Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-06-25
THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD p,

down upon them with irresistible power, and they
broke and fed ipgloriousiy,s and were pursued
throughthe streetso Winchester and on TO Y
burg and Harpers Ferry, where the denolanz ssa
elements Of the once powerful army q pa..ss
sought refuge in Maryland AZ Wlncnssssh At
Martinsburg and Front Royal stores, cstiHa.el ~
from three to five millions Of dollars we're .ass
and near three thousand prisoners E1ncumoereu
with his sno;l and embarrassed by his prisoners, on
the yerv borders of the enemy country, jackson
found himself in critical position: ne Ie'nain.1
only. long enough to secure the oooty, "u'sl W.:
the highest importance to our army, ana nay'.s
sn, o .hst IN wagons up the Valley, he followed to
his trains and put his prisoners in place OF
security ,v..h;n,rton r.covered
from their panic, tl,y were overwhe'mea WIN
shame and confusion, and Immediately SET 10 WORK
IN avenge the wound that had been inflicted on their
national honor, 1t was ascertained that jackson
had but small force-that he was encountered with
immense trains and vast numbers Of prisoners, and
that he would have to march 120 miles before he
could reach point Of safety. The whole Northern
press tcemed with threats and promises OF the
speedy humiliation of Jackson and his daring fol-
lowers. Three armies-one from the North, under
Dix-one from the West, under Fremont and Milroy,
and one from the East, under Shields, were i'm
medately set in motion to intercept him, and it was
even said, by some of the Northern journals, that
jackson had fallen into the trap that had been set
for him!
The reader will observe the position of the par
ties. Jacksons forces were scattered from the Po-
tomac to Winchester-Dix came by railway from
Baltlmore-Fremont was west OF the North Noun
tain at Franklin, IN Pendeton, and Shields
east of the Blue Ridge, near Warrenton. The plan
was for Fremont and Shields to push forward and
unite their forces at Strasburg and cut off Jacksons
retreat up the Valley, while'Di would press him
in the rear. The eagle eye of jackson saw the
danger at glance. BY forced march of over 100
miles in three days, he the for Strasbrrg;
but, so close was the struggle, that as he passed
the proposed point of union, his rear guard was
compelled to fight the advanced columns of the
enemy.
Then commenced another retreat and running
fight up the Valley jackson contesting the advance
OF the enemy SO as to secure his trains and pri-
soners When he had accomplished this object,
learning that the enemy had divided his overwheu,-
force. into two columns. Of which, under Shields
was advancing east ofthe Shenandoah river and the
other, under Fremont up the main Valley turnpike,
with view to unite in the upper part Of the Valley,
jackson again turned off at Harrisonburg, having
previously caused Ashby to burn the bridge over
the Shenandoah near Swift Run Gap, and went to
Port Republic, small village situated at the point
where the North and South rivers come together
and form the Shenandoah There was bridge over
only means Of crossing the stream which was swol-
len by recent rams jackson occupied the ground
near both ends OF this bridge and thus had it in his
power to elect which column he would fight, as the
two We're separated by an impossible river. On
Sunday, he determined to attack Fremont first and
accordingly, leaving sufficient force to guard the
bridge, he marched about five miles to the Cross
Keys to meet Fremont, and after terrible conflict
OF many hours, he succeeded in repulsins Fremont
with great loss. He then returned to the bridge,
and after passing over it to the Port Republic side,
burnt 1t, so as to prevent Fremont in he should
be reinforced and rally, from coming to the rescue
Of Shields. The result INDICATED his sasaci,v for
Fremont on Monday was reinforced ard did rally.
anu advanced with an overwhelming force to renew
the conflict with jackson. But, when he reached
the bank of the river, he found that jackson had
passed over and. destroyed the bridge, and that
impossible stream was between them. Fremont
was thus compelled to be an unwilling witness of
the conflict between Jackson and Shields for as
as the bridge had been eilectually destroyed and
his thus secured, Jackson advanced upon
Shields, who was cncampcd at Lewiston, the estate
of Gen. Samuel II. Lewis about two miles north
Of Port Republic. Shields of his ap-
proach, and made every preparation to receive HIM.
The attack was made about sunrise on Monday, 9th
June and lasted until between 10 or II o'clock,
when the forces Of Shields broke and fed IN utter
confusion and dismay. The rout was complete
The slaughter was great and the pursuit continued
until late hour OF the day About 1910 prisoners
were TAKEN and six pieces Of artillery. The whole
road was strewed with knapsacks. arms, blankets,
&c. Those who witnessed it think that the rout
was as complete as that inflicted on Banks The
loss OF the enemy in the two battles of Cross Keys
and Lewiston in killed, wounded and missing is
estimated at near 5000, while ours does not exceed
600 1t seems almost incredible, but it Is, never.
thcless, true
These two battles among the most brilliant
if not the most brilliant of the war.
Thus it will be seen that Jackson and his army,
in one month, have routed Mll,py-annihilatcd
Banks-discomfted Fremont, and overthrown
Shields Was there ever such series of victories
won by an inferior force by dauntless courage and
consulnnate generaShip.
With 10000 fresh troops under Jackson Lincoln
would be compelled to raise the siege of Richmond
and look to the security of his own Capital.
Fremont still remains OH the hills opposite Port
Republic lie is reported to have about 10000
men. Shields had 5000, and Jackson encountered
him with about the number.
What the next move will be, it would be impos-
sible for me to say, even if | knew. But jackson
keeps his own counses. lie speaks by Deeds and
not by words. Suffice it to say, he will strike at
the right time, and in the right place. Whatever
courage, skill, industry and patriotism can accom-
psh, he will be sure to effect.
FROM GEN. BEAUREGARD'S ARMY.
The Knoxville Register, Of the 18th inst. says:
A gentleman who reached here yesterday, left
Bcauregards srmy at Baldwin, Miss, thirty miles
below Corinth, the Mobile and Ohio railroad,
las! Tuesday, and it was in motion again. and the
general expectation was that it would fall back to
Okeona twenty five miles still further down on the
railroad. lie represents the officers and men in the
best Spirits in an excellent state of discipline, in
comparative good health, perfectly satisfied of the
propriety Of their retrosrade movement strategetl
they will prove invincible whenever the conflict
shall come.
He gives true account of the affair out Of which
Halleck, or the Northern Associated Press tele-
graphic operators in Hallecks name fabricated
great victory over the Confederates, with rebel