The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-18
reach was such as could be collected a

lCaSA was ouSA do IOuA0 NC SOAANStSo ap
Staunton."
Banks and Saxton, as Jackson moved away,
might have harassed his rear and inflicted no
little damage and gained some prestige, but
they seemed to have been too much shaken,
and were not sufficiently enterprising or ad-
venturous.
jackson with the main body arrived at Win
chester during the night of the 30th and the
morning following, tired and struggling, Win
der and the Stonewall Brigade hardly yet
starting from Halltown Here the two horns
of his dilemma presented themselves: " to
march to Front Royal and crush Shield" " and
reach the Blue Ridge, as lie originally intend
ed, so as to be within call of Gen. Lee, as
ordered when he began his movement, and
within reach of the reinforcements he was
calling for, or make an attempt to pass Stras-
burg before Fremont arrived, running the risk
of desperate battle with him and being at
tackled by Shields from Front Royal as he was
p3ssing,-in the position Banks was just the
week beforehand a chase up the Valley to Har-
risonburg and beyond, and no one could tell
whittier, with prospect of movement up the
east side Of the Shenandoah to cut him off from
Richmond and succor entirely. He decided
finally to attempt passing Fremont, and dur
ing the forenoon of the 31st moved from Win
chester, encampng that night still some miles
north Of Strasburg; his men overcome by
fatigue in their desperate marching, and the
Strtlggllng, Deiere - enormous, NATURALLY IN
creased, and with it the morale and strength of
the army became seriously impaired. Winder
and the Stonewall Brigade were not yet at
Winchester, while Mcdowell, with Ricketts,
aud Shields, was at Front Royal, about 1900
strong.
Fremont, unfortunately for his glory and the
Presidents respect. failed to keep his promise
to be at Strasburg by 5 o'clock that afternoon I;
he did not reach there that night. The fear
flEof rnfTnt y,ari,ars nm de-
tered him, notwithstanding the Presidents
assurance to the contrary, and the reports he
: received from deserters and others Of Jackson
numbering from $4,000 to 10000, including
Longstreet,
SENT TO DECEIVE AND INTIEIDATE HIM,
had the effect intended His prudence degen-
Grated into indeeision and overcaution, and
any alacrity or enthusiasm he may have had
to bar Jackson's way and fight defensive bat
tie, with the chances III his favor and the
promise of assistance from Mcdowell, subsided
into fear for his own safety. At dawn of the
1st of June Ewel moved to Strasburg and up
the Wardensville pike to menace Fremont and
keep him quiet, when Col. Clusaret, with the
Sth w Va and the 60th Ohio, under Mai. 0ley
with two batteries of artillery. under Lieut.
Col. Pilsen, composing Fremout's advance,
encountered the advance of Ewell, and some
skirmshing and artillery firing followed,
of the day the opposing Generals stood merely
glaring and scoWling at each other, so to
speak-Ewell anxious for peace and quiet
ness and to gain time; Fremont, about four
miles west of Strasburg, on the defensive in a
strong position, apprehensive Of attack and
satisfied if he held his position and excusing
himself for not attacking on account of hear
ing nothing from Mcdowell and the alleged
strength of his enemy, though inferior, divided
as it was. During the morning he telegraphed
the President: "Our advance holds its place,
and shall accept battle in our present position,
which is an excellent one. VIII do more ac-
cording to opportunity. General engagement
will probably take place during the afternoon"
And at 6 p. M: 81 am now about driving in
their pickets, and if that does not bring on
general engagement shall close with him early
tomorrow morning"
Jackson stood in battle array at Strasburg,
in apprehension of an attack by Shields from
Front Royal, and anxiously awaiting the arri-
val of Winder with his largest brigade which
had not arrived at Winchester until long after
daylight. As the day was passing, and in terrible
suspense, aware that Shields had reached Front
Royal two days before, and discovering no sign
of an enemy or the slightest indication of any
movement from that direction, he.began to ap-
prehend while he was halting that the stiffness
and inactivity of both Shields and Fremont
was ominous; that mischief was brewing for
him and a trap being laid for his sure destruc-
tion 10y a movement by Shields from Front
Royal TO cut him off at New Market. He there
fore dispatched Ashby to burn the bridges
across the Shenandoah, thereby cutting off all
communication with the east below Harrison
burg and Port Republic. At last, as the long
long day caIne to a close, Winder arrived, less
his numerous stragglers, some of his command
walking 36 miles that day. when Stonewali
Jackson, breathing more freely, proceeded with
his army southwark along the turnpike: "hav
ing" as he wrote in the April following
" through the blessing of an ever-llind Provi-
dence passed Strasburg before the Federal
armies under Gems. Shields and Fremont
effected the contemplated junction in my rear"
About IL o'clock at night, and pitch dark
Clusaret, with the Goth Ohio and Sth w. Va,
some companies of the 9th Ohio and some Con-
necticut cavalry under Maj Finch and Capt.
Fisk, leading, entered the road and proceeded
ia pursuit, and were soon approaching jack
sons rear, which had halted for time. His cav
airy in the rear were tired out and worn down,
having been in the saddle and without regular
rations for three days, and most of the rear
regiment were asleep ON their horses, the other
regiments asleep on the ground, the Tigers
cooking. As the Union cavalry approached,
were challenged, and answering
"AsHBY's CAVALRY"
they were allowed, in the darkness, to get very
near, Wnell, TO the surprise OF the enemy, they
suddenly fired volley and charged sending
the rear regiment dashing back over their Sleep
ing comrades, rousing them most thoroughly
OF course, and to add to the confusion the
! Tigers, in the excitement and darkness fired
upon their own cavalry killing aud wounding
! number, among the badly wounded being
Capt. Dulany. Our cavalry, however, were
| forced back by the greatly superior numbers
! upon the infantry, though not without killing
and wounding number and carrying back a
/ dozen or more prisoners when pursuit ceased
! for the night, the enemy moving slowly and
YEARLY on in the darkness five or six miles
! further.
! Fremont's timid course had been hardly ex-
| cusable, though there were perhaps some palli.
1 ating circumstances. But Mcdowell failed
most egregiously and shamefully to realize the
Presidents just expectations; in fact he made
no real attempt to cooperate with Fremont al
! all, although the noise Of his cannon was dis
tinctly heard at Front Royal. He belonged tC
the class of Generals-detractors of the Presi
dent and the Washington authorties-wh
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