Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-02-28


the intelligence of Jacksoh's victory at Port Re
public, came, Coi---- exclaimed: .Igti...E+
~''lle is the greatest of all Isolders? There new
or was a greater campaignthanl the campaign il
the Valley, will not say that jackson initiate,
Napoleon, but, ifhe had lived before the Empc.
ror, would say that Napoleon initiated Jack
| sonl'' - '.'. .' '
The object of this paper is to describe the &C.
tion, the intelligence of which aroused the mill
tary enthusiasm Of the old French officer
To perform the task ,conscentiously and accu-
rately, it is necessary to begin at the beginning
The marches Of Jackson were even more remark
able than0his habits-the huge strides of the Co
lossus more Interesting even than the blows
which he dealt. He aimed to conquer an enemy
rather by sweat than blood-and Port Republic
was only tho last scene of the last act in drama
which was from the first scene-movement,m move
ment nt'moyementl ,-.. II ira. :,
In March of this year.. 1862, Jackson was at
Winchester with 1000 man, with orders to hold
the Valley. brunr - igi,gus I..... t.gf
One morning the enemy advanced upon him
with abort 40, oso msn-thatis, ten to one; and
when his friends said, SADLY "good bye, Geuer-
al" he did'not take the hands held out, and re-
Piled: .',' ...'''1i Ei.7'. .'o1 ,bi
'No!T will never leave Winchester without a
fght-never! neverl" 80 .f So. no5' p.
-Four hours afterwards he was retreating, but
only in obedience to a peremptory order from
Richmond. ~ S.r'' g. -E1'i - -iar.s 80
'ls everything removed, Major?" he s'iid TO
his chief quartermsster.G ..:..u ~ ..-
NEARLY eycryuling, General" D.,
"tTake your time, Maior; I am in no hurry to
leave Winchester
Hetrealing slowly mp the Valley; he had reach
ed ant Jackson, when Ashby sent him word
that the enemy-were moving his. forces from Win
chester towards Fredericksburg to reinforce Nc
Clellan on the Chickahominy. AT the intei-
gence Jackson put his column in motion, and
hasteDed with his 'foot cavalry. toward the
Potomac. Fifty miles were passed over with the
speed of horse. The enemy H. 900 in number
were fohnd Mt Kernstovn; and, although the
1000 men Of Jackson were so much exhausted
that they saggeted when their feet were placed
upon the rolling stones of the turnpike, their
COMMANDER gave the order to attack. 2 \
1.-The battle Of Korhstown flllowed-the strpo-
gle OF 2s!a2 men todriye about 5000 from the
field. That fight was one of the hardest of the
war. jackson said that the firing was more rap
id and continuous than during any portion of
the hattie of Manassas. ~, ....','
The acton commenced at four o'clock on n
bleak March evening, with the wind sobbiug over
Tue great .helds OF broomstraw, soon TO be dab
bled in blood. Until nightfall it ragged With
enormous bitterness. Time after time the Feder-
al flag went down, and q northern officer after
wards declared that the obstinate stand made by |
a single Federal regiment "alone saved Them
But at dark Jackson was beaten. The enemy
were developing both of his fanks, and driving
bis centre.f .Ashhy attiat moment sent him word
that if he could only hold his ground ten rmin-
utes longer the Federal forces would retire. ~
know this to bo so, said Ashby; he had captur-
ed, tits said, courier of Gen. Shields" bearing
the order. But it astoo late.' The battle was
lost. Jackson's men were retrcating-s suenly,
''without panic, !" even The Federal
said in bis report--but they were re-
treating. I.eG ~ FaL. - j.. . 80
Having moved back three or four miles, jack
son lay down in a fenceicorner, slept for an hour
Dr. more, and at daylight commenced his retreat
almost The enemy followed him
no further then Strasburg, from which point
they fell back to Winchester, barricading the
road in the their rear.
About the middle of April Jackson was in
camp, near Mount Jackson, when he received in
that the enemy were advancing in heavy
orce. Soon their advanc guard struck his rear
1nder Ashby. The Confederate commander was
90 weak to fight the heavy force under Banks,
md slowly moved across the Shenandoah to-
ward Swift Run Gap, through which ran the
'oad to Richmt nd. Ashby had remained behind,
ind it was in endeavoriug to destroy the bridge
,ver the Shenandoah on this occosion-not on
he second retreat-that his historic white horse
eceived the historic death wound. ,.- HfI
Meanwhile Jackson had reached his Gstness in
he Blue Ridge, and it was evident that he had
lot the least intention of retreating further. Like
he Scottish cheftain, his back was against the
ock, and lie did not mean 10 fly. a.. ....; 1,'
General Banks advanced no further than Har-
isonburg. From that place he sent, on the oath
IfAprii, dispatch to Washington, announcing
hat 'tthe rebel Jackson" had abandoned the Vail
ey, and was then in full retreat upon Rich
nond.
The commentary upon this statement was
musing. Jackson riovcd with the rapidity of
he wind, to Staunton advanced thence TO the
Western mountains, strnck and defeated Milroy,
Who was coming to Join Banks drove him from
icDowell to Franklin, and then, having drawn
Up his army, and returned thanks to God for the
ictery, while the enemy were still firing, return
d by rapid marches to the Valley. General
tanks had fallen back to Strasburg, where he
vas Certifying Such had been the result of
ackson's "retreatupon Richmond" 'fg 5"r
No time was lost by the virginian. He sum-
to meet him at New Market; from
hat point crossed the Shenandoah and Massinut-
on advanced down the Luray Valley, and before
he enemy were aware of his presence, made
urious assault upon their outposts, at Front
loyal-.that is to say, precisely on the flank 0!
ieneral Banks at Strasburg. s ...
The Federal forces at Front Royal disappeared,