Retired to Swift Run Gap. Ewell's Division Arrives. Battle at McDowell.
Battles at Front Royal and at Winchester. Bank's Retreat across the
Potomac.
Shields retired in the late spring of 1862 toward the east side of the
Blue Ridge, and Banks with an army of approximately 20,000 men moved up
the valley to Strasburg, thence on toward Harrisonburg, Jackson slowly
retiring before him. Almost daily attacks, often growing into small
battles, were made on the advancing Federals by the intrepid Ashby;
but Jackson's force was too inadequate to risk a general engagement.
He, however, would pause at strategic points until the enemy would
concentrate in his front and would then retire, leaving the ever
vigilant Ashby to keep up appearances, which he would so successfully
do that the enemy would not discover the ruse for days, and when
discovered would be thrown into a state of excitement, because not
knowing when and from what direction a blow might be received.
Just below Harrisonburg we left the valley pike and went into camp near
Swift Run Gap on the road leading through this gap in the Blue Ridge,
a strong position susceptible of being held by a small force against
many times its number. Thus the way to Harrisonburg and Staunton was
virtually open to the advancing foe, but he did not venture on. Ashby's
cavalry was not now available to dispute his advance because of the
wide field of operation and observation this command had to cover. This
field embraced the immediate front, the Page Valley Front Royal and
McDowell; thus Jackson was kept informed of every move of the enemy.
Here he was reinforced by Ewell's division, bringing his entire force,
including the brigade of General Edward Johnston then near McDowell, to
approximately 15,000.
Milroy was now pressing Johnston back toward Staunton and had reached
McDowell, thirty miles northwest of that city. Jackson now left Ewell
to watch Banks and moved with his own division about 6,000 through
Swift Run Gap to the east side of the Blue Ridge. His army thought this
to be an abandonment of the valley, and the impression became general
that Joseph E. Johnston needed reinforcements to save Richmond and that
this was our destination; but when we reached the railroad instead of
going east to Richmond we went by rail west to Staunton, thence by
forced march to McDowell. On the afternoon of May 8th the attack on
Milroy, whose army was estimated at 8,000, was opened by Johnston's
brigade. The Federals occupied a position on the west and at the base
of Shenandoah Mountain. A deep and difficult ravine intervened between
this position and a low ridge occupied by the Confederates. The use of
artillery was almost impossible, owing to the hills and rugged ground;
hence the battle was fought almost entirely with small arms and was
different from subsequent battles in this, that there was no bayonet
charge, but simply each side from its position kept up an incessant
fire and roar of musketry at comparatively close range until the end.
The whole scene is yet vivid in my mind as I saw it. Our brigade was
well down the mountain when the battle began and the roar of musketry
and shouts of the contending forces came up the mountain side to us
as we hurried on. There was a kind of horrible grandeur about it all
that allured and inspired some, and struck others with trepidation.
There were but few, if any, who would not prefer to escape the perils
of battle, but a sense of duty made the man of moral courage a good
soldier however mindful he might be of pending danger or of death
itself. It is soldiers of this, and not of the physical courage type
that win battles. We moved on; louder and still fiercer the battle
grows. Reinforcements are now entering on the Federal side with
battle shouts and huzzas, which are answered in grim defiance by
the Confederates. Johnston's brigade alone holds the front for the
Confederates. Our brigade has now reached the base of the ridge, where
we find Jackson who quickly points our position. Here, too, we found
the field hospital, the ground strewn with the wounded, the dead, the
dying, and still others came down the ridge from the front, wounded and
red with blood, assisted or carried on litters. Surgeons and assistant
surgeons are doing all they can to save suffering and life, but the
scene is too sickening to pause and consider.
On we go up the Ridge, take our position in line and open fire on the
enemy. The battle now rages ten times fiercer than before, men fall on
every side, some never to rise, while others are wounded and helped to
the rear. The smoke of battle settles upon us so dense and dark that
we cannot see happenings around us. Begrimed, drinking and tasting
the smoke of battle seemed to increase courage and determination, and
thus with defiant war cries the battle goes on for some hours. General
Johnston was shot and disabled, Colonel Gibbons of the 10th Virginia
fell. Captain Terry and Lieutenant Wilhelm, John Lawson and many others
of my own company and regiment whose names I do not now recall were
killed or wounded. After a lapse of forty odd years it is impossible
to recall names. Notwithstanding the horribleness of this scene there
was such a mixture of excitement, intensity of purpose, of danger and
exhilaration that it was more fascinating than repulsive. Nightfall
came upon us, yet the battle still went on in unabated fury. At this
time a Confederate force that had been making its way on the mountain
side through the hills and rugged grounds on our right, descended upon
the enemy's left and routed him completely from the field. Then came
the jubilation over the victory and of each over his own escape from
injury. The next sensation was that of grief for the lost and injured.
We now went into bivouac, and the following morning started in pursuit
of the Federals who retired in haste to Petersburg, about ninety miles
from Staunton. Here Fremont joined Milroy and concentrated his army of
approximately 25,000 men to resist our further advance. In this retreat
the woods were set on fire by the Federals, causing smoke, darkness and
gloom, and hence slower progress in the pursuit as well as suffering
from the heat and smoke.
About the middle of May, Banks, with an army now increased to
approximately 25,000 men, occupied and had fortified Strasburg against
attack from the direction of Staunton, eighty miles to the southwest.
Ten miles south of Strasburg is Front Royal. Between Strasburg and
Front Royal is the north end of Massanutten Mountain, which extends
to the South for a distance of fifty or sixty miles, separating
Shenandoah from Page Valley. Winchester, twenty miles north of Front
Royal, had also been fortified by the Federals and at this place they
had assembled large army stores. Thus Banks and his army stood at
Strasburg in fancied security while Fremont was concentrating his army
at Petersburg to resist further advance of the Confederates. Aided by
the smoke and gloom, Jackson withdrew from Fremont's front, leaving
a small cavalry force to keep up appearances, and with unsurpassed
celerity swept through the passes of Shenandoah Mountain, thence down
Bridgewater Valley to Harrisonburg where Ewell's division joined him.
Thence he passed down the valley pike towards Strasburg, but turned
abruptly to the right at New Market, crossed Massanutten Mountain into
Page Valley. At the same rapid gait he swept on to Front Royal and on
the 23d of May dispersed the force there, capturing many. So rapid and
dashing was his movement that the effort of the Federals to burn the
wooden bridge spanning the Shenandoah was only partly successful. The
damage was repaired so quickly that pursuit was scarcely checked.
Banks at Strasburg ten miles to the north had found out the peril
of his army and had earlier in the day begun a precipitate retreat
to Winchester, eighteen miles away. Night ended further pursuit,
which, however, was resumed early the following morning, and in the
afternoon we reached the valley pike at Middletown and there struck
the right flank of the rear of Bank's army. The conflict was short but
sanguinary. The enemy fled precipitately, leaving his dead and wounded
on the field. A number of prisoners also fell into our hands. Our own
loss was small. We now pressed forward, continuing the march during the
entire night, becoming so weary and worn that we actually slept as we
marched. We reached Winchester at early dawn and again encountered the
enemy. Our division occupied the left and Ewell's the right. The attack
was begun at once.
In our front we found the enemy well posted behind a stone fence or
wall; their well placed artillery further back and more elevated
commanded the open approach to this formidable and well-protected
force. Our advance was begun in fine order, without rush or
confusion--meanwhile shot and shell played upon us. The greater
elevation of the Federals caused them to overshoot, hence we did not
suffer greatly. At the order to charge our whole line leaped forward
with a terrifying Confederate yell, rushed onto and over the stone
wall. The loss of the fleeing enemy was heavy. The simultaneous attack
by Ewell on the right caused the entire Federal line to give way and
the Confederates swept forward in such force and swiftness, dealing
such havoc to the Federals, that they were thrown into confusion,
panic and rout, and utterly unable to offer resistance to our onward
sweep. The pursuit was continued for some miles until forced from
exhaustion to halt. Many prisoners were captured and the artillery,
small arms and military stores captured were very large. The volume of
this capture gave to Banks the sobriquet of "Jackson's commissary."
The following day pursuit was resumed by way of Charlestown to Harpers
Ferry. Here the Federals made their escape across the Potomac into
Maryland.
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