The National tribune., 1889-04-25

odds OF more than two to one, had fallen upon
EWclI and was opening general engagement.
Of course ali expectations Of quiet Sabbath,
religious services and resting and drilling
were now over. Indeed, it cannot be de-
MED that jackson was in a state of eX-
IRENE perturbati0n and alarm, and there is
every reason to believe that be feared :" the
contemplated junction" which was intended
al Strasburg Of Gems. Shields and Fremont
was now about to take place, with probability
of his being ground between them. His fears
were communicated 10 his troops and caused an
unusual fBtteT, and regiments moved hlther
and thither in uncertainty, attack even being
eared and guarded against from Conrad aud
Harrisonburg by McGaugbeyviile on his flank.
Besides, he left Ewell to contend against great
odds, without reinforceHents, until they were
OF no use to him. hrepps held the bridge ior
about half an hour. Ii could easily have been
burnt for / remember that huge fire was
burning near at which a Confederate black
smith was setting tire. But the enemys bat
teries opening a heavy fire, and a brigade OF
infantry approaching, and we being armed
with but sabers and single-barrel pistols, 1
admit that we made somewhat sudden depart
ure. and through branch Of the Shenandoah.
TIE artillery had one man aud Ia horses
killed from the heavy fire Of Jackson's bat
feries. and fell back at the same time, abandon
ing their guns. The infantry was also driven
back by the hot fire Of the batteries, with
a loss of eight killed and 30 wounded. Never
theless Jackson stood to-aTms until late in the
afternoon in apprehension OF renewal OF the
attack, sending EWell but slight assistance,
and certainly aware that he was greatly ont
numbered by Fremont His trains were also
put in motion and started for the Blue Ridge,
rs a measure Of safety, and the village was
Dccunied by q small force. which intrenched
under cover Of their batteries.
In Jackson's highly colored official accounts
OF his exploits IN the Shenandoah, commonly
known as
THE FIELD OF HIS FAME"
in which accounts marks Of the Rev. Mr. Dab
ney's handiWOrk seem plainly visible, and
which show far more skill in the manipulation
and presentation of the occurrences for Jack
sons glory than Jackson exhibited in the con-
duct Of the campaign itself, he does not conde-
scend even to hint at the surprise, his own
narrow escape, the capture of his staff officers,
the occupation Of the bridge, and how nearly he
was TO having his line Of retreat toward Rich
mOnd cut OF; much less does he refer to any
perturbation on his part in being found with
a divided army and attacked, as he supposed
at the moment, by both Shields and Fremont.
Whether the destruction Of the bridge would
have been more detrimental to JacksoHs army
in the end is a question for much speculation,
Of which the reader can form an opinion from
the concluding events in the campaign.
Induced by the confidence Of his men, eXhil-
arated by their pursuit Of jackson in his ill-
ordered and unmilitary retreat, and the per-
suasoBs Of Schenck and Milroy, Fremont had
decided to give EWell battle where be saw him,
at Cross KEYS, with 5000 men and is guns
and about FIVE miles distant from jackson, too
appreheusive for his own safety TO lend timely
support Fremont's strength had been consid-
erably reduced BY garrlsOns in his rear and
fqEvr- Frrr her cd " ranf
quite, II 0J9 men and A pieces of artillery.
Jacks5n's bad Feneralshipi IN dividing his army
had given him an opportunity for victory ana
glory such as seldom presents itself Ewel
held q ridge at the foot Of which ran a rivulet;
woods were at his right and left and where
the road crossed the center of his line was a
field Of some hundreds Of acres. Trimbles
Brigade held the right, in the woods; Elzey's,
in rear of the center and the artillery where at
tack was not expected, IN position to ostrengthen
either wing; Steuart's, the left also in the
woods The battle opened with artillery. ana
continued several hours, after which the Union
infantry advanced 10 the attack. The German
Division, under Blenker, was composed of y
small regiments from New York and Pennsylva-
mia. Stahel's Brigade formed in the open ground
and moved al the left, B0hlen's supporting,
brave old Won Steinwehrs coming up: Cluse-
ret, connecting, at StaheTs right with the Sth
w. Va, Goth Ohio and the Bucktails; Biilroy
next 4E tie llAe- on the Tl4lt, WIN the "a, 81
and 9th M. Va. and 25th Ohio. Schenck with
the 32ds 55th, I'D, 10Th and SD Ohio in re-
serve 20 Iiiroy, becoming satisfied that the
enemy was seeking TO extend his line so as to
outhank the right, determined, with his usual
sagacity and energy, TO anticipate it. and sweep
around his left flank and press him back, nov
ing steadily and successfully for a favorable
position, encUuntering some opposition and
slight loss meantime sending MilrOy one Of his
batteries. Aiirov, as we would expect from
such q General and the character Of his troops,
fought CALAMITY, and steadily gained ground
against artillery and mnshetry, suffering pretty
severely. his aFtilleTy-W. Va. L. A., Battery
@; LIST Chic, Battery ], aud 18th battalion-be-
1ng E0re than match Tor the enemys. Gu
seFet did equally we'll For perhaps two
hours the Germans advanced successfully, too,
though slowly and inflicted considerable loss
upon the enemy, but, enc0Hntering a deadly
fire OF musEetry and artillery from TrimDle,
StaheIis Brigade was Tepulsed and driven back
the 9Th y. j. losing - killed and 132 wound
ed the 9Th Pa, II killed and 81 wounded
BohIen's Brigade following, suffering much
less severely; SteinWehr's not being engaged.
Aust Of tie Germans retired In good order, and
1Or few hours there is no doubt the ight was
pretty hot along the whole line, except with
Schenck at the extreme right. . In all ac-
1ions, il j. said on high military authority,
there is one critical and decisive moment
which viii give the victory 10 the General who
knows hos TO use il, and a good General must
bring all the
MORAL rs WELL As THE PHYSICAL FORCE
o. his army into play at the same time, If he
means 10 Win.' We had Generals who would
have ordered, successfully, Blenker to renew
the attack-and StenwehT with him, Cluseret
and Milr0y TO push harder, and Schenclr to
sweep down on the enemy's flank as he pro-
posed and there were even some Generals who
would not only have turned Blenker's face To
the enemy, but have seized flag and led his
men 60 the attack IN person. Though such
Generals were rare, Sheridan. we know, was
one Even with but a demonstration by Blen-
ker with such troops as Schenclz Milroy and
ClUseret had, and with such leaders, and Ere
Enonfs predominating strength, the result
cOald not have been doubtful Fremont was
ambitious, and had many amiable qualities
His explorations his close contest for tht
Presidency, and his attitude in Missouri as Il
the slaves, had rendered him conspicuous and