of (;< it. Jitlm/ A. />///'/. 313
2. I have said that Sheridan's three infantry corps each outnum- bered, by average, Early's whole infantry force. Here is the proof: In Serial 90, of the War Records, page 61, you will find Sheridan's return of September loth, showing present for duty, 45,487; the the Sixth Corps having infantry for duty, 12,696; the Nineteenth, 12,810, and Cook's army, of West Virginia, having 7,140; aggre- gate, 32,646, or an average for each corps of more than all of Early's infantry.
And in Pond's History, page 267, you will find the ruturns for the the month of September, showing the Sixth Corps with 10,067 * n ~ fantry for duty. The Nineteenth with 10,862 infantry for duty; Crook's army, with 10,297; aggregate, 31,226, with the same result.
Sheridan says in his memoirs (I, page 471): " The Confederate army at this date (September) was about 20,000 strong, and con- sisted of Early's own corps, with General Rodes, Ramseur and Gordon commanding its divisions, the infantry of Breckinridge from Southwestern Virginia, three battalions of artillery, and the cavalry brigades of Vaughan, Johnson, McCausland and Imboden."
The statement as to the infantry commands is correct; but as to numbers it nearly doubles the force of Early. The latter was re- markably accurate and reliable, and he says of this period (Septem- ber 19, 1864): "The Second Corps numbered a little over 8,000 muskets when it was detached in pursuit of Hunter, and it had now been reduced to about 7,000 muskets by long and rapid marches, and the various engagements and skirmishes in which it had participated. Wharton's Division had been reduced to about 1,700 muskets by the same causes. Making a small allowance for details and those unfit for duty, I had about 8,500 muskets for duty."
Vaughan' s Cavalry had at this time been sent to Southwest Vir- ginia, and "such," says Early, "had been the loss in all the bri- gades in the various fights and skirmishes in which they had been engaged, that the whole of this cavalry now under Lomax numbered only about 1,700 mounted men. Fitz Lee had brought with him two brigades to-wit: Wickham's and Lomax's old Brigades (now under Colonel Payne), numbering about 1,200 mounted men." (Early's book, pp. 85, 86.) I have accepted each commander's statement as to his own troops, and they abundantly sustain me.
3. I have said that Sheridan's cavalry equalled all of Early's infantry, and was sometimes more than his whole army. The returns show that Averill had in August 6,472 present for duty, and Tor- bert in his corps 8,262 aggregate, 14,734.
