The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-06-14
Fsou THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

The news from the regeon of Gen. Ere
nons's operations continues exciting, II
not encouraging The record of the past
week may be briefly made up as fol!~s:
About the 9th inst, Fremont learned
tina: jackson had passed through New
Market, which is % miles north OF Har-
risonburg. on the 5th, with barely 5000
man. Frenlo: imediately started Grom
Front Royal in pursuit, capturing wagons
prisoners, and supplies that had been
scattered BY the way On Friday Fremont
reached IIarrisonburg' driven Jackson's
rear guard out of the town as he entered,
our advance skirmishing with the enemys
rear beyond town until dark. At o'clock
the LIST New Jersey Cavalry, after driving
the enemy through the village, fell into an
ambuscade in the woods to the southeast
of the town, i'll which Col Winoham, of
that regiment, was captured, and consied-
cradle loss sustained. Col. Cheseret, with
his brigade, subsequently, engage the enc
my in the timber, driving him from his
position and taking his camp.
at about s clock battiliou Of Col.
Kanes Pennsylvania Regiment entered
the woods under the direction Of Brig.
Gen Bayard, and maintained for half an
hour vigorous attack, in which both
sides suffered severely. driving the enemy.
The enemy attempted to she'll our troops,
but a few shots from our batteries soon
silenced his guns.
al tier dark the enemy continued his
retreat, our forces pressing his rear.
Cen AShby, who covered the retreat
with his whole cavalry force and thee regi-
ments of infantry, exhibiting admirable
Skill and bravery, was among the killed.
On Saturday, Gen. Milroy made a recon-
n piSlnce, a distance of some seven miles,
on the Fort Republic road, southeast from
II ,rrisonburg. He found portion of the
enemy encamped in tho woods.
On Sunday morning, the Sth, Fremont,
with his army. left Harrisonburg in pur-
suit of the enemy. He came up with him
at S a n, seven miles distant from that
place, at Union Church, on the ShenandC-
ali, near the river battle ensued The
battle began with heavy firing at IL
o'clock, and lasted with great obstinacy
and :io!ancc until o'clock p. m. Some
diminishing aud artillery firing continued
from that time till dark Our troops
fought occasionally in the n,urderour fire
G: greatly superior numbers; tho hottest
of the small-arm fire being on the left wing,
which was held by Stahl's brigade, consis-
ting Of five regiments The bayonet and
canister shot were used freely ana with
great effect By CUR men.
The loss on both sides is very great
Ours was very heavy among the officers,
orr forces encanlped on the field for the
night.
The way in which the enemy maintained
himself in this battle showed that if he
hal but 5000 men. they were full enough
to cope with Fremopts force, whatever
that might be, and Fremont must have
help So Gen. Shields, who had been
marched from New Market 10 Fredericks
burr to Mcdowell, and then back again
to help Fremont, hurried Up to lutte with
him.
On Monday morning, Gen. Shields had
reached Port Republic, q few miles south
east of the scene of the previous days con-
flict between Fremont and Jackson. On
the same morning, Fremont renewed his
march in pursuit of Jackson, who was in
full retreat upon Port Republic. About
lc o'clock Fremont is surprised to hear a
heavy canonadins in his front, and soon
learns that Jackson has encountered Gen.
Shields, with whom he maintained a
severe contest of four hours, until Shields
was reinforced by Fremont, upon which
the enemy again retired, aud at last &C
counts Shields was pursuing him down
.he river"