The National tribune., 1903-06-18
the Battle Of por. Republic.

The Battle OF Port kepuDuc.
EprroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Gen.
Shields, not Fremont, was responsible for
our failure at Port Republic.
= Nearly the whole of McDowelrs Corps
followed Shields's Division to Manassas
Junction, thence down the railroad,
through Manassas Gap, to Front ko!ai
Shields placed one brigade on the Stras-
burg road, another on the Luray Nailey
road. When Mcdowell arrived he orfered
Shields to proceed to Strasburg with ms
entire division, to intercept StoneWa!'
Jackson's march up the Shenandoah Val
ley. Instead, however, Shields crossed the
North Branch of the Shenandoah, taking
the road to Winchester, his line OF marcn
leading him to JacksOn's rear instead OF
to his front. When Mcdowell learned OF
Shields's cratic march, it was TOO la'e oo 70
repair the error. The erring General was
then permitted to march in the dlrecuoh
of Luray, being ordered. however, to keep
his division in compact formation. March
ing up the Lurav Valley. we went into
camp, June 6, 1862, at Columbia Bridge.
Toward night we made retrograde
march of six miles, and went into camp.
Soon thereafter we were ordered back 70
Columbia Bridge, arriving there about
midnight-a wearisome and useless march
of 12 miles.
| On the following morning, June Z, the
Third Brigade resumed its march, gong IN
| the direction of Port Republic. Carroll,
with the Second Brigade, being far in
| advance.
When the Third Brigade reached the Vi
cinity of Port Republic we found that
Carrolls Brigade had been driven back,
and was then near the r-ver, some two
miles below.
Port Republic is n. the junction Of the
! forks of the South Branch of the Shen-
andoah River. Jackson's whole army was
| there, the most of it being on the west
| bank of the river. At Cross Keys. six or
seven miles distant, was Fremont, in Jack
sons rear. Frem, mt had defeated Jack
son in battle fought at Cross Keys on
| the previous day, June 8. Fremont con-
fdently expected Shields to place his d.
| vision in Jackson's front and prevent MS
crossing the river at Port Republic; Jack
son was in 4 close place. his only ave-
nue. of escape being the bridge ut Port Re
public: and right there was Sh!e!dss op-
portunity. Had he no. made that retro
| grade movement from Columbia Bridge,
and kept his division closed up. accord
ing to ORDERS he could have interposed his
whole force in Jackson's front before any
part of his army, pressed by Fremont
could have crossed the bridge at Port Re
public. When Tyler reached the field the
Chief of Artillery advised an immediate
| attack, but no hing was done. Shields
went into bivouac for the night, thus per-
mitting Jackson to withdraw from Ere
mOnt's front and advantageously dispose
his troops in readiness for any emergency
ON the morrow.
| At daybreak it required no trained mill
tary eye to perceive that Jackson was no
longer in trap. His columns debouched
upon the plain in our front, moving to at
tack us. Our artillery opened, and the
battle of Port Republic was on. In an
endeayor to turn our left, the rebels went
into the woods and N spur of the Blue
Ridge, moving rapidly. Two regiments
were sent to stop the attack on our left,
and when they were hotly engaged two
other regiments were sent to their sup
port. Abandoning the attack in that quar-
ter, the enemy retired from the woods.
crossed the field to our right and united
with another advancing column.
All this tine the 7th Ohio had been in
the tall wheat in front of Huntington $
| Battery. The enemy's movement was di-
rected against our pace of concealment,
and when they came within easy range.
Col. Creighton gave the order to rise and
fire. Then pandemonium broke loose, and
war, indeed, was hell. 1 hope l shall
never be in n hotter place. We finally
succeeded in repulsing the rebels, and driv-
ing them a half mile, or more. The 9th
and 29th regiments were with US, and
no troops could have fought more nObly
than they. The enemy showing no dis
position to repeat the charge, We with.
drew to our former position and awaited
Developments.
i Soon the Confederates made furious
attack upon our extreme right. To NEE,
this, the 7th Ohio changed front. and the
rebels were again driven back, their loss
being heavy. They then charged the cen
ter of our line, with like result, theiI
losses. however, being greater than in the
previous attacks, the 5th Ohio capturing
a piece of artillery and some prisoners.
i A heavy force attacking our left, where
the Goth Ohio was supporting Clark's
Battery. after hard combat captured the
guns. The 9th and 7th Ohio were ordered
to retake the guns. Moving by the lef
flank. under a heavy fire, to the rear Of
the position, we dashed up the hill ant
over the guns, dispensing the rebels, wht
went down the hill pell-mell, we turning
the artillery upon them. They took ref
uge behind n hill. but we did not permi
them to remain there.
Seeing a heavy Confederate column ap
preaching from the bridge, and there be
! ing no reinforcements in sight, Gen. Tyle
ordered retreat. which was effected il
good order, Col. Carroll directing it.
We had retreated several miles, wheI
we met Gen. Shields, he then assumin:
immediate command of his disheartent
: troops.
Thus Stonewall Jackson escaped. ani
marched to the assistance of Lee in hi
battles with McCltllan.-J. G. LINDSEY
Co. G, 1th Ohio Inf, Ravenna, o.