enemy's right flank and line of retreat up the valley.

The difference of strength between the two armies at this date was

considerably in my favor, but the conditions attending my situation

in a hostile region necessitated so much detached service to protect

trains, and to secure Maryland and Pennsylvania from raids, that my

excess in numbers was almost canceled by these incidental demands

that could not be avoided, and although I knew that I was strong,

yet, in consequence of the injunctions of General Grant, I deemed it