Pursuit of Jackson--The “Long” March--Fredericksburg to Front
Royal--March to Waynesboro.
At early dawn on the morning of March 24th the Union army pushed
forward in pursuit of the retreating rebels. The Twenty-ninth deployed
as skirmishes in the advance. Many wounded Confederates were found in
private houses along the line of march. About noon the dashing rebel
cavalry officer Ashby came from cover and suddenly swooped down upon
the regiment with a heavy cavalry force. Rallying by companies and
forming squares, a well directed volley soon sent the rebels in haste
to the rear. The pursuit of the fleeing rebels was continued until
nightfall, when the regiment went into bivouac near Cedar creek. The
next morning (25th) our columns again pushed forward until reaching a
point a little in advance of Strasburg, where a halt was ordered and
a camp (Kimball), established. Here we remained for some time, making
frequent raids into the surrounding country and skirmishing almost
daily with the enemy.
April 1st the regiment again moved after the retreating army, and
about daylight on the following morning indulged in some artillery
firing with the rebel rear guards. During the month of April the
regiment marched up the valley as far as Newmarket, passing the towns
of Woodstock and Mount Jackson. At the latter place a hospital was
established, and companies G and E were detailed for provost, and
other duties, in and around Mount Jackson, while the remainder of the
regiment moved up the valley to Camp Thurburn and continued the usual
picket, camp, and guard duties.
May 3d left camp and marched up the valley in the direction of
Harrisburg; halted about three miles from town and camped for the
night. May 5th, returned from near the town of Harrisburg and went into
camp four miles above Newmarket, where the regiment remained until
the 12th day of May, when it left the Shenandoah valley at Newmarket
on the long march to Fredericksburg, marched to Luray, and encamped
for the night (marched eighteen miles). Thirteenth, moved at 7 A. M.
The Twenty-ninth, was detailed as rear guard. Fourteenth, marched
at 6, reached Front Royal at 3:30 P. M. and camped for the night.
Fifteenth, marched at 9 A. M., traveled thirteen miles, and went into
camp. Sixteenth, marched at 6:30 A. M., reached Gains’ Cross Road,
and camped for the night, (marched ten miles). May 17th, marched at 6
A. M., and reached Warrenton (distance of eighteen miles), and went
into camp for the night. Sunday, May 18th, remained in camp. Monday,
19th, marched at 5 o’clock A. M., and at 3 P. M. reached the Orange &
Alexandria railroad at Catlet’s Station, and went into camp. Remained
until May 21st, when the regiment again marched at 6 A. M., halting at
10:30 P. M. for the night. Twenty-second, marched at 7 A. M., reached
Falmouth in the evening, and went into camp. Friday, May 23d, the army
under Major-general McDowell was reviewed by Abraham Lincoln, the
President of the United States, with satisfactory results. Sunday,
25th, marched at 6 A. M., and at 4:30 went into camp. Twenty-sixth,
marched at 5 A. M., and camped for the night at Catlet’s Station.
Twenty-seventh, marched some four miles on the Manassas Gap railroad,
and went into camp. Twenty-eighth, marched at 5 A. M. past White
Plains; after tramping fifteen miles went into camp. Twenty-ninth,
marched at 7 o’clock A. M. in the direction of Front Royal, reached
Rectortown at 4 o’clock P. M., and two hours later fell in, in light
marching order, and moved forward, leaving the baggage until May
31st, when at 4 o’clock A. M. it moved forward towards Front Royal,
reaching Piedmont at 9 A. M., and Markham at 4 P. M.; moved to within
six miles of Front Royal, and camped for the night. June 1st, marched
to Front Royal, and at 4 P. M. moved forward some three miles on the
Luray road, and went into camp. June 2d, marched at 6 A. M., marched
thirteen miles, and went into camp. Third, marched at 7 A. M., reached
Luray at 12 M., passed through the town on the Newmarket road, some
two miles and camped. Fourth, remained in camp all day. Fifth, marched
at 5 A. M., marched four miles, halted, put up our tents, and prepared
to be comfortable, when at 3 o’clock P. M. we were ordered to move.
This was occasioned by the close proximity of the rebel batteries on
the opposite side of the river. The regiment marched about one mile
and again halted for the night. Sixth, ordered to march at 4 A. M.,
fell into line at 5, moved two miles, halted, stacked arms, soon fell
in and marched about two miles farther, pitched our tents, and at 6
P. M. fell in and marched back to the place the regiment left in the
morning, where we arrived at 12 at night, and went into camp. Saturday,
7th, the regiment was up at 4 A. M. and marched at 9 A. M. (the baggage
was ordered to Luray and Front Royal; Sergeant C. H. Edgerly and
Private Willard Denison, of Company H, were furloughed home for thirty
days), marched up the east bank of the Shenandoah river, a distance of
fourteen miles, halted at 6 P. M., and went into camp. Eighth, marched
at 4 A. M., halted at 6:30 for breakfast, and at 8:15 again moved
forward; soon heard the artillery firing at Cross Keys on the west
side of the Shenandoah river and mountain. The regiment moved on up
the river and about 5 o’clock P. M. were in sight of the rebels, whose
ambulances and train were moving rapidly in retreat in the direction
of Port Republic from the battle of Cross Keys. The Union forces were
under the command of Major-general John C. Fremont, and the Confederate
army commanded by Major-general Thomas J. Jackson. The Union army took
shelter in a strip of woods at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountain,
near Port Republic, Virginia, and bivouacked for the night.