South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-03-14

eaye thompson whenever the enemy
retreats down the valley they always
send ont their cavalry far and near
on each side of the main road and
take all the horses they can fird and
myself and neighbors have some good
farming horses that we don't want to
lose, and If you men will 90 with me
we will 60 out on the hill ia the
woods beyond my house, and If they
come in this neighbortood after hor.
sea we will give them q warm recep.
ton, | have good rife he remarked
shat is true to its aim and I can aim
it as well MS any one and / assure you
1 will bring down as many Of the en-
envy as uuy Of you old soldiers
We all agreed to his proposal, for
1t was sport for rs to have a brush
with the cavalry, especially when We
bad the dtop on them. So we all
took position on the hill and put
out picket who could see the road
for some distance, and remained there
all day, but no enemy came, and at
dark we all went to Thompson house
and got good supper and slept in
the barn, and the next morning heard
that Jackson had defeated the enemy
In two different battles and they were
rotreating in considerable hurry and
did not have time to plumber the
country for horses. We then went
on and soon arrived in Harrisonburg
where we found somc Of our cavalry
who Informed as that our brigade was
camped near Port Republic at Wsyer's
Cave, we then went on to camp having
marched about eighty miles through
the mountains and arrived there that
evening, our Captain having report.
ed us captured.
1 must now 90 back and briag up
the brigade, and give an account of
its transactions from the time I left i,
Mt Winchester until / joined it again
at Weyer's Cave as was told me by
members of my company.
They camped near Newtown the
first night alter leaving Charlestown,
and the next morning hurried on and
just got through Middletown before
the enemy made their appearance.
or formed n junction and some por-
ton o.the army had a little skirmish
with the enemy in order to save the
wagon train. they kept falling back
slowly, Ashby with bis cavalry COW
ing the retreat and holding them in
check, and when they reached Har-
risonburg they turned to the left TAX
ing the Port Republic road and march,
ing east towards the Blue Ridge, ard
when few miles from Harrisonburg
Col, now Gen. Ashby thinking the
enemy were pressing too close to be
healthy charged them ut the head of
the lst Md. Infantry and was killed,
but the enemy were repulscd. We
there lost a brave and gallant cavalry
officer, who had he lived would have
been one OF the greatest Cavalry Gen.
erals ofthe war.
Now Gen Shields and Gen. Free.
mont each had an army superior in
TO Gen'i. Jackson, therefore
TO render Jacksoh's capture certain
they had divided down the valley
uear Strasburg, Gen. Fremont with
his army following Gen. Jackson up
the main valley while Gen. Shields
went up the Page valley in order to
cut him off near Uarrisonburg where
the two valleys intersected, they had
the bag tied but could not hold the
game. And when Gen. Jackson
found they wonld soon form a juno
ton, he wheeled suddenly on Free
mont at Cross Keys and afte. q severe
fight defeated him and put his army
TO flight, but could not follow him
far for he had to turn and cross tho
river in order to get a.
head Of Gen. Shields. and the next
day he attacked Shields under great
but after hard fighting.
he defeated Gen. Shields and the ca
valry pursued them for fifteen miles,
q portion OF Gen Jackson's command
lost severely especially EweIls division.
Mai. Wheat commanding the Louisia-
ma Tiger Battalion was killed. Our bril-
gade did not lose many men in either
tight and my Reg. was not engaged
in the last fight, as they were out OH
picket watching for flank move
ment. IL was said by those who knew
that before Gen. jackson and Staff
bad crossed the river, the enemy was
placing a battery in position between
him and the river aud we're about to
IRE on some Of our troopo, when Jack
son rode up to them and ordered them
not to fire, and they mistaking bin for
one OF their officers, did not fire.
and he and staff rode on aud escap-
cd being captured. Those two battles
were called the battles Of Cross KEYS
and Port Republic and occurred on
the 9TH and 9Th of June 1862.
clay in camp at 'Weyer's Cave 3
days the army washing aud cleaning
up generally IN the river near bv aud
exploring the wonders of the Cave.
when we were ordered to cook ra,ions
aud no rooIr rnr tf,o ,..o..f.. -. -