The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-07-08

movement; nor did the Rebel jackson
dream that he was flying in tumultuous
haste before pursuing army little more
than half his own strength. The pur-
suit was wholly Fremonts. On the 9th
er side of the Shenandoah and the noun
tains, Gen. Shields was moving up the
Valley. He was heard of day after day,
by rumors and by information from
scouts, but his exact place was never
known. 1t was successfully announced
that he would place himself in Jackson's S
rear at Woodstock, at Mount Jackson, at
New Market, at Harrisonburg, and at
Port Republic. The rehealing enemy
passed unstayed through each, and the
pursuing force succeeded them, and IN
no place was Shields to be found in rear,
or waiting, as he might, if too weak for a
contest. TO effect a junction with Ere
mont. At Harrisonburg the pursuit be-
came so close that jackson found it nee
essary to strengthen his rear guard and
attempt sudden check of the advance
guard Of his pursuers. He had turned
off from the main road, hopeless of reach
ing Staunton by the turnpike without
being overtaken and forced to fight, for
the bridge at Mount Crs wford was burnt,
and he could not replace it. In the mar
row defles of the Port Republic road.
his wagon trains became entangled and
delayed, and when Col. Wyndham Of the
lst New Jersey Cavalry, heedlessly hurl-
ed his regiment on the rebel rear, he
found himself met and defeated BY two
brigades Of infantry, artillery and caval-
ry. The rash and insubordinate effort
Of Gen. Bayard to retrieve that disaster
was repelled by the same force, the
strength of which was still unsuspecied,
till it consumed in a half hours murder
Gus fire more than half the brave battal
ion of Kane's Rifles, which were sent in
to the woods to attack it.
When, finally. on Sunday, the pursu
ing column again advanced, the enemy
had been unable by a days delay to re-
treat more than seven or eight miles, and
were discovered in force in position of
complete concealment and extraordinary
strength at Cross Keys. The record Of
that obstinate battle shows that the enc
my, for the first time, became aware Of
his numerical superiority TO the force be
fore which lie had fled for week
When Fremont advanced in line of bat
tie, formed with masterly skill and qui-
ct appreciation OF the difficulties Of the
grourd which alone would have estab.
lished military reputation, the enemy,
threatened with the bayonet, and shrink
ing before the deadly fire of the artillery,
withdrew from his position and fell back
t. the interior belt Of woods which hill
his reserve. Nevertheless, this line,
which went SO gallantly forward, were
so inferior in extent to The enemy against
whom it was drawn out, that the rebels,
by help of superior numbers, attempted
to turn both the right aud left flanks,
aud very nta arly succeeded with the lat
ter. don't remember whether stated
ii in the account of the battle, but | be-
leve that on the left that flanking move
ment, which was covered by a screen Of
woods, was only prevented from being
successful by the arrival on that part Of
the field of Col. Albert, Chief OF Staff.
His soldiery instinct, trained in long
Austrian and Hungarian service, antjci.
pated the attempt and ordered up Gen.
Bohlen's brigade TO forestall it by an
eehelon movement. | must not delay
the progress Of this statement by re .wri.
ting the history OF that desperate strug
gle. II is enough 10 add that, though
he then undoubtedly discovered that his
own force largely Y outnumbered his pur.
suer's, Jackson dared not risk another
conflict, but, driven from his first POSI-
lion, and reduced in numbers by the un.
equaled fire Of our artillery, losing heay-
lily also from the gallant efforts of the un
supported 8lh New York on the left, and
wherever his infantry were met, was
10 retreat, and fled along the
road, leaving his dead upon the field,
cannon, and strewirg the
field with everything that could encum-
Der his movements.
His only hope was 10 reach Port Re
public that night, or early enough the
next morning. to throw his exhausted ar
my across the bridge that there still
spanned the Shenandoah, expecting when
once across that rcinforcements would
arrive before The bridge could be recon
structed His calculation was good
one, but it did not provide for Shields.
Up TO Ibis moment Fremont, unaided,
had done all, and seven times more than
all that he was expected to do. II Shields
is at Port Republic, the fruit of fort
nights incessant labors may be gathered
at once. From Cross Keys, Jackson's
only possible line Of march takes him TO
Port Republic and the bridge. On his
right the Shenandoah, bending sudden
ly above the town, hems him completely
in. On the left is his pursuing enemy
in force, extending his lines nearly TO
the river below the town. In front is on
~ the bridge. In other words. when
Fremont advanced in battle order on
Monday morning. Jackson's whole force
was inclosed in the angle OF a river which
could only be crossed by the help Of the
bridge, and there was no other possible
road. or ra,ine. or detile, by which he
could evade the advance Of his pursuers
Destroy the bridge and he is caught
must fight OF surrender on the spot, for
4