When Sheridan returned to the line, after consulting with his officers, it was suggested that he take off his great coat, which was covered with dust and perspiration, and ride down the line. Captain McKinley helped him to remove the coat, and it was discovered that Sheridan wore a bright new uniform, which he had just obtained on his trip to Washington. McKinley has frequently been heard to say that Sheridan never looked more a soldier than at that moment.

The restoration of the Union line had not passed unnoticed by General Early, who had already become somewhat alarmed. Many of his troops were engaged in enjoying the luxuries of the Union camp. Early got them together as well as he could and prepared for an assault, which he made upon the Nineteenth corps, but there was now no difficulty in repulsing attacks. Shortly afterward an advance of the Union army was ordered, and although the enemy had improved an opportunity to establish lines behind stone walls and make other defensive preparations, he was unable to successfully resist this assault of Sheridan's army, now fully inspired with his presence. All of General Early's forces were at once swept away without being able to resist our attacking lines at any point. The Confederates were driven from the field in one of the greatest routs since the beginning of the war. No attempt was made to check the pursuit or to save any property, and many guns, wagons, and prisoners were abandoned. This was a great victory, snatched from what appeared to have been a great defeat.

General Sheridan withdrew his corps to Kernstown, where more supplies could be obtained and where fortified lines were constructed.

A short time after this a successful cavalry raid by the

enemy on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at New Creek in West Virginia, had caused the departure of General Crook with one of his divisions to that place. General Crook admired the pluck and fighting qualities of the young officer from Ohio, and took Captain McKinley with him. There Crook and Kelley were captured, and Hancock took charge of the department. He retained Captain McKinley on his staff, and the young officer remained with him until assigned as acting assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Samuel S. Carroll, commanding the veteran Reserve Corps at Washington. McKinley remained there for some time, was there when General Lee surrendered to Grant at the famous apple-tree at Appomattox in April, 1865, and was also there at the exciting period when President Lincoln was shot by Booth in Ford's Theatre. It was just one month and a day before this sad event that he received a document which is one of his cherished possessions, his commission as brevet major of the U. S. Volunteers.

"For gallant and meritorious services at the battles of Opequan, Cedar Creek, and Fisher's Hill."

And it is signed, " A. Lincoln."

It

While the army was proceeding northward on the 8th of November, 1864, their votes were cast in the presidential election at which Lincoln and Johnson were elected. is said that the votes were collected by the judges of the election as the column was on the march. This was McKinley's first vote. An ambulance served as an election booth, an empty candle-box did duty as a receptacle for ballots. At the same time Generals Crook, Sheridan, and Hayes cast their ballots, and it is said that at this time Sheridan and Crook also cast their first votes.

GENERAL SHERIDAN BEFORE MCKINLEY'S REGIMENT ON HIS FAMOUS RIDE TO WINCHESTER.

On July 26, 1865, Major McKinley was mustered out of the service, and his fighting days in the army were over. From the very beginning, as his career in the war shows, he had shown himself to be made of superior stuff. Whether in camp or in the field, he was always devoted to the highest duty of the hour. So young in years, and starting out as an inconspicuous private in the ranks, without influence, he was compelled to rely upon his own merits, and they counted.

It is said of Hayes, whose days of fighting closed at about the same time, that he was under fire about one hundred days in the course of those four years, and that from the beginning of May until the end of October, 1864, he was under fire sixty days. As McKinley was with Hayes most of the time, and besides was in the battle of Antietam, which was not participated in by Hayes on account of a wound received at South Mountain, it is evident that McKinley must have been under fire even more than this. South Mountain, Antietam, Cloyd's Mountain, Kernstown, Berryville, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek were some of the severest fought battles of the war. When it is remembered that McKinley many times exposed himself bravely to danger, and that once when he rescued the regiment at Kernstown he galloped into the very jaws of death, it is clear that a good fortune followed him and saved him for the brilliant career in civil life which he has made.