The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-06-24
march Give miles in advance of Ere
mont on the evening of May 81.
THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT. MA

snarp engagement occurred between tht
rebel cavalry and artillery, under Ashby
and the 1st New Jersey cavalry and {
battery of artillery on our side. Boil
sides claimed the victory. Ashby fel
back with his principal force, and left ;
few cavalry to act as extreme pickets anc
report the progress Of Fremont's army.
THE RoADs-sTREYGTH OF sTRAsBURG
Jackson, it should be remarked, had
the advantago of better road than thai
taken by Fremont and at Strasburg
which is natural fortress, he was com
paratively safe against any force Fremont
could possibly have brought to bear
against him. He therefore posted his
army and biyoucked for the night. Slighr
Skirmishing among the pickets continu-
ed all that night but Fremont did not
advance.
MKT MORNING, JUNE /,
at six o'clock, Jackson's army, drenched
with rain, and enervaed by hunger, re
sumed It's march, taking the road from
Strasburg to Staunton. Fremont's col
umn was likewise early in motion, con
tnulng the pursuit with energy About
half way between Slrasburg and Wood
stock the booming Of cannon announced
another collision of the hostile columns
TRAP To THROW OUR CAvALRY-UNIoN RE.
TALIATIoN.
The rebels the night previous had
stretched ropes across h road 0 tip our
cavalry, and by this ru5e succeeded in
killing and wounding thirteen of them.
This nfuriated our troops so much that
they the next day, coming up with Ash,
by's force between Srasburg and Wood
stock, charged upon them with great fu
ry, and caused the Oh Virginia esiment
which is much distinguished in the
service of the rebels-to be totally routed
IN qulcktime and with serious loss.
Ashby rallied forty of the rebel infantry,
s.ragg'ers, however, and. pos ing them in
the woods on each side Of The road, where
they were secure from cavalry, succeed.
ed in checking for time the advance OF
our cavalry, and probably saved many
OF our command from destruction.
THE ARTILLERY AT WORK.
Our artillery soon came up, however,
and the rebel battery Of SIX guns. known
as the Richmond battery, was halted to
support the enemy's rear guard. Their
guns were sileneed by ours in few
minutes, however, and our cavalry dash.
ing forward, captured a small party OF
rebel infantry, and, encouraged BY their
success, charged upon the rebel battery
with SO much spirit that The rebel drag
oons once more He'd and left the guns OF
the Richmond battery exposed. Three
of these were taken As trophies. The
onemy's cavalry attempted to recapture
them, but failed most miserably. Jack
son had his prisoners now near the rear,
often III full view of Fremont, and pyoba-
bly, placed there purposeIy 10 protect him
from the fire OF the Union artillery. The
losses on either side in these encounters
were not heavy in men, and there is no
means AT present OF ascertaining the
names Of any Of the killed and wounded.
The rebels took some prisoners but our
forces took al least twice as many for
they had the advantage of coming up
with the stragglefs Of the enemy. many
OF whom were compelled 10 surrender as
prisoners of war
AT WOODSTOCK,
Jackson took up an impregnable position,
and halted his force, after march oil
eleven miles that day. Fremont did not
attempt TO dislodge him, but hoyered
close upon his rear.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL PROVOST MARSHAL
II should be mentioned here that our
cavalry, under Brigadier Gen Bayard
entered Srssburg SO suddenly that the
rebel provost marshal and his command
OF about two hundred men were captured
OH Tie afternoon of this day
TAE RETREAT Ep-mosDAY. June
bad ROADS.
About s o'clock a. m. on Monday,
June 2, Jaekson's force, now consisting
OF about 20, 900 men and fifty guns, con
tinued their retreat Fremont was again
upon their heels. Several artillery skir.
mishes occurred during the march from
Woodstock to Elenburg, but nothing in
the fighting line Of much interest hap,
pened. Some OF 4 e rebel wagons got
stuck IN the road, which WAS rendered
soft by the vast amount Of travel on il
and the recent heavy rains. ana these
were burned by the rebels to preyert
their capture. When their batteries pol
stuck, however, they were dragged out
and by extraordinary exertion hurried
forward ont OF danger.
AT THE VILLAGE or EpENBuRG,
five or six miles from Woodstock. the
re bel General Ashby. by Jackson's or.
ders, after seeing the rear guard safel,
across the bridge over Steny Greek, fired
the wooden structure, and il was soon
committed 10 The flames Tie cavalry
under General Bayard, coming Up. found
the creek not fordable. X was foam
ing flood, produced BY the uuprecedent
ed rains OF the season
THE REBEL RETREAT sLACKENED.
jackson MAS now more composed
Slowly and carefully did he march hi,
bag CARED forces. One hour al,srward
rain began to fall ia torrents, Gurin.
which Fremont halted To build a bridge
while Jackson pursued his retrorrad,