The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-09

ranks unbroken A double line ofbattle waited
their coming with never tremor. Then sheets
of flame leaped over the wheat-down from
the mouutain-side-up from the river and 8
cloud of smoke covered all For twenty five
minutes there was fighting to kill. That cen
ter would not give an inch. Again and again
the lines in gray hurled themselves forward
until bayores drank blood and blue and gray
died together, but each moment the cross fire
grew hotter. The Federal artillery used moth
ing but grape and canister, and every gun had
fair range.
DRIVEN BACK.
All at once the fire of musketry slackened
| and wild cheers were heard above the sullen
boom of cannon. Jackson's 5000 were falling
back They had struck the Federal center,
but they could not break it, More than 400
dead men were left lying on the trampled and
bloody wheat field as the Confederates fell back.
When the gray lines retreated the blue adj
yanced. They met three fresh regiments and
yet they were not checked. Like great wall
VI llC tllooC liuCo oWSJb Ou tIIOuSu GuC uCut.
driving the foe and capturing such artilley as
was not hurried off jackson was being
driven.
you MUST TAKE THOSE GUNs!"
The Federal infantry fire was terribly hot
that Of the Federal cannon hurricane of
death. Unless that park of artillery on the
Federal left could be taken, Jackson was de-
feated 1t was a brigade of Louisiana troops
followed by the regiments of Virginians. 1t
is run of half a mile with guns at tral--a
dash up the mountain side-a rush through the
underground, and the Federal gunners turn
their pieces upon the new foe. 1t was not war
on that spot. 1t was pandemonium OF cheers,
shouts, shreks aud groans, lighted by the
flames from cannon and musket-hlotched by
fragments of men thrown nigh into trees by
bursting shells. To lose the guns was to lose
the battle. To capture them was to win it.
TAKEN AND RETAKEN.
In every great battle of the war there was
hell-pot. At Port Republic it was on the
mountain side. For an hour men ceased to be
men. They cheered and screamed like luna
tics-they fought like demons-they died like
fanatics Long enough before they reached
the guns each one of those six Confederate
regiments has lost over a hundred men. Once
-twice-thrice their battle lines have pushed
forward, to be literally wiped out. The Sew
enth Louisiana finds itself opposite the Sew
enth Indiana, and there is a duel-a rush-a
grapple In fifteen minutes the Louisianans
have lost more than one-third of their number
the Hoosiers scarcely less. In the little val
ley across which the Confederates rush for
the guns, there are 400 corpses left behind the
living. The Federals do not retreat their guns.
They stand by them, and many are shot, thrust
with the bayonet, and hacked to pieces with
sword and sabre. There is a whirlwind OF
blood and death sweeping round and round
he guns for five minutes, and then Jackson's
men have won. They raise q cheer, but ii
dies away in scream. The Fedcrals gave
way only to rally and return They advance
with rush that sends the enemy whirling
over the corpscs-across the valley-back into
the thick underground and minute has hard
ly passed before the guns are again throwing
grape and canister at Jackson's left, now be-
ing slowly pushed by the Federal right It
Shields dallied on the march, he is making UP
for it now If he failed to reach Stsasburg on
Iime, he is showing his mettle here. Across
the river single regiment is holding Fremont
in check. Here on this field of blood Jacksons
best troops are being pushed back, and his
Louisiana Tigers find their match.
And now they come again! The cheers
from the Federal left have nerved those six
regiments until they would change hell itself |
They reform under a terrific fire and rush
with an impetus which even the hand of death |
cannot stop. They reach the guns again, and !
again men shoot, stab, cut, hack-ayel they |
grapple and roll under the wheels of cannon
so hot that they would almost blister There
are no wounded. 1t is grapple to the death.
For the second time the Federals are pressed
back, and for the second time the guns speak
under Confederate hands, Will end here
No! Painting like dogs-faces begrimmcd-
nine-tenths of them bareheaded-the Federal
wave rolls back on the guns, and now there is
Il gIapple such as no other battle ever furn-
shed. Men beat each others brains out with
muskets which they have no time 10 load
Those who go down to die, think only of re-
venge, and they clutch the nearest foe with a
grasp which death renders stronger. Down
where the Federal right is pushing jackson
they hear this pandemonum of shreks anG
creams on the mountain side, and they halt
1t is Il sound ten times more horrible than tn,
whistle of grape or the hiss of canister Men
cease firing to look up. They can see nothing
for the smoke, but what they hear is a sound
like that Of hungry tigers turned loose to tear
each other to the death.
A FATAL ERROR
If Shields had had two more regiments in
reserve behind his guns they could not hay,
been taken. When the Federals were driven
for the third time they were not disheai tened
but wiped out. To recover his artillery the
Federal commander detached brigade from
his right Weakened only by that much
Jackson could drive it. He OWNED where
other Generals had to grope. In the same
breath he ordered reinforcements to the men
holding the guns and charge on the Federal
center and left. From that moment the battle
Of Port Republic was decided.
DYING GAME.
Shields must have realized it, but he would
die game. With his own artillery pouring
death into his ranks, he shortened his lint S
and for half ar hour held jackson with fire
of musketry so hot that men advancing against
it were struck by five or six bullets at once
1t was his last effort. Foot by foot he lost
ground-foot by foot jackson advanced-and
when there was no longer any hope, the Fed
eral army faced about tor the Luray and &C
knowledged its defeat. 1t was not panic,
but Shields was routed. He was pushed for a
couple of miles and then left to pursue his way
towards the Potomac with only cavalry to
sting his rear-guards and keep him going.
TOO LATE.
When Shields was cut of sight of the battle
field, Fremont came up. He had AT last brushed
the Confederate fly from his path and reached
the river. Fremont was on one side-Jackson
on the other, and the long bridge spanning the
stream was on fire If Fremont had fight in
him. he had come too late. Next morning he
began his retreat on that Mecca of Federal