Mosby’s increased harrassment of Northern units brought even harsher Union devastation on Shenandoah farms. A vicious cycle was thus formed in the Valley–Sheridan’s men destroyed homes and farms because Mosby’s guerrillas hampered communications and ambushed isolated Northern units, while Mosby’s forces attacked with increasing ferocity because Sheridan’s men devastated the Shenandoah.

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Custer’s infamy in the Valley increased when one of his cavalry charges proved to be decisive at the battle of Opequon Creek, resulting in the capture of 700 Confederates. By now Custer was so hated in the Shenandoah that Sheridan warned him against getting captured. ‘If the Rebs should ever lay you by the heels, they’ll string you up directly.’

Custer had to be constantly vigilant, for Mosby’s Rangers seemed to materialize everywhere. They were lightning-fast riders who used two revolvers rather than the unwieldy saber. The North had so much trouble getting supplies and messages to the front that one colonel estimated 500 cavalry would be needed to adequately protect a supply train. Northern cavalrymen so feared Mosby’s Rangers that some said they would rather charge into battle than patrol Valley roads.

The deeper Sheridan moved up the Valley, the more frequent and savage became guerrilla actions. Captain George Sanford of the 1st U.S. Cavalry said everyone was careful because ‘No party of less than 50 men was safe a mile from camp. The loss in men, animals and supplies was enormous. ‘

One of Sheridan’s aides was found in a field with his throat slit. In retaliation Sheridan ordered every house, barn, and outbuilding in a five-mile radius burned. Rations were so low at times that soldiers’ morale decreased. One group of 60 stunned Northern bathers was even captured nude, in the South Branch River while swimming.

Northern troops roundly condemned guerrilla actions as being cowardly and considered Mosby’s men ‘of all created beings most despicable.’ Famous poet Walt Whitman luridly wrote that Mosby’s men ‘would run a knife through the wounded, the aged, the children, without compunction.’

Without moral compunctions themselves, Sheridan’s men went about destroying the Valley. A newspaper correspondent who accompanied them wrote, ‘The atmosphere, from horizon to horizon, has been black with the smoke of a hundred conflagrations, and at night a gleam brighter and more lurid than sunset has shot from every verge…. The completeness of the devastation is awful. Hundreds of nearly starving people are going north…. not half the inhabitants of the Valley can subsist on it in its present condition.’ Confederate soldier Henry Douglas compared what he saw to a holocaust and tried ‘to restrain my bitterness (but) it is an insult to civilization and to God to pretend that the Laws of War justify such warfare.’

Invariably, warfare fought in such a brutal manner will lead to horrific atrocities. That is what happened on September 22, near the town of Front Royal, midway up the Valley. A Northern ambulance train was attacked by a group of Rangers led by Captain Sam Chapman, William’s brother. Chapman’s force quickly realized they were outnumbered, and in an attempt to break out, rode directly at Northern troops.

After the skirmish, the mangled body of Lieutenant Charles McMaster was found in the road, riddled with bullets and trampled by horses. Northern troops swore McMaster was brutally gunned down while trying to surrender. Rangers claimed he was killed in the heat of short, intense battle after his panicky horse rode into their ranks.

Whatever the actual facts, Northern troops were boiling for revenge. Custer was in the same frame, as well, for he had been plagued by Mosby’s constant harrassment long enough. Only the day before, his orderly had been captured while carrying a slaughtered sheep back to camp for Custer’s meal.

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