A Major-General.
When the year 1862 opened, General Jackson was at Winchester with ten
thousand men, Generals Loring and Henry Jackson having come from Western
Virginia to join his command.
At the head of Jackson’s cavalry was Lieutenant-Colonel Ashby, a
gallant, brave, and watchful officer. At the sound of his well-known
shout and the cry of “Ashby,” from his men, the Federal soldiers would
turn and flee as if from a host. Ever guarding the outposts of the army,
he was Jackson’s “eyes and ears.”
[Illustration: _Lieut.-Col. Ashby._]
There were now three great armies threatening Jackson, and he well knew
that they would crush him if he did not meet each one singly before they
could unite.
Jackson’s little army was the guard to Johnston’s flank. The latter
general, with forty thousand men, was still at Manassas facing
McClellan, who was at the head of an army of fifty thousand men, and
preparing, as soon as spring opened, to “walk over Johnston.”
Jackson knew that if his army was defeated, Johnston would have to
retreat, and perhaps the whole State would be given up to the foe. The
armies were now in winter quarters, and there was not much danger of a
move before spring.
In the meantime, Jackson resolved to march against several large forces
of Federals which were threatening him from the towns of Romney and
Bath, forty miles distant, in Northwestern Virginia.
It was the last of December, however, before he could collect the men
and supplies necessary for the expedition.
At last, on the first day of January, 1862, all was ready. The little
army of about nine thousand men set out without knowing whither Jackson
was leading, for he had not told even his officers his great plans.
In spite of the winter season, the day was bright and the air soft and
balmy. So warm was the weather that the men left their overcoats and
blankets to be brought on in the wagons. On the next day, a biting wind
began to blow, which was followed by rain and snow.
The men marched all day, and at night the wagons, which had not been
able to keep up with the troops, were still far behind. The troops
rested that night without rations or blankets, having only camp-fires to
keep off the cold.
On the third day, the men were so overcome by cold and hunger that they
found it difficult to go forward. Jackson, riding grimly along the way,
found his old brigade halted, and asked General Garnett the reason of
the delay.
“I have halted,” said General Garnett, “to let the men cook rations.”
“There is not time for it,” replied General Jackson curtly.
“But it is impossible for the men to go farther without them,” said
Garnett.
“I never found anything impossible with that brigade,” said Jackson as
he rode on. He was restive and eager to press forward; his plan to
surprise the enemy did not admit of delay.
As the army neared the town of Bath, a force of Federals suddenly
attacked it from behind trees and fences, but it was soon driven off
with the loss of twenty prisoners.
That night the Southern troops went into camp just outside the town, in
the midst of a heavy snow storm. The men were without food or blankets,
and the wonder is how they lived through the night.
Jackson, however, did not change his plans, though there was great
complaint among the men, many of whom straggled back to Winchester.
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, the order was given to
advance upon Bath. The artillery opened fire and the infantry charged
the breastworks, but the Federals hastily gave up the town, and fled
towards the Potomac river, which they waded that night.
The Southern troops on entering the town found quantities of stores
which the Federals had left behind; among them were fine clothes, china,
and even dinners, cooked and still smoking, ready to be eaten by the
hungry Confederates.
From Bath, Jackson’s men passed, with great difficulty and suffering, to
a place called Hancock, about three miles distant from Bath, on the
north side of the Potomac.
Jackson placed his cannon on the south bank and opened a hot fire on the
town, but the commander refused to surrender. As a large force of men
came up to reinforce the Federals, Jackson concluded to pass on to
Romney.
In the meantime, the railroad bridge over Capon river had been destroyed
and the telegraph wires cut by General Loring, so that the commander at
Romney could not send to General Banks for help.
The weather had now become terrible. Rain, snow, sleet, and hail beat
down upon men still without tents, overcoats, and blankets; for it was
impossible for the wagons to come up. The mountain roads were covered
with ice and sleet so that horses and men could not keep their footing.
Many fell flat, badly hurt, while wagon after wagon slid down the steep
banks, and was overturned and broken.
Jackson was everywhere along the line cheering the troops and even
helping them along. We are told by Cooke, our great Virginia writer,
that, as Jackson was passing a point in the road where a piece of
artillery had stalled, while a crowd of men were looking on without
helping, he stopped, dismounted, and, without uttering a word, put his
shoulder to the wheel. The men, shamed, came forward to take their
places, the horses were whipped up, and the piece moved on.
After great hardships, the little army at last reached Romney, on the
14th of January, to find that the Federals had retreated, leaving behind
them large military stores, which fell into the hands of the
Confederates.
Even then, the name of Jackson was a terror to the foe. With a force
much larger than Jackson’s, and when he was more than a day’s march
distant, the Federals had fled and left the greater part of their
baggage.
In sixteen days, he had driven the enemy out of his district, had
rendered the railroad useless to the Federals for more than a hundred
miles, and had captured arms enough to equip an army as large as his
own. This he had done with the loss of four men killed and twenty-eight
wounded.
Leaving General Loring at Romney with a portion of the army, Jackson
hastened back to Winchester to watch the movements of General Banks, who
was stationed, with a large army, near Harper’s Ferry.
Upon his return, he found the whole country in an uproar over the
expedition to Romney through the sleet and snow. Though no one could say
that Jackson was not full of courage and devotion to the South, many
said that he was cruel and not fit to be in command of an army. Some
said that he was a madman; others, that he was without common sense.
Another charge against him was that he was partial to the Stonewall
Brigade, as he had brought it back with him to the comforts of a town,
while he had left Loring’s command in the mountains. The soldiers of the
brigade were called “Jackson’s Pet Lambs,” and other like names.
Now, the truth was, that Loring’s men were far more comfortable than
those of the Stonewall Brigade; the former being ordered into huts,
while the latter were in tents, three miles from Winchester.
Another charge against him was that he would tell his plans to no one.
“It was his maxim,” says Dabney, “that in war, mystery was the key to
success.” He argued that no man could tell what bit of news might not be
of use to the foe, and therefore, that it was the part of wisdom to
conceal everything.
This secrecy irritated his officers, and it must be said that some of
them so far forgot their duty as soldiers as to treat General Jackson
with disrespect.
Though all of these charges were known to Jackson, he took no notice of
them, but was proceeding to connect Romney with Winchester by telegraph
wires when, on January 31st, he received this order from Richmond:
“Order Loring back to Winchester at once.”
The cause of this order was that some of the officers at Romney had sent
a petition to Richmond asking to be sent back to Winchester, as the
position at Romney was, in their opinion, too much exposed.
General Jackson recalled the troops from Romney, but he was so angry at
the way in which he had been treated by the government, that he at once
resigned his command.
This caused great excitement in the army and in the State at large. The
people were by no means willing to give up an officer who had shown so
much courage and skill, and they begged him to withdraw his resignation.
This he refused to do. He said that the government had shown, by the
order, that it did not trust him, and that, if he was to be meddled with
in that way, he could do no good. At last, however, a sort of an apology
being made by the government, he quietly took up his duties again.
In a few days after General Loring left Romney, the Federals again took
possession of that town and the country around. So all the efforts of
Jackson and the trials of his soldiers were of no avail. This was a
great blow to General Jackson, for Winchester was again exposed to the
advance of the foe from four directions.
The plan for the invasion of Virginia in 1862 was the same as in 1861.
General Fremont was marching from the Northwest; Banks, from Harper’s
Ferry; McDowell, from Fredericksburg; McClellan faced Johnston at
Manassas, and another large army was at Fortress Monroe, ready to march
up the Peninsula.
The Northern army was much larger than the year before, but the Southern
army was smaller, as the time of many of the men had expired and others
had gone home on furlough.
Several brigades were now taken from General Jackson to strengthen other
points, and he found himself left, with only six thousand men, to guard
the left of Johnston’s army and to protect the great Shenandoah Valley.
On the 26th of February, General Banks, with thirty-five thousand men,
and General Kelly, with eleven thousand, advanced against Jackson, who
was still at Winchester, hoping to hold that place, until help could
come from General Johnston. But finding out through Colonel Ashby that
he was almost surrounded by the enemy, he left Winchester and fell back
slowly to Mt. Jackson, a village on the great turnpike, forty miles from
Winchester. Here, he had sent all of his stores and sick soldiers some
weeks before; so that, when the Federals entered Winchester, they found
not a prisoner or a musket to “enrich their conquest.”
It was a great trial to Jackson to leave his kind friends in Winchester,
but he promised them “to wait for a better time and come again.” We
shall see how well he kept his promise.
On March 19th, General Johnston wrote to General Jackson at Mt. Jackson,
asking him to move closer to the enemy and to prevent him, if possible,
from sending troops across to McClellan. Word was brought at the same
time, that fifteen thousand men were then leaving the army of Banks to
aid in turning the left wing of Johnston’s forces, as he fell back to
lines of defense nearer Richmond.
So Jackson gave orders to his little army, which now numbered only
twenty-seven hundred men, to march back down the Valley. That night the
infantry slept at Strasburg, while Ashby’s men drove in the outposts of
the Federals at Winchester.
General Banks, thinking that Jackson would trouble him no more, had left
for Washington, and General Shields was in command of the army.
General Jackson, on the morning of March 23rd, pushed forward his whole
force, and, when about five miles from Winchester, at a place called
Kernstown, he found Ashby fighting furiously with the advance of the
foe. Taking a good position, he at once gave battle, though he saw that
he was greatly outnumbered. The battle raged from about noon until
night. Regiment after regiment was hurled against Jackson’s thin ranks,
but they fought stubbornly and would have gained the day, had not the
ammunition of the Stonewall Brigade given out. Hearing his fire dying
away for want of ammunition, General Garnett gave orders for his men to
retreat. When Jackson saw the lines of his old brigade give back, he
galloped to the spot, and, ordering Garnett to hold his ground, pushed
forward to rally the men. Seeing a drummer boy retreating like the rest,
he seized him by the shoulder, dragged him in full view of the soldiers,
and said in his sternest tones, “Beat the rally!” The drummer beat the
rally, and in the midst of a storm of balls Jackson saw the lines
reform.
[Illustration: “_Beat the Rally!_”]
But it was too late. The enemy now pressed forward in such numbers that
there was nothing left to do but to retreat. This they did in good
order, but the Federals held the field of battle where so many dead and
wounded men were lying.
In this battle of Kernstown twenty-seven hundred Confederates, with
eleven guns attacked eleven thousand Federals and almost gained the
victory. It is said that General Shields had just given orders for his
men to retreat when the Stonewall Brigade fell back.
As General Shields followed Jackson up the Valley after the battle, he
stopped at a noted country house for the night. General Jackson had also
rested there upon his retreat, and from his adjutant the lady of the
house had learned the correct number of Jackson’s men.
General Shields, at breakfast, entered into a conversation with his
hostess, and in a polite way boasted of his great victory. “Ah!
General,” said the lady, “we can afford such defeats as that, when
twenty-seven hundred men hold back eleven thousand for hours and then
retreat at leisure! Such defeats are victories.” General Shields was
surprised to learn the small number of Jackson’s forces, and begged the
lady to tell him her informant. “Certainly,” said the lady, “General
Jackson’s adjutant, Major Paxton. I have also information that large
reinforcements are coming to Jackson and that he will again be ready to
meet you.” “I have no doubt of that, my dear Madam,” smilingly returned
the General.
[Illustration: _Major E. F. Paxton._]
That night Jackson’s little army rested near Newtown, while Ashby kept
watch not far from the field of battle. “Jackson,” says Cooke, “got an
armful of corn for his horse; and, wrapping his blanket about him, lay
down by a fire in a fence corner and went to sleep.” Though defeated for
the first and last time, he had won the object of the battle. The
fifteen thousand men who had started across the mountains to McClellan
were recalled to the Valley, and Johnston was able to move safely behind
the Rappahannock river, his new line of defense.
At four o’clock on the morning of the 24th, Jackson began to retreat
slowly and in good order. The enemy pursued for awhile, but at last fell
back to Winchester.
Jackson’s army was far from cast down by the defeat at Kernstown. The
soldiers felt that they had made a splendid fight against four times
their number. And now, too, for the first time, it began to dawn upon
them that their general was a great leader. As Jackson passed along the
columns, the men would cheer themselves hoarse.
Cooke tells us that one man was heard to ask, as he struggled along,
“Why is Old Jack a better general than Moses?” “Because it took Moses
forty years to lead the Israelites through the wilderness, and Old Jack
would have double-quicked them through it in three days!”
It is said by another writer, that the men would laugh and say that the
only rest they had was when they were retreating before the enemy. He
always led them by forced marches when going to attack the foe, but
never fast enough on a retreat to lose the chances of a fight.
The weather was now mild and balmy, and the men suffered few hardships
during their slow retreat. At last they reached the old camp at Mt.
Jackson, where Jackson gathered up his wounded and sent them up the
Valley.
On the 1st of April, he crossed the north fork of the Shenandoah, and
took position on Rude’s Hill, five miles below New Market.
General Banks had again come up the Valley, and was pressing upon the
rear of Jackson’s army.
It was left for Colonel Ashby to burn the bridge near Mt. Jackson, after
the Southern army had passed over. While Ashby and his men were engaged
in this work, the Federal cavalry dashed up and a skirmish ensued, in
which Ashby’s beautiful snow-white charger was mortally wounded.
General Jackson remained at Rude’s Hill until April 17th, when, the
waters having subsided so that the Federal army could cross the river,
he again took up his line of march through New Market to Harrisonburg.
At the last named place he turned east, and, passing the south end of
Massanutton mountain, crossed the south branch of the Shenandoah river
and posted his troops in the gorge of the Blue Ridge called Swift Run
Gap.
The way to Staunton was now open to General Banks, but he was too timid
to go forward. Jackson in his rear was worse than Jackson in front of
him. So, for two weeks, Jackson held the Gap while Banks occupied
Harrisonburg, and laid waste the country around.
Jackson had now about eight thousand men and thirty guns. His men had
returned from hospitals and furloughs and also a number of new recruits
had poured in to help in this time of danger. The General employed these
weeks of rest in organizing and drilling his men and in mending up his
old artillery. In the meantime also, he made bold plans, and with the
help of General R. E. Lee, who had now been made commander of the “Army
of Northern Virginia,” proceeded to carry them out.
Now, in order to understand the great genius of our hero, and the
bravery and endurance of his men, you must study the map on the next
page.
You will see that the Valley of the Shenandoah is bounded on the east by
the Blue Ridge mountains, and on the west by the Alleghany. Winchester
is situated in the northern part of the Valley, while Staunton is about
ninety miles to the south. These two places are connected by a fine
turnpike.
[Illustration: THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY]
Now, near the center of the Valley, rises a beautiful mountain which the
Indians called Massanutton, and which still retains that name. This
mountain begins near Strasburg and extends about fifty miles towards
Staunton, ending abruptly not far from Harrisonburg.
There is only one gap in the Massanutton mountain, and that is opposite
the towns of New Market and Luray.
The valley east of the mountain is called the Page Valley, while the
entire valley, including the Page Valley, is the Shenandoah Valley.
Some of the children who will read this book live under the shadow and
in sight of this lovely mountain, which enabled Jackson to play at “hide
and seek” with his foe, and I hope they will understand thoroughly the
great movements which I shall relate.
Though Jackson and his little army were safe in Swift Run Gap, opposite
the village of Elkton, for awhile, they could not have remained there
long, as three major-generals, with as many large armies, were marching
to surround and crush them. Banks was only fifteen miles distant, Milroy
was coming by way of Staunton from Western Virginia, and Fremont from
the northwest. General McDowell, at Fredericksburg, was also ordered to
send twenty thousand men to the Valley, instead of advancing to help
McClellan, who was now near Richmond with a large army. You see, Jackson
was bravely obeying General Johnston’s orders to keep the Federals busy
in the Valley and to prevent them from reinforcing McClellan.
Now, there was a small force of Confederates, under General Edward
Johnson, on Shenandoah mountain, twenty miles west of Staunton. There
was great danger that Milroy with his larger army would overcome
Johnson, take Staunton, and march on to join Banks. Their two armies
would then be large enough to crush Jackson.
[Illustration: _Generals Jackson, Johnston, and Lee._]
It was also important to keep Staunton out of the hands of the foe, as
it was situated on the Chesapeake and Ohio railway, which carried
supplies from the fertile Valley to Richmond.
So General Jackson wrote to General Lee that he would go to the help of
Johnson and protect Staunton, if he (Lee) would send a force to hold
Banks in check during his absence.
This General Lee did, sending from Richmond General Ewell (ū′-el), a
brave officer, with eight thousand men, who marched into Swift Run Gap
from the east and took the places which Jackson’s men had just left.
It was now Jackson’s object to reach Staunton without the knowledge of
Banks, so he marched, with great difficulty, through miry roads, down
the mountain about eight miles to another gap across the Blue Ridge,
called Brown’s Gap. When there, he turned east and marched swiftly
across the mountain into Albemarle county, passing through the village
of White Hall to Mechum’s River Station. Thence the troops were carried
swiftly by rail to Staunton, reaching there on the night of the 4th of
May, to the great joy of the people of Staunton, who thought that they
had been deserted by Jackson in their time of need.
By Monday the whole army had come up. They were then joined by General
Johnson and his army. On the 7th, one day having been spent in preparing
for the march, Jackson, with General Johnson’s command in front, marched
towards Milroy, who was now posted on Shenandoah mountain.
Jackson had been joined at Staunton by the corps of cadets from the
Military Institute at Lexington under Col. Scott Shipp. Many of them
were mere boys, but they were filled with joy at taking their first look
at grim war under Stonewall Jackson, who had so lately been a professor
in that school.
As the Confederate army approached Shenandoah mountain, the Federals
retreated to the village of McDowell.
On Thursday, May 8th, Jackson and Johnson, with the command of the
latter still in advance, climbed the sides of the mountain overlooking
that little village.
That evening, while the generals were waiting for the rest of the army
to come up, General Milroy made an attack upon their position.
Though not expecting an attack, Jackson quickly placed his troops for
the conflict, the center of the line being held by the Twelfth Georgia
regiment with great bravery. It is related that, when ordered at one
time to retire behind the crest of the hill to escape the raking fire of
the foe, they refused to do so, and kept their position. The next day a
tall youth from the Georgia regiment was asked why they did not fall
back as ordered. He replied, “We did not come all the way to Virginia to
run before Yankees.”
[Illustration: _The Twelfth Georgia Regiment at McDowell._]
Just before the close of the battle, General Johnson was wounded in the
ankle and compelled to leave the field.
The battle of McDowell raged from half-past four to half-past eight P.
M., the shades of night closing the conflict. Then the Federals gave up
the assault and retreated from the field. “By nine o’clock,” says Dr.
Dabney, “the roar of the struggle had passed away, and the green
battle-field reposed under the starlight as calmly as when it had been
occupied only by its peaceful herds of cattle.”
It was one o’clock A. M. before General Jackson reached his tent, having
waited to see the last wounded man brought off the battle-field, and the
last picket posted. He had eaten nothing since morning, but when his
faithful servant, Jim, came with food, he said, “I want none—nothing but
sleep”; and in a moment he was fast asleep.
He was in the saddle at peep of day; but, upon climbing the mountain, he
saw that the enemy had left during the night. He at once sent this
dispatch to Richmond: “God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell
yesterday,” and then set out in pursuit of the fleeing Federals. He had
followed them as far as Franklin, when the woods were set on fire by the
Federals to conceal their position.
The dense smoke hung like a pall over the mountain roads, and the heat
from the blazing forests was terrible. But still, the long column
pressed on until Monday, when General Jackson received an order from
General Lee to return to the Valley and pay his respects to General
Banks, who was now at Strasburg.
When the latter general had found out that Ewell was holding the Swift
Run Gap, and that Jackson had left to go—no one knew whither—he left
Harrisonburg and retreated to Strasburg. Jackson was lost, and, not
knowing where he might next appear, General Banks thought it more
prudent to take a safer position.
Time was now precious to Jackson; so, after halting for a brief rest,
during which time the whole army met to render thanks to God for the
great victory, he set out on his return march to the Valley.
On the 20th, he was again in New Market, where he was joined by General
Ewell.
By a bold plan and a swift march he had saved the army of General
Johnson, and prevented Milroy from taking Staunton and joining Banks,
and now he was again in pursuit of the latter.
General Banks was fortifying at Strasburg, and seemed to expect an
attack in front, so Jackson wisely planned to attack him in the rear.
You remember that I told you that just east of New Market there is a
pass, or gap, through the Massanutton mountain. Now Jackson sent a small
force of cavalry down the turnpike towards Strasburg to hold it, and
conceal the movements of the main army, which he himself led eastward
across the mountain into the Page Valley.
Hidden by the friendly mountain, his troops marched quickly and silently
to the town of Front Royal, which is at the northern end of the
mountain, and which then guarded the flank of Banks’ army.
So swift and silent had been the march, that Jackson’s men were nearly
in sight of the town before anyone knew of their presence.
One mile and a half from the town, the pickets were driven in, and an
instant advance was ordered. The Confederate troops rushed to the
attack. The Federals, thinking that Jackson was at least one hundred
miles away, in the mountains of Western Virginia, were taken completely
by surprise. They surrendered by hundreds, giving up quantities of
valuable stores, among which were five hundred new revolvers and a wagon
load of coffee.
The people of Front Royal were wild with joy at seeing the Confederates
again, but the troops were not permitted to stop. On through the town
they went at a double-quick, for the Federals had now made a stand
outside of the town. But they were speedily put to flight, and the
pursuit went on.
In the meantime, the Confederate cavalry came upon a body of Federals
near Cedarville, five miles from Front Royal. A charge was at once made
upon the Federals by the Confederates, and the whole force was driven
back. The Federals then reformed in an orchard, and were again charged
upon by the Confederates, and, after a fierce contest, were captured.
As night came on, the weary Southern troops went into camp, for they
were quite worn out with marching and fighting.
The next morning, May 24th, the troops were again moving by peep of day.
Our hero himself rode forward towards Middletown. When in sight of the
turnpike which leads from Strasburg to Winchester, he saw long lines of
Federal horsemen in full retreat.
[Illustration: _Confederate Cavalry charge at Cedarville._]
The batteries of Poague and Chew were brought forward and a hot fire
opened upon the retreating foe. The latter broke in wild confusion, and
soon the turnpike was filled with a mass of struggling and dying horses
and men. A few regiments which formed the rear guard fell back to
Strasburg, and, leaving their baggage at that place, fled through the
western mountains to the Potomac river.
On the turnpike, Ashby with his cavalry followed closely after the
fleeing foe, firing upon them with shot and shell.
Cooke says: “Either a shell or a round shot would strike one of the
wagons and overturn it, and before those behind could stop their
headway, they would thunder down on the remains of the first. Others
would tumble in so as to block up the road; and in the midst of it all,
Ashby’s troopers would swoop down, taking prisoners or cutting down such
as resisted.”
Ashby himself pressed forward, and at one time, it is said, took as many
as thirty prisoners, unaided and alone.
But Ashby’s men soon betook themselves to plundering the wagons, which
were rich in stores, and thus gave the enemy time to recover from their
panic. When near Newtown, the enemy turned and fired upon their
pursuers.
At dark, however, the firing ceased, and Jackson himself went forward to
urge on the pursuit.
The main body of the army had now come up, but no halt was made for food
or rest. The “foot cavalry” of the Valley marched all night along the
pike lit up by “burning wagons, pontoon bridges, and stores.”
Every now and then, they would come upon men ambuscaded along the sides
of the pike, and fierce fights would ensue.
About dawn on the 25th of May, Jackson’s advance force climbed the lofty
hill southwest of Winchester. This hill was already held by the
Federals, but they were charged upon by the Stonewall Brigade, and
driven back. With a loud shout the Confederates gained the crest of the
hill and planted their batteries. Though they had marched all night,
they took no rest or food, but at once began the battle of Winchester.
Ewell fought on the right and Taylor on the left. “Jackson,” says a
writer, “had his war-look on, and rode about the field, regardless of
shot and shell, looking as calm as if nothing were going on.”
At last, after a fierce fight, the Federals gave way, and Jackson
entered Winchester at the heels of the panic-stricken army. The people
of the town were beside themselves with delight to see their loved
general once more.
Jackson was for the first time excited. He waved his faded cap around
his head and cheered with a right good will.
But the troops still pressed forward, Jackson leading the way. When one
of his officers said, “Don’t you think you are going into too much
danger, General?” his reply was, “Tell the troops to press right on to
the Potomac.” And they did press onward until the enemy was forced
across the Potomac with the loss of many prisoners and valuable stores.
After resting a few days, Jackson advanced towards Harper’s Ferry with
the view of attacking the Federal force there, but was stopped by the
news that two armies, one under General Shields, from the east; the
other under General Fremont, from the west, were to meet at Strasburg
and thus cut him off from Richmond and capture him.
He at once hastened back to Winchester, where he collected his prisoners
and the stores of ammunition and medicine which he had captured. These
he sent up the Valley, and followed rapidly with his whole army.
In the meantime, there was great terror at Washington and in the North.
Men wore anxious faces, and were asking each other, “Where is Jackson?”
They were afraid that he would turn and capture Washington.
But Jackson had only about fifteen thousand men, and he could not risk
the loss of the rich stores which he had gained and the destruction of
his noble army, so he put forth all his skill and nerve to save them.
The Confederates now began a race to reach Strasburg before the
Federals, the larger part of the army marching from near Harper’s Ferry
to Strasburg, nearly fifty miles, in about twenty-four hours. Well might
they be called the “foot cavalry.”
As Jackson marched into Strasburg, General Fremont’s advance was almost
in sight; and, as the Stonewall Brigade had not yet come up, Jackson
sent General Ewell to hold Fremont in check. A fierce battle ensued, but
Ewell at last drove back the enemy, and the Stonewall Brigade coming up
that evening, the whole army continued to retreat up the Valley.
The race had been won by Jackson, who was, for the present, safe. In a
brief space of time, he had flanked the enemy at Front Royal, chased
them to Middletown, beaten them at Winchester, and sent them flying
across the Potomac. When nearly entrapped by two other columns, he had
passed between them, and was now hurrying with his rich stores to the
upper Valley. Cooke tells us that he had captured two thousand three
hundred prisoners, one hundred cattle, thirty-four thousand pounds of
bacon, salt, sugar, coffee, hard bread, and cheese, valuable medical
stores, $125,185 worth of other stores, two pieces of artillery, and
many small-arms and horses. All this was gained with the loss of about
four hundred men.
But, as Jackson retreated up the Valley, he was again threatened by a
great danger. Shields’s column marched up the Page Valley with the view
of crossing the Massanutton at New Market and striking Jackson in the
rear, just as Jackson had done to Banks when he went down to Front
Royal. But Jackson was too wary to be taken by surprise.
He sent swift horsemen across the mountain, who burned the bridges over
the south branch of the Shenandoah at Columbia Mills and the White
House, and then placed signal stations on top of the mountain to inform
him of what was going on in the Page Valley.
Fremont was now pressing on his rear, but he moved swiftly up the Valley
with the main army, while Ashby kept guard on every side. When
Harrisonburg was reached, he again marched east and took his stand near
the village of Port Republic.
On the 6th of June, as the gallant Ashby was leading a charge to repel
the advance of the Federal forces, he fell, pierced to the heart by a
single bullet. His last words were, “Charge, Virginians!” Thus, in the
moment of victory, died the brave and noble Ashby. His loss was deeply
felt by Jackson, who now needed more than ever, the daring and skill of
his “Chief of Cavalry.”
As I have told you, Jackson was at Port Republic, a village at the forks
of the Shenandoah river. Fremont was at Harrisonburg, fifteen miles to
the northwest, and Shields was at Conrad’s Store, fifteen miles to the
northeast. The space between the three generals formed the sides of a
triangle. Just back of Jackson, in the Blue Ridge, was Brown’s Gap,
through which he could retreat and join Lee before Richmond.
But Jackson had no idea of leaving the Valley without a parting blow.
The Shenandoah was very high, so that Shields and Fremont could not
unite their forces. Jackson therefore determined to attack Shields
first, and, if victorious, then to turn his attention to Fremont. I have
forgotten to tell you that Shields was east of the river, and Fremont to
the west; while Jackson was between the north and south branches of the
Shenandoah, which unite at Port Republic. There was a bridge over the
north branch, between Jackson and Fremont; but over the south branch,
between Jackson and Shields, there was only a ford. The north bank was
high, while the south was low, and stretched away in broad meadows
towards the mountains.
Jackson, leaving the trusty Ewell at Cross Keys to watch Fremont, who
was advancing from Harrisonburg, took possession of the heights
overlooking the bridge at Port Republic, and stationed there two
brigades and his remaining artillery. A small body of cavalry was sent
across South river to find out the position of Shields.
[Illustration: _General R. S. Ewell._]
Early on the morning of the 8th of June, the cavalry came galloping back
with the news that Shields’s army was close at hand. Jackson, who was in
the town with some of his staff, at once gave orders for the batteries
on the north side to open fire; but before it could be done, the Federal
cavalry dashed into the town followed by artillery, which rumbled
forward and took position at the southern end of the bridge.
Jackson and his staff were now cut off from his army, which was on the
north bank. We are told by Cooke and others that Jackson, with great
presence of mind, rode towards the bridge; and, rising in his stirrups,
called sternly to the Federal officer commanding the gun, “Who told you
to post that gun there, sir? Bring it over here!” The officer, thinking
that Jackson was a Federal general, bowed, “limbered up” the piece, and
was preparing to move. In the meantime Jackson and his staff galloped
across the bridge, and were soon safe on the northern side.
[Illustration: _General Jackson at Port Republic Bridge._]
No time was lost by the Confederates. Their artillery opened fire upon
the Federals, and Jackson in person led the Thirty-seventh Virginia
regiment, drove the foe from the bridge, and captured the gun with the
loss of only two men wounded.
In the meantime, Jackson’s long wagon-train, which contained his
ammunition, was bravely defended on the outskirts of the village by a
handful of pickets and a section of artillery until help came.
The fire of the guns on the north bank made it impossible for the
Federals to hold the village, so, leaving their other gun, they
retreated, and dashed across the ford of the South river by the way they
had come.
Hardly had the guns stopped firing at Port Republic, before heavy firing
was heard in the direction of Cross Keys, five miles off, between Ewell
and Fremont. The latter had twenty thousand men, while Ewell had only
about six thousand. The Confederates were posted with great skill upon a
ridge, and after fighting from ten A. M. until nightfall, at last drove
back the enemy with great loss.
The battle of Cross Keys having been fought, the Confederate troops lay
upon their arms, ready to renew the fray the next day; but Jackson had
other plans.
He had determined to strike Shields next; so, leaving a guard to watch
Fremont, he ordered Ewell to march at break of day to Port Republic.
At midnight he caused a foot-bridge to be thrown across South river so
that his infantry might pass over to attack Shields. This bridge was
made by placing wagons lengthwise across the swollen stream. The floor
of the bridge was formed of long boards laid loosely from one wagon to
another. Over this rude, frail structure, the whole body of infantry
passed, but not so quickly as its general wished. About midway the
stream, for some reason, one wagon was about two feet higher than the
next. This made a step, and all the boards on the higher wagon were
loose but one. When the column began to move over, several men were
thrown, by the loose planks, into the water; so, refusing to trust any
but the firm plank, the men went, at this point, in single file. This
made the crossing over very tedious; and, instead of being in line to
attack Shields at sunrise, it was ten o’clock before the entire army had
passed over. Thus, three loose boards cost the Confederates a bloody
battle; for they found the Federals drawn up in battle array and ready
for the fight. This incident shows how much care should be taken in
performing the most trivial duty; as the success of great events is
often affected by very slight causes. It is said that Jackson hoped to
surprise Shields, whip him in a few hours, and then recross the river to
rout Fremont.
But the battle of Port Republic, June 9th, raged furiously for hours.
The Federals fought with great courage, and it was not until evening
that they gave way and retreated, panic-stricken, from the field.
The Confederates followed them eight or ten miles down the river, and
returned laden with spoils and prisoners.
At ten o’clock A. M., Jackson sent orders for the guard left at Cross
Keys under General Trimble and Colonel Patton to march to his aid and to
burn the bridge behind them. This they did, and came up in time to join
in the fight.
Towards nightfall General Jackson led his weary troops by a side road
into the safe recesses of Brown’s Gap, in the Blue Ridge.
As they passed the field of battle on their return, they saw the hills
on the north side of the river crowded with the troops of Fremont, who
had arrived in time to see the rout of Shields.
The river being high, they did not attempt to cross, but began a furious
cannonade upon the Confederate surgeons and men who were caring for the
wounded and burying the dead.
The next day, scouts brought word to Jackson that Fremont was building a
bridge, but soon after, having learned, doubtless, that General
Shields’s army was entirely routed, he retreated.
On June 12th, the Confederate cavalry under Colonel Munford entered
Harrisonburg, Fremont having gone back down the Valley, leaving behind
him his sick and wounded, and many valuable stores.
Four hundred and fifty Federals were taken prisoners on the field, while
as many more were found in the hospitals. One thousand small-arms and
nine field-pieces fell to the victorious Confederates. The Federal loss
in the two battles was about two thousand. In the battle of Cross Keys
Jackson lost only forty-two killed and two hundred and thirty-one
wounded; but in the battle of Port Republic, ninety-one officers and men
were killed, and six hundred and eighty-six wounded.
Though Jackson’s plans had not been entirely carried out, he was now rid
of the two armies of forty thousand men which had been on his front and
flanks, and had threatened to crush him.
Within forty days his troops had marched four hundred miles, fought four
great battles, and defeated four separate armies, sending to the rear
over three thousand prisoners and vast trains of stores and ammunition.
From this time Jackson stood forth as a leader of great genius; the
little orphan boy had indeed climbed the heights of fame amid a “blaze
of glory.”
On the 12th of June, Jackson led his army from its camp, in Brown’s Gap,
to the plains of Mt. Meridian, a few miles above Port Republic. Here,
the wearied men rested for five days, while Colonel Munford, who now
commanded the cavalry, kept watch on the turnpike below Harrisonburg.
This is the dispatch which Jackson sent to Richmond:
“Near Port Republic, June 9th, 1862.
Through God’s blessing, the enemy near Port Republic was this day
routed, with the loss of six pieces of his artillery.
T. J. JACKSON,
_Major-General, commanding._”
The Saturday following the battle was set apart by General Jackson as a
day of thanksgiving and prayer, and the next day (Sunday) the Lord’s
Supper was celebrated by the Christian soldiers from all the army.
General Jackson was present at this service, and partook of the sacred
feast in company with his men.
On the 16th of June, General Jackson ordered Colonel Munford to press
down the pike, if possible, as far as New Market, and to make the enemy
believe that his whole army was advancing. This Colonel Munford did, and
the Federals, believing that Jackson was again on the march, retreated
to Strasburg and began to fortify themselves.
In the meanwhile, June 17th, Jackson had begun a march, but not towards
Strasburg. The mighty army of McClellan had advanced so close to
Richmond that at night the reflection of its camp-fires could be seen
from the city; and General Lee sent for Jackson to come to his aid as
swiftly as possible.
Great care was taken to make the Federals believe that troops were being
sent to Jackson, so that he could again go down the Valley, and attack
Fremont and Shields at Strasburg. A division of men was sent as far as
Staunton, and the report was spread that a large force was on the march
to Jackson; but the truth was, that our hero was already on his way to
Richmond, where the next blow was to be struck.
It was important to keep the Federals in ignorance of Jackson’s
movement, so Colonel Munford was ordered to make a great show with his
men along the turnpike, and to allow no news to be carried to the foe.
The men were told to give this answer to all questions, “I do not know.”
The historian Cooke tells us this amusing incident, which grew out of
the above order: “One of Hood’s men left the ranks to go to a
cherry-tree near by, when Jackson rode past and saw him. ‘Where are you
going?’ asked the General. ‘I don’t know,’ replied the soldier. ‘To what
command do you belong?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Well, what State are you from?’
‘I don’t know.’ ‘What is the meaning of all this?’ asked Jackson.
‘Well,’ was the reply, ‘Old Stonewall and General Hood issued orders
yesterday that we were not to know anything until after the next fight.’
Jackson laughed and rode on.”
On the 25th of June, the corps reached Ashland, near Richmond.
Jackson had gone on in advance to the headquarters of General Lee, where
his post in the coming strife was assigned him.
Flăñk, side of an army or fleet.
Rē′ĭn-fōrce′, to send more soldiers.
Mys′tery, a great secret.
Pētĭ′tion (pē-tish′-un), a request.
Gēn′ius (jēn′-yus), a man of wonderful mind.
Ăd′jutañt, a military officer who assists another.
Describe—
The battle of Kernstown.
The retreat to Swift Run Gap, McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester,
Cross Keys, Port Republic.
The march to Richmond.