Maryland free press., 1867-03-07
.sl 7-, ,aIFromths Old Guard ] 80 -,
BATTLE OF PoRT-REPUBLIc.
by Joux ,srRS COOKE
CcoScLupsD.]s' 1

,aaor@ 10 'dJcoscLupsD. ]s H' 7s'' @,%, ,Y.
From this moment commenced that series
superb manoayre, which e,llraiaass& in the er-
eelientiy fought battle of Port Republic. ~
To understand the ''situation, ut is absolutely
necessary tc look at the map, fremont was at
Hsrrisonburg; Shields at Conrad Store, in the
Luray Valley; Jackson at Port Republic These
three points are nearly the angles of an ednilat-
erl triangle-ths side ten orrhheen miles IN
Jackson had is, 600 men; Shields about the
same; Fremont about 20, ,ooo,, according to the
records captured by Gen. Ewell. II must have
bean near shat. Isir hr.'sr1rru aH-@7S
fFremont Joined Shields, or Shields Joined
Fremont, a column of about 81, 600 troops would
thus be opposed to $4,000. q, If he Joined him.
this had been provided against. Jackson had
deskoyed the bridge al Conrad store, as he had
DESTROYED that near Newmarket. Trying q sec. s.
ond time to cross, i5aields SAW the swollen cur
rent directly in his path No junction was pos
sible-Jackson, ctouching like a tiger at Port
Republic, could spring either, on Fremont or
Shields according to his fancy .a' js.;ai fr~
It will soon be seen that he intended te crush
them before they could unite tosetherT5to
.ear to piece, Shields, and then attack and de-
stroy Fremont, or be destroyed By him. It'll might
have been thought that the great gladiator
was tired of retreatipg that the genius Of flight
flushed through his pulses. Those who scanned
| his c,uatenance at that moment saw m express
ion upon it, which is best described BY the word
| dangerous" -'" rs ...5I.,- Nd
| poment of great personal peril to the COM
mander was to precede the hour ofdanger for hi
tcommand. The incident about to he related II
curious. -
Jackson's main body reached the Shenandoah
opposte Port Republic, on the night Of Jun'
! 7tb. The General sent some cavalry in the direc
tion of Shields, and then established his, head
| quarters in the lines. - ,1'7dr' ,al =
! On the next morning'hs had ust mounted hi
horse, when, the cayary cams back panic-stricakS X
on, pufsued BY Federal horse and artillery, on
piece of which gallopped up, and unlimesred q
tie bridgea Hoc)
| jackson, was cuL off from. bis army. Iha
bridge was his only means of return to his ZOE
Ices ana jt was commanded by the, muzzle OF
niece Of artillery, loaded and ready. The Gen
erai acted with rapidly. Riding ssraighs to
ward the guu.he called out, harshly: - =, ~ =, y .
'who ordered you to post that gun therre' pr T.
Bring it hers!" ;altH . a
l-Who sseuld give saeh an-osasr busa AFeders
I officer of psk? !, The gus v"s;qaicky llnDere
4 ap-began 70, move to thea plase directsd-an
Jackson, with his staff, spurred !fpri0us|y ssF0S
! the bridge. gl.gr-a,k.Y r g. 7sA SAL - .h-....,
I The ruse was diaeosered tooiato' by the aftiil
cry Captain Rapinson ae . q Portsmouth, ~,
1 Ohio. He fired three shots et Che fasitres, by
j lis M way, and passing rapidly through the camps
viii. ID .his cap IN HE hand exela'medls: s''-
+ "Deatthe long feklfI III
T. It was beaten; tbs troops sprung to arms- ms:
4 r.liasorf0s brigade rsshs4 stFaightto the pFids
and IN fifteen minutes the Federa artillery wa
c.ptursd, their cayalry in full aighs"iyl.k ID.