The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-12-23


sc tie 8th Of June, when Fremont adj
,yanced and the battle Of Port Republic
took place, ia which. tho Confede
force contested mainly Of Ewellss diyi-
sion and a part OF tho old division Of
jackson. During this time Shields had
made circuit Of the valley up the river
90 as t got before ns, and he had :
long march to make to reach Port Re-
public :f5ssss.i:ss 4
+ But he had pressed on until he had
approached that village, and had he
crossed his force Into the forks Of the two
rivers and captured the bridge there was
no escape for jackson. He would have
had an army in his rear and one in his
front. and near the crossing Of the river,
with no bridge by winch to. escape; and
it would probably have proved his de-
struction. He went personally with .
part OF his command, and be ore any Of
them had crossed the river he himself
rode into Port Republic, . amsll village,
and while he was accommodating tho vii
lage q Federal captain commanding .
battery had placed his gums at the foot
OF. the bridge. He had crossed over the
south fork and placed his gums so as to
command the bridge completely. jack
son rode down and ordered him away,
and the Federal officer, installing him
for one Of his own commanders for the
time, started to Obey when jackson, on
his charger, darted like an eagle acroes
the bridge, and was fired st with one Of
the guns, but, fortunately for him, With
out any effect. He then advanced Cen.
Talliaferro's brigade, who captured the
bridge, effected crossing, and, believe,
captured both Of the gums.
The command [ belonged to arrived
when the battle was at ito full height in
the narrow plain between the mountain
and the river on the east side OF the
south fork. We crossed over the bridge
and then crossed the south fork upon q
bridge constructed Of wagons, 9 thing
which had never occurred IN the history
Of warfare, OF was supposed never to
have occurred, 20 most men understood,
but ] since read thst General Laeourb. Z
very distinguished French General, con-
sidered the best commander OF light
troops in mountain warfare Of his time,
had accomplished. the same thing . CEN
fury before that. And by means Of that
bridge jackson was enabled to get his
forces across into the valley Just in time
to turn the result Of the conflict. When
/ first beheld it there was no obstruction;
our forces were driven by those of
Shields; "a terrible conflict was going on
by Federal brigade, said to bs COM
posed Of Irishmen, to the left at the TO IT
Of the hill whore ths celebrated Ring
gold Battery (which had been used IN
Mexico) was playing upon our troops,
and guarded by this brigade. 5s
Our first brigade that assaulted them
was broken aud driven back The guns
were used with terrible efsct across the
plain to the river, Staying our men by
hundreds at every discharge. It was
there that witnessed the formation Of
Dick Taylor's brigade of L4ouisianians,
and saw the chsrgs made. He captured
the guns, but they were re-captured and
captured again, back and forth, three
times, and oae Of the severest baud
to-hand conAiets OF the war took place
there. It was only by the brigade to
which Isbelonged, advancing and firing
on the line Immediately to Taylor's left
that the Federal force was broken, and
the battery retaksn the last time. That
was the turning point OF the conflict. and
Shields was forced to retire. No man in
the Federal army ever commanded bet
ter or fought more vaiiantly than Gene
raj Shields did at the battle Of Port Re-
public.
. happen TO know about the relative
strength. Of the forces According to tho
reports, Shields had but IL 90 men, and
jackson had 600 Fremont had 30
GOO, but the bridge was in flames and he
was compelled to witness from the
heights on. the north side Of the river the
defeat Of Shields, but only after 9 battle
which was greatly to his credit as q com
mander; and from what I saw there, and
the, knowledge which have since ac-
quired, entertained the greatest respect
for the man, for his ability and his
character. He was q patriot and noble
nan. He was fighting the cause Of his
country, and he believed 40 honestly and
conscientiously in the cause in which he
was engaged. ! honor him and his mem
DRY 40 highly as though he had been
upon my side. We were ell Americans
settling great controversy between us