Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-10-07
The Battle OF Front Royal.


ic "reminiscences concerning the battle
of Front Royal:
A recent article in your paper COM
menting upon poem of Miss Margaret
Easter, read before the Society Of the
Army and Navy of the Confederate
States, descriptive of the battle of
Front Royal, May %, 1862, wildly
recalls the stirring scenes of that Oc-
casion to the memory of the writer.
I was a youth at the time and these
events made an impression that can
never be effaced On that quiet May
day the writer, in company of Prof.
T. A. Ashby, now of Baltimore, had
sought shady pool to take bath,
little dreaming of the impending pan
demonium that would rage about that
sequestered spot. About 3 D. m. the
advance of General Jackson's army
struck the Federal outposts one mile
south of the town, quietly captured
them and pushed rapidly forward to
engage the main body under command
of Colonel Kenly. Learning from
pickets captured that the town was
garrisoned exclusively by Maryland
ers, the First Maryland Confederate
Regiment requested of General Jack
son the honor of being placed in the
van and of opening the conflict, which
request was readily granted. The ad-
vance of Jacksons army drew to one
side of the road to permit the head of
the approaching column of Maryland
ers to take the lead. Colonel Kenly
in the meantime, advised of the con-
dition of affairs in his front, threw his
command into two large hospitals and
the courthouse and opened a wither-
ing fire upon the advancing columns
of Confederates, checking momentarily
their progress. A heavily wooded
range Of hills west of the town, run
ming parallel with the Winchester
turnpike, afforded the best of cover
for a fanking column, and General
Jackson was not slow to avail himself
Of this advantageous position to place
himself in the rear of the town, thus
cutting off the retreat Of Kenly. The
latter, hoping to stay the onward
pressure of Jackson's infantry, placed
battery upon a hill Immediately
north of Front Royal, and between
that town and Riverton, where the
bridges in his rear were situated,
opened fire upon the woods which con-
cealed the infantry upon his right and
on a regiment of cavalry advancing
upon his left. The fight now waxed
warm, Confederate battery immedi-
ately south Of the town keeping up a
lively duel with the Federal artillery.
Colonel Kenly, now realizing that his
position in the town, so far in front Of
his artillery, was untenable, com
menced to retreat down the main
street of the town toward the Shenan-
doah river, in the direction of Win
chester. The retreat at first was or
derby, but the Confederates, taking a
cross street, struck the column in the
flank, routed it completely, capturing
large number there and almost the
entire command, with its commander,
before reaching Riverton. Some Of
the panic-stricken Frederals attempt
ed to fire the bridge at that point to
check the advance of Jackson, but
Wheat's Louisiana Tigers kicked the
burning brands into the river and
saved the structure. By 5 p. m. the
battle was ended. The fruits of the
victory were some $50 prisoners and a
battery of riaed cannon. The limits
of this article will not admit of de-
tail Of all the gallant deeds performed
that day.
The writer we'll recollects seeing the
Hon. Fetter Hoblitzel with his COM
pany out in an open clover field, un-
der the fire of the Federal guns, which
had failed to get their range and were
inficting no damage upon the men,
but were sending their shells into my
fathers mill and barn, wrecking the
old family coach. I can also remem-
Der of one gallant member of Ashby's
cavalry capturing, single-handed,
twenty-one of the enemy. l can also
recall the detected mien of the pris-
oners as they were marched through
the streets of the town where they had
so lately figured as conquerOrs. The
writer did not see all of the events
here related, as the fire Of the Federal
artillery was exactly in line of my IA