The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-19
Was Fremont Driven Ont of the yalleys
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:


Fremont was not driven out of the valley
after Banks retreat in May, 1862. My memory
and memorandum serve me as follows: After
General Shields victory over Jackson at Win
chester, that spring. Banks pushed on as far
south as Harrisonburg, but fell back to Stras-
burg and Fishers Hill about May 20. Colonel
Kinley Il think with the 1st Maryland reGi-
ment was at Front Royal. Stonewall jackson
came down the Shenandoah pike as far as New
Market, crossed over New Market Gap into the
Luray Valley, and swept away the 1st Mary
land regiment at Front Royal near the close OF
the day. May 3d. We had been outilanked.
At daybreak on the morning of the 24th one
squadron of the Vermont cavalry, portion OF
the 1st Maine cavalry and light battery moved
out from camp near Fishers Hill, through
Strasburg and Middletown, toward Front Royal.
At Strasburg we passed General Banks and the
main portion of his army. Banks had been
surprised.
Some four miles out from Middletown and
the Shenandoah pike we met Jackson. We
We're driven back to Middletown, but in delay
ing Jackson's movements Banks had been given
time to pass Middletown for Winchester, on
his retreat. EweH had taken the east road
from Front Royal to Winchester, but as he was
slow in reaching Winchester, Banks had also
passed that point before Ewell reached it, AT
Middletown, jackson struck our squadron and
completely wrecked it, and this was about all
he did do. He was highly elated with his vic
tory, and made it the subject Of a eongratu-
latory epistIe to JEFF Davis | became prisoner
then, and with the rest marched to Winchester
the next day. We staid at Winchester till May
81, when, suddenly, everything went about
face, and starting from Winchester on the
afternoon of that day, the prisoners were
marched back to Cedar Creek, fourteen miles,
that night. We knew what the trouble was
Fremont had entered the valley from the west;
Jackson's whole army was along with us, and
he himself. During the week Of Jackson's
stay in the valley he had succeeded in picking
up about 1000 prisoners including those he
found in the hospitals and about $50 loyal
residents and colored people. He crowded his
prisoners all they could endure, and more too,
and his army marched lively toward the south
for three or four days.
We reached Harrisonburg on our prison
pilgrimage the evening of June 4. The next
day we were pushed forward twenty-one miles,
through Cross Keys and over the bridge at
Port Republic, beyond the disputed territory.
Before we reached Port Republic we discovered
our flag on the eastern hills and knew that
General Shields command was there How
we wished he would strike his blow. Fremont
was behind the enemy, pushing him along at a
rapid gait. and Shields was in our front. Stone
wall was oyertaken by Fremont In force at
Cross Keys, few miles north of Port Republic,
1lA the DdtlIt VI AIUcS hty5 WAS lpQEQb u lew
days later. Jackson hurried across the bridge
the same night, burning the bridge after him,
and left Fremont in undisputed possession OF
the valley.
Had the Port Republic bridge been destroyed
by Shields command, who were there first,
Jackson could not have escaped from the valley
at that time. The heavy rains of the previous
few days had swollen the Shenandoah and it
was over its banks. Some few men Of Fremont's
command were captured at Cross Keys, from
whom we learned the results. We all claimed
the battle of Cross Keys as our victory. The
losses Of the enemy were heavy. Col. Ashby,
of the Confederate cavalry, among others, per-
ished there and was buried few days after at
Charlottesville. Fremont's successes had out
weighed and outnumbered Banks losses by a
large and handsome majority. No, it was not
Fremont, but Jackson who was driven out.
WARREN GIBBS,
list Serg't, Co. A, 1st Vermont Cav.
BURLINGTON VI