For nearly four years they had barred the way to every Northern advance, and had won great victories over numbers, but Dick was sure as he stood on a portico at Monticello, in the very heart of valiant Virginia, that the fate of the South was sealed.
They did not stay long at Charlottesville and Monticello, but a portion of the army, including the Winchester men, went on, tearing up the railroad, while another column demolished a canal used for military purposes.

Then the two forces united at a town called New Market, but they could go no farther.

The heavy rains and the melting snows had swollen the rivers enormously, all the bridges before them were destroyed, and their own pontoons proved inadequate in face of the great rushing streams.

Then they turned back.
Dick and his comrades were secretly glad.

The rising of the waters had prevented them from going into North Carolina and joining Sherman.
Hence, they deduced that so active a man as Sheridan would march for a junction with Grant, and that was where they wanted to go.