Thus far the Massanutten Mountains had separated Jackson and his
immediate pursuers from Shields. This mountain range stops just before
reaching Port Republic. The only troops in the town were the four
regiments of Carroll's Brigade, 1st Va., 7th Ind., 84th and 110th Pa.,
about sixteen hundred strong.
"At this point," read the orders to General Shields, "you will
intercept Jackson and cut off his retreat."
With the bridge standing, Carroll's force, or even the entire Division,
would be a mere handful against the foe now almost at hand.
The effectual cut-off would have been the destruction of the bridge,
and had there been but one man there, in place of a brigade, he would
have destroyed it.
Did Shields order Carroll to burn the bridge?
And, if so, did Carroll think it would be more soldierly to fight the
whole rebel army?
Whatever the answer, the fact remains that the bridge was not burned.
When the attempt was made it was too late.
Over the bridge was Jackson's only way of escape from Fremont. When he
found Carroll there he moved up his advance, under cover of the night,
quietly posted twenty guns where they would command the way over the
river, and opened them at daylight. The fire was too much to stand
against, and over the bridge came Jackson's cavalry, followed by his
columns of infantry, and having forced our small command back the
Luray Valley to Conrad's Store, and burned the bridge to avoid further
trouble with Fremont, he had a good free road to Richmond, where he met
with a cordial welcome from Lee.
The loss of 124 killed and 292 wounded showed the disposition of
Carroll's Brigade to fight, as also the character of the rebel fire,
and the 514 prisoners testified to the character of the pursuit in
getting Carroll out of the way.
Ewell was liberal enough to concede three Confederates to one National,
in number, and voluntarily said, "It was a most gallant fight on the
part of the latter."
The Regiment lost one man killed and ten wounded.