenchments were successfully made and still more successfully held。 The first rush having been stopped； Sheridan turned the lull that ensued into a triumphal progress by riding bareheaded along his whole line； so that all his men might feel themselves once more under his personal command。 Cheer upon cheer greeted him as his gallant charger carried him past； and when the astonished enemy were themselves attacked they broke in irretrievable defeat。
This crowning victory of the long…drawn Valley campaigns； coming with cumulative force after those of Mobile； Atlanta； and Opequan Creek； did more to turn the critical election than all the speeches in the North。 The fittest at the home front judged by deeds； not words； agreeing therein with Rutherford B。 Hayes （a future President； now one of Sheridan's generals） who said： 〃Any officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in Congress； ought to be scalped。〃
The devastation of everything in the Valley that might be useful to Lee's army completed the Union victory in arms； while Lincoln's own triumph in November completed it in politics and raised his party to the highest plane of statesmanship in war。
From this time till the early spring the battle of the giants in Virginia calmed down to the minor moves and clashes that mark a period of winter quarters； while the scene of more stirring action shifts once more to Georgia and Tennessee。
CHAPTER XI。 SHERMAN DESTROYS THE BASE： 1864
Sherman made Atlanta his field headquarters for September and October； changing it entirely from a Southern city to a Northern camp。 The whole population was removed； every one being given the choice of going north or south。 In his own words； Sherman 〃had seen Memphis； Vicksburg； Natchez； and New Orleans； all captured from the enemy； and each at once garrisoned by a full division； if not more； so that success was actually crippling our armies in the field by detachments to guard and protect the interests of a hostile population。〃 In reporting to Washington he said： 〃If the people raise a howl against my barbarity and cruelty； I will answer that war is war； and not popularity seeking。 If they want peace； they and their relatives must stop the war。〃 He also excluded the swarms of demoralizing camp…followers that had clogged him elsewhere。 One licensed sutler was allowed for each of his three armies； and no more。 Atlanta thus became a perfect Union stronghold fixed in the flank of the South。
The balance of losses in action； from May to September； was heavily against the South： nearly nine to four。 The actual numbers did not greatly differ： thirty…two thousand Federals to thirty…five thousand Confederates。 （And in killed and wounded the Federals lost many more than the Confederates。 It was the thirteen thousand captured Confederates that redressed the balance。） But； since Sherman had twice as many in his total as the Confederates had in theirs； the odds in relative loss were nine to four in his favor。 The balance of loss from disease was also heavily against the Confedates； who as usual suffered from dearth of medical stores。 The losses in present and prospective food supplies were even more in Sherman's favor； for his devastations had begun。 Yet Jefferson Davis was bound that Hood should 〃fight〃； and Hood was nothing loth。
Davis went about denouncing Johnston for his magnificent Fabian defense； and added insult to injury by coupling the name of this very able soldier and quite incorruptible man with that of Joseph E。 Brown； Governor of Georgia； who； though a violent Secessionist； opposed all proper unification of effort； and exempted eight thousand State employees from conscription as civilian 〃indispensables。〃 Then； when Sherman approached； Brown ran away with all the food and furniture he could stuff into his own special train； though he left behind him all arms； ammunition； and other warlike stores； besides the confidential documents belonging to the State。
Brown had also weakened Hood's army by withdrawing the State troops to gather in the harvest and store it where Sherman afterwards used what he wanted and destroyed the rest。 Yet Hood kept operating in Sherman's rear； admirably seconded by Forrest's and Wheeler's raiding cavalry。 Late in October Forrest performed the remarkable feat of taking a flotilla with cavalry。 He suddenly swooped down on the Tennessee near Johnsonville and took the gunboat Undine with a couple of transports。 Hood had meanwhile been busy on Sherman's line of communications； hoping at least to immobilize him round Atlanta； and at best to bring him back from Georgia for a Federal defeat in Tennessee。
On the fifth of October the last action near Atlanta was fought thirty miles northwest； when Hood made a desperate attempt on Allatoona with a greatly superior force。 Twelve miles off； on Kenesaw Mountain； Sherman could see the smoke and hear the sounds of battle through the clear； still； autumn air。 But as his signalers could get no answer from the fort he began to fear that Allatoona was already lost； when the signal officer's quick eye caught the faintest flutter at one of the fort windows。 Presently the letters； C … R … S … E … H … E … R； were made out； which meant that General John M。 Corse； one of the best volunteers produced by the war； was holding out。 He had hurried over from Rome； on a call from Allatoona； and was withstanding more than four thousand men with less than two thousand。 All morning long the Confederates persisted in their attacks； while Sherman's relief column was hurrying over from Kenesaw。 Early in the afternoon the fire slackened and ceased before this column arrived。 But Sherman's renewed fears were soon allayed。 For Corse； after losing more than a third of his men； had repulsed the enemy alone； inflicting on them an even greater loss in proportion to their double strength。
Corse was still full of fight； reporting back to Kenesaw that though 〃short a cheek bone and an ear〃 he was 〃able to whip all hell yet。〃 Sherman thanked the brave defenders in his general orders of the seventh for 〃the handsome defense made at Allatoona〃 and pointed the moral that 〃garrisons must hold their posts to the last minute； sure that the time gained is valuable and necessary to their comrades at the front。〃
The situation at the beginning of November was most peculiar。 With the whole Gulf coast blockaded a