, 1865-07-28

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Gapf. Myers company tame rushing back h
4,sSracet9l disorder, announcing that th
Federal lorcss we're ii close pursuit., Capt
Chir4ey- and hts ;empany OF cavalry
Which Tas In tow, also shameful
aca- me brt:ades Of Generals TaliaierY
,dered to occupy positions Immediately nortI
Of the trldge. By this tme the F, deial cav
airy, accompanied by artillery, were In sight
9rd, after directing few elots towards th
bridge, they crossed Soalh liver, and dashIn
into the village, planted ore of their piece
at the southern entrance d the bridg &c. L
the meantime the batteries Of Woodlng
Poague and Carpenter wcrt being placed j
position, aEd Gen. Tal!atefro's brigade hnvil
reacht d the vicinity Of the bridge, was OF
dered 10 charge across, capture the piece
and occupy the town. Whilst one Of Ponsuc'
pieces was returning the fire Of that Of th
enemy nt the fur eid Of ths bridge, tn
S7th Virginia regiment Col. Fanlkersou
after delivering its h's, gallantly CHARGED
lowed by the other regiments oi the brigade
entered the town. and dispersed and droyi
back the Federal cavalrf. Another piece O
artillery with which the FCdcrals bad I'D
ranced, wss atandoIea and subsequently,
1ell into our hands.
About this time considerable body of In
| tantsy was seen advancing up the same road
|
the re.reatine cavalry eud advancing inian
I try. In short time the infantry followed
the cavalry, falling back to Lewis, three
miles down the river, pursued for a mile By
our batteries on the opposite bank, when The
enemy dlsarreared jn the wood around 9
pend IN the road. This attnck Of Gen. Shiells
hed naruly been repulsel before EWell was
seriously eDgngtd with Fremont, moving on
the opposite side Of the river. Tho enemy
pushed forward, driving In the 18th Alabama
Col. Canty, from their post on picket. This
regiment made gallant 1esfstencc, which 50
fsr checked the Federal advance as to afT..d
to Gen. Ewen time fer the choice Of his posi-
tfon ut leisure.
His ground was well selected on a com,
manding ridge; rivulet hnd large field Of open
ground in tronl, wood on both la1ks, and
lis line intersected near Its center hy The
!oad leading to Port Republic. Gen.
Trimble's brigade was posted On the right,
etmewhat in advance Of his CENTER The bat.
teies ol Courtney, Lusk, Brockcnbsough
and Rains in The cenler, Gen. Stewards big.
ade On thu lett, and Gen. Elzey's brigade Ia
rear Of tie center, and IN position to
strengthen either wing. Both wings were in
tie wood.
About ten O'Clock the enemy Ii, ew out hts
ak1ImfshtIs, and shortly alter posted his ur.
tillcIy opposite 10 our batteries. The artil-
leIy IRE Was Kept up with great animation
4,
In the meantime brigade of Federnl forces
adsanctd under cover, upau the right, occu.
Nitd by Gen. TIiMblc, who deserved Its fire
mill they reachtd tho crest Of the hill. ia
Easy range Of his musketry, when he poured
deadly fifc from his whole front, rndrt
which they fell back. Observing a battery
about being posted On the enemy's len, hi,
by tue 18th and 25th Vfrgsn!,
regiments, OF E,zey's brigade, pushed for.
wald Tor the purpose Of taking 1t, but found
1t withdrawn bctore be reached the sp3t,
having, In the meantime, some spirited tk,r.
m'shins with its in'antEy supports. Gen.
Trimble had now advanced moro than mile
from his original position, while the Fe3cral
pied by them In the morning
Gen. Taylor, Of tho 8th BRIGADE OF
Louisiana troops, baving arrived from the
vicinity Of the bridge at Port Republic, to-
ward which he had navel in tn. morning,
rtporttd to Gea. Ewcll about :. p. m., aud
was rlaeed IN The rear. Col. Patton, with
the 42d and 4Sth Virginia regiments. aud LIST
Battalion OF Virginia regulars alio Joined,
ard, with the remainder VI Gen. Eizey's bci..
gade, vas added to the center and LETT, then
supposed to tie Threatened. Gen. EEel having
been Informed by Lieut.. Helurlchs, of the En..
gineer corps, who had been sent out to 70.
conntite1, that the enemy WAS moving o
]a'ee column on bis left, did not advance Ut
cnce; bat subsequently, ascrrtalnlng that no
attack was d. sientd by the force referred TO,
he advanced, dr.ve in the cnemy'a sklrmisu-
ess, and, when night clos:d, was In posltion
On ground Previously held by tha enemy.
Ilprirg this fight Brig. Gems. E'zay and
St. wa.t wee wLtn led ald disabled from COM
M.and.
This ereagsme With Fremont ha. gener-
ally nftn known as the battlu Of Cross Keys,
nh .t,t
Ewel1. I hsd fenrninel at Port Republic
during the principal rar! Of thr sth, expecs-
Ing renewal Of the attack. As no move
uent Hss made DY Gen. Shie.d. to rsnav tho
aettGn tIAt day, I determined to take the
initiative, and stack him the following more-
ins.
Accordingly, Gen. Ewen WAS directed to
nsore i1o1n his position at an carly hour, the
morning OF The OH. toward Port Republic,
leaving Gen. Trimble with bis brigade, sup.
port. BY Col. Patton, with the 43j Virgins
infal,.ry and the 1st battalion Of Virginia
regulars, to told Fremont In check; With IN.
slsnetioDe, If Lard pressed to. retire across
tie North river aed burn the bridge in their
rear. Soon after ten O'Clock G ~ T5iulb!e,
with the lust Of our forces, had crossed II.
Nertn river ana the bridge WAS destro, ed
IN The meantime, before tlre In the moi niar.
Gln. WsndeF's brigade Was In Port Republic
and having crossed the south fork by i tenn.
poraiy wagon bridge placed there for the
purpose, was muving down the river road tn
attack the fo1c. c: G:: Shields Advancing
mile and half he encountered the Feder.
nj pIckets and dove them In.
The enemy bad jud!c!ously selected his PC
sltion i.s defense. Upon a rising erouad
near the Lewis House, he had planted six
guns, which commanded III. road from Port
Republic, AID swept the piateaI for con-
s:de'able distance II front. As Gsu. Wiuder
moved forward his brigade, rsp.d and se.
y.,e fire Of shell was opened upon II, Cane.
Poagne, with tw0 Patloit guns. WIS ptotunflv
placed ID position On the left Of the road, "a
engage, and, IT possible, dis1odge the Fcderal
battery. Capt Garter was sent to the rieht
to select posi- .iou for his battery, but. tind.
Ing 1t Impossible TO- drag 1t through the
dense unaererowth, II was brought bscE md
part of 1t placed near Poague.
nc artillery tire Wns well SUSTAINED bv ot,r
batterlte, out touud unequal to that OF The
encmy. IN me meantime, Wlnder being now
reinforced, the 9Th LouEsiana regiment, Col.
InJs, seeing no mode Of siltncintF the Fe1ersi
ba1ttry, or escaping Its destructive nissises
bnt oy rapid charge and the capture Of It. !;
AdyaIctd with great holdneaa for snme dis.
lance, but encountered such heavr fire of,
ara1lleTy aad small arms as greatly to disor.
gapize Ills Command, which fell back ia L,s-
order. The enemy I'd dyanced acrnss the deld
,
lbfantiT supports, IN consequence Of which
our guns had to retire. The enemy'sa sadyence
was checked by spirited attack upon the;r
lank By the 5Sth and 54th VIn.iuin reet
mt nts, directed by Gen. Ewcll and led 6y
Col. Scott, although bis command wns af:er-
wa'de driven back TO the woods With severe
lOse. The batteries we're all safely withdrawn
except one If Capt. Poague's G-pou1derguns
which vas carried OF By the enemy.
While Wlndet's command vas ii this crit.
tcal condition, the En1aot and yucccss stut a..
tack OF Gen. Taylor On the Federal Left and
rtaF, directed attention from the front, aud
lead 10 concentration cf their force upon
hin. Moving to the right along the m Jun.
tain activity, through rough anu tupvl-tl
forest, and much disordeled By the tupliitV
md ohBtruct.ons Of the march, TaYlor cner1s.
ed with his command from tue wood inst AZ
Inc lond cheers OF the enemy had procIaitn.4d
their success in front; and although assailsd
by superior force in front and flank, with
lheir guns In position ard point blank rance.
ne charge Was calamity made, and the bit.
bands. Three times was thls battery lost
I'D won In the desperate and determined eE |
orts to capture and recover It.. Alter hold
pg the batteries for short time. ffesh hrl.
.ade OF the enemy advanced upon his 13nk. l.
made vigorous and we'll conducted attack
1pon him. accompanied By CALLING atc Of L
'an'steE 4lon 3 piece sIaAe14y Drought into !
posltton, at distance Of apour $50 yatds.
Under this combined attack Taylor fell back
. the skirt Of the wood, Near which the can
urcd battery was stationed, and from that
,oint continued his fire upon the advancing
neuy. who succeeded In iecaptusins one OF
he guns. which he carried oil, leaving both
aisson and timber. The enemy, now occu-
led with Taylor, halted his advance to the
ront. Wlndsr made renewed etT3rt to rally
ia command, and succeeding, with the It'll
.ouls;ana, under M.Jor Penn, (ths Colonel
nd Lieutenant Colonel having been carried
ON the dtll woundel.) and.ths 5th Ylr-
lnia regiment, COL Funk, he Placed part
rosguu's battery In the position previous.
occupied bT 1t, and again opened upon The
n link. apparently to surround him IN the
md. l.LAt4ts ba rat,ortad l