It is our interest that that county should not be capable of subsisting a hostile army, and at the same time we want to inflict as little hardship upon Union men as possible.
"U.

S.GRANT, Lieutenant-General." "CITY POINT, Va., Nov.

9, 1864.
"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.: "Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, grain, and provisions of every description?
There is no doubt about the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not support Mosby's gang.

And the question is whether it is not better that the people should save what they can.

So long as the war lasts they must be prevented from raising another crop, both there and as high up the valley as we can control.
"U.