The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-09
Battle Of Port Republic.
THE FIERcEsr STRUGGLE OF THE WAR.
Quad in Detroit Free Press.

THE FIERcEsT STRUGGLE OF THE WAR.
| NJ Quad In Detroit Free Press
Ash saw Port Republic nesting against the
shaggy mountains one September day in 1881
so it looked in the mellow days of June, 1862
1t is a strange, wild spot and the country for
miles around is full of wildness and romance
Here is the same Shenandoah across which
Federal and Confederate shells screamed and
shrieked-here the eternal hills which trem-
bed as artillery doomed and musketry crashed.
These sooty-faced children playing on the
| door-steps know nothing OF war, but the
| gray-haired women behind them remember
the day when the fury of battle startled
them as never earthquake nor tornado could.
JACKsoN AT BAY.
Fremont had followed jackson out of the
Shenandoah Valley-Shields was coming up
the Luray to close in. jackson had sent off
/ his plumber and prisoners through Browns
Gap, and there was time for him to follow
Either Federal army outnumbered his, but
when the great Confederate fighter reached
| Port Republic he turned at bay. They had
pressed him close and drawn blood, and they
, meant to do more. They would close in and
make an end ofhim. He must retreat or fight
| He would not retreat, and when jackson meant
/! fight he meant to be the attacking party. In
| ten minutes after he understood the situation
his men were moving.
HOLDING FREMONT.
Shields was Fastening up, but Fremont was
| nearer. Ewell moved out to Cross Keys to
check and hold him while Jackson could pre-
| pare for Shields What 5000 Federals could
have done at Strasburg three or four days be-
| fore, 5000 Confederates now accomplishment
| Cross Keys. Two hours more wou ID have
| taken Fremont to the Shena ndoah, when he
| suddenly discovered Ewell in his front. Ere
| mont waited-Ewell attacked. 1t is one of the
| prettest battlefelds nature ever made, and for
| three hours it was one of the fiercest of the
| war. If kwell could not hold Fremont Jack
1 son must retreat. If Fremont could not break
| through, Shields might be beaten. Artillery
was never better used than at Cross Keys, and
| from an hour before noon until 3 O'clock the
| crash of musketry was terrific. Fremont
men-Ewell had no more to maneuvre-
/ Without man in reserve-wth every man
| closed up and every musket speaking, he slow
| ly drove Fremont's left wing foot by foot
crushed his center back on his right wing
and with another full brigade he would have
| won complete victory in half an hour more
But he had no more men, and he had to b,
satisfied with holding his ground. This he
did until dark, when he was ordered back to
Port Republic with his main command. Ere
mont had been checked--now for Shields
FIGHT AND F,LL BACK"
And yet the road TO Port Republic was MOI
to be left open to Fremont. A single regiment
was left in his front, and it was to stay there
1t driven back it was to take another position
II driven from that it was to take another and
if driven to the river it was to fire the bridge
You smile at the idea of thousand men
checking the impetus OF an army corps. Rid
from Strasburg to Cross Keys and you will
pass fifty places where a hundred men could
check 10000. If the advance of an army is
regiment, the army must halt until that regi-
ment breaks through or rides over an opp0s-
ing force. At the turn of narrow mountain
road, shut in by walls of granite which fox
could not climb, ten men may hold an arm,
| until the ten are cOrpses.
SHIELDS IN POSITION
Shields had heard the fighting at Cross Keys
| and hurried up. On the night of the Sth OF
June he was near enough to see the twinkle OF
lrbtc int
the village in the forks of the Shenandoah
| Then he must have learned that Fremont had
| been checked on the other side OF the river and
that he was face to face with Jackson Banks,
Milroy or Fremont would have retreated
Shields remained. If he had failed at Stras
| burg, he was on hand now Over there is
| Cole Mountain, where his left rested, and where
| his park of artillery was so admirably post. d.
| Down here is the Shenandoah, where his rioht
| rested, and between is a corn field and pota
| to-patch. No general could have massed his
army to more advantage, and Shields was TO
prove that his men could fight better than
they could march. All night long he was
getting into position and strengthening the
weak points and scarcely had his men snatched
hasty breakfast when they caught the
| ripple of Jacksons banners moying down upon
| them.
| WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT.
Jackson smiled grimly as he surveyed the
Federal position. He was again face to face
with the man who had beaten him at Kerns-
town. He saw that Shields meant fight, and
| q mi ha bOpnrl6 ,b,>
| had boxed Federal armies about from end to
end of the Shenandoah now found in his front
a general who would not give an inch. Over
the river single regiment was holding FIRE.
mont. Here, under the shadow of the noun
tain, Shields was waiting the onslaught of
Jackson's whole army. The preponderance of
numbers was with the Federals, but counting
only the men called into action it was an even
thing, though Jackson must attack He cool
ly and carefully surveyed every foot of the
Federal line from mountain to river, and he
could not discover a weak point. 1t was a
short, strong line, and to attack any point was
to meet u cross fire. Shields would not leave
such position to attack Jackson-Jackson
could not delay for fear that Fremont would
come up behind him. Already the morning
breeze brought to his ears sounds which told
him that the single regiment left to fight and
fall back over the mountain road was being
pressed. Shields was waiting the onslaught
THE ATTACK ON The CENTER
jackson hoped that a grand. dash at the
Federal center would break it, The ground
from mountain to river was then wheat. field
with nothing to obstruct charge The great