The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-01

pretty severely punished, if not stunned, in
the action at Cross Keys. His next move
would therefore be cautious and a light
Confederate force on the admirable ground
selected to receive Eremont's attack would
be able to check him indefinitely. Two bri-
gades were ordered to hold the position at
Cross Keys and Jackson led the remainder
of his troops across the bridge to Port Re-
public. Shields advance had retired down
the valley upon its supports, and Jackson
put his troops across North river on an i'm
provised bridge and went out to meet the
new enemy. Such tactics would ruin the
fame Of any general the moment the effort
failed He had divided his force in the
presence of two adversaries, had separated
his wings by many miles, and two streams
flowed between them.
One of the streams had but a single
crossing, and the other a swollen ford aud
an imperfect foot bridge. Once more fort
une favored the Confederates Shields
column was not all up After the ell
counter in Port Republic. on the previous
day the leader of Shields advance Gen
+. b. Tyler, had halted his troops about
three miles below Port Republic and
placed them in position for defense. He
had two brigades at hand-his own and
Gen Carrolls-and Shields with the re-
mainder was days march away. "Stone-
wall' was confident of winning a victory
over Shields men, and he meant it to be a
perfect one.
The attack on Shields began at daylight
on June and was stOutly resisted Jack
son was compelled to call up the two bri-
gades that had been left in front of Ere
mont to hold him in check. These troops
crossed North river at Port Republic and
burned the bridge behind them, so that tho
last chance Of junction between the two
Union columns was destroyed About the
time these re-enforcements reached him
on the battlefield Jackson saw his own
''Stonewall' brigade giving way before
Shields men. Though accustomed TO leave
the immediate direction of his troops TO the
brigadieIs, Jackson saw that crisis was
at hand, and galloped forward into the
ranks of his old command. 4 ringing cheer
showed the feelings of the men for their
leader, and without halt he dashed
through the mass 10 the front, shouting,
THE 'StonewalP Brigade never retreats
Follow mer'
The aid Of the re-enforcements brought
mp in the nick of time saved the day for the
Confederates The Union troops in front
Of the "Stonewall" brigade seeing the lat
ter repulsed and forced back in confusion,
could not resist the temptation to change
their tactics from the defensive TO the Of
fensive and made a counter charge. Toe
quick rally of the COnfederates under
Jackson's magnetic call, and an attack on
either flank by fresh troops, turned the
tide instantly, and the battle ended at 10
o'clock in the defeat Of Shields men.
From Port Republic jackson fastened
up the valley and placed his army within
the shelter of Browns Gap, deep mount
ain pass, where a regiment could with
stand an army with ease.
Fremont aud Shields were promptly or
dered by the government TO retire from
the valley by taking the back track, and
Jackson rested securely under cover Of
Browns Gap until he was called 20 Rich
mond himself in the campaign before tnat
city which he had so ably supported from
p distance Only one division of the 5000
Union soldiers in northern Virginia when
Jackson was maneuvering there, reached
Richmond TO aid Mcclellan. But Jackson
got there with his whole army 10 aid Lee.
HEOR6E l. hILMER