Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-14


Jackson AZ their heels" The Confede-
rates did not strike the outer pickets
until about 9 o'clock in the afternoon
Of Nav 23d. General Imboden's &C
count. above given, would hardly lead
one TO infer that the Federals were
overhauled within five miles of Front
ROYAL, their commander, Colonel Ken
ly. desperately wounded, and four fifths
Of their number taken prisoners.
General Imboden, continuing, says,
on page 900 Jackson chased Banks's
fleeing army beyond Winchester, and
held his ground until he vas satisfied
they had crossed the Potomac" The
principal battle Of this campaign
against Banks was on the morning of
May 25th, at Winchester. Banks was
defeated. His broken and disorgan-
lied troops retreated in confusion, fly
ing a distance Of over thirty miles TO
the Potomac. Jackson's infantry pur-
sued them some miles, and then his
cavalry, under Ashby whom General
lmbsden insists on keeping near Frank
! linz and G. II. Steuart, followed them
to the Potomac. jackson two days af-
forwards advanced the main body of
his troops to Harper's Ferry, where he
remained, threatening TO cross the Po-
tomac until the morning of May goth.
lie then by forced marches retreated TO
Strasburg, which point he occupied in
advance of Mcdowell and Fremont,
who were Fastening towards 1.-THE one
from Fredericksburg, the other from
Franklin. General Imboden's account
Of this is remarkable for an entire alb
sence Of connection with the facts. He
SAYS: at shows how close had been
JacksOn's calculation Of chances, to
state that as his rear guard marched up
Fishers Hill, two miles from Stras-
burg, Fremont's advance came in sight
on the mountain side on the road from
Moorefeld." The facts are that Jack
son reached Strasburg at midday on
Saturday MAY 3lsb and held it until
the middle Of the afternoon on Sunday
to allow time for his troops to
close up and for the prisoners
and captured stores TO be sent on towards
Stanton. Fremont was six miles from
Strasburg on Saturday, and when he at
tempted to advance on Sunday morning
was held at bay by Asbby, supported
by General Ewell's infantry. An active
skirmish was kept up for hours. On
Sunday afternoon when JacksOn's rear
guard had closed up, and as General
Dick Taylor puts it, the last captured
wheelbarrow had been sent to the rear.
Jackson retreated towards Stanton
and permitted Fremont to occupy
Strasburg.
One would never learn from General
Imboden's paper that Mcdowell with
three of his divisions was turned back
from Fredericksburg to the Shenandoah
TO oyerwhelm jackson. When Me-
DOwell found out at Front Royal that
Jackson had outgeneralled and out
marched him. and was no longer to be
headed Off at Strasburg. he (McDowelD
sent forward Shields's division by way
of the Luray Valley.
The battle Of Cross Keys was fought
by Ewell's dirision, not brigade, and
Jackson's other troops had little to do
with it. Speaking Of Jackson's return
from the field Of Cross Keys, the fol-
lowing statement occurs at was near
" dark when jackson reached the
bridge at Port Republic from Cross
Keys. Shields had sent two guns and
a few men under green lieutenant
to defend the bridge. They arrived
about the same time as Jackson, and
made great haste in the dark back to
Lewis's farm" This unfounded state
ment is possibly due to dim
recollection of the striking incl
dent which occurred on the morning Of
this day, and before the battle Of Cross
Keys had beguR. A portion Of Shields's
cavalry, under a tipsy leader, dashed
into the town of Port Republic and up
to the bridge, and for some moments
produced a great stir among the trains
there camped. Jackson had passed
the bridge ahead of them so short
time before that the two rearmost of
his staff were captured, but riding to
his nearest troops on the Harrisonburg
side, he directed one Of General Talia-
ferro's regiments and one Of Captain
Poague'S guns to hasten with all speed
to recapture the bridge. Riding back
with Poague.s gun, when they
reached the bank of the river,
a Federal gun was seen planted
on the other Port Republic) side near
the mouth of the bridge. Poague,
who, ike jackson, had but few min
utes before crossed the bridge, could
not realize that the Federals had so
quickly gotten the gun to that spot,
and said to Jackson, "That must be
one Of our guns" General Jackson
ordered Poague to hold his fire for
moment, rode some PAGES nearer the
stream, and cried out in commanding
voice, - Bring that gun over here"
Perceiying no movement Of obedience
to the command, jackson raised him
sell IN his Slrrups ana again, In louu,
sharp tones, repeated the order. The
Federal gunners heard it distinctly,
but comprehending the situation
they now brought their gun to bear on
jackson and Poague, who were in full
view. Perceiving this, Jackson gave
the order to poague's piece to fire.
Poague's shot was fired first, and so
disconnected the Federal gunners that
their shots went far overhead. A mo-
ment afterwards General Taliaferro
charged through the bridge, and it was
once more in Confederate possession.
This Valley campaign was so grand
an achievement that the picture of it
should ever be kept clear and distinct
before the children Of those who fought
with Stonewall jackson. W. \.
Personal.