The National tribune., 1907-09-19
to throw-a few shells into Richmond
for the moral effect
Tn. at

to throw-A few shells into Richmond,
for the moral effect.
StonewnIIs Jackson Retreats.
Jacksom hung around Harper's Ferry.
increasing :the excitement by pretenses
of attack and IN the meanwhile gath
ering upeprisoners, conscriptS and the
great amount snf stores accumulated in
| Winchester until May 80. when he be-
gan his retreap taking with him a train
about 16D milesolong.
President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton had planned that while Banks
and Sexton We're making head against
Jackson at Harpers Ferry Fremont
should push forward from Franklin to
Harrisonburg some 45 miles. and close
up the valley west of the Massanutten
lMountainia while Shields's Division
should march TO Front Royal and close
up the valley east of the Massanutten.
This was entirely feasible, and would
| have caught Jackson in a trap. Gen.
Shields was on time with his part ~
the program, and reached Front Royal
at IL o'clock on the morning of May 80,
| the 1st r. 1. Cav. driving out parts of
the Sth La. and 18th Ga and capturing
a train of cars. a quantity of stores and
$50 prisoners, besides recapturing some
| of Banks's men.
May "a an imperative order had been
sent to Fremont to march upon Harri-
| sonburg, land fall upon the enemy
speed Instead Of marching directly
upon Harrisonburg. As miles away, FIRE.
mont made circuitous march of about
| 100 miles, taking himself clear out of
| the field and reached Strasburg May 81,
| just in time to find Jackson's rear guard
| had passed. June l Fremont started in
pursuit up the Valley on that side of
the Massanutten, while Gen> Mcdowell,
who had come up with more of his
corps, started Shields up the eastern
valley for Port Republic to head off
Jackson at the crossing of the South
| Fork of the Shenandoah.
In spite of the fatigue of his men, Of
burned bridges and continuous rains
Fremont made the pursuit fairly hot.
Ashby, the indefatigable and dreaded
cavalry leader, was killed in a sharp
conflict with Col. Kane's Bucktails and
Wyndham's Cavalry. At Cross Keys
Jackson had to put Ewell into position
with 5000 men to hold Fremont back,
while he, Jackson, went TO Port Repub-
lie to look out for Shields coming down
the other valley.
Fremont attacked Ewell with six bri-
gades, but moved with caution. since
he feared that the whole of Jackson's
force was in his front His brigade
commanders attacked with spirit, and
were pushing the enemy, when Fre-
mont, seeing Stahl's Brigade retire in
disorder before a heavy fire, became
alarmed, and ordered the whole line to
| fall back at the very moment when
Milroy had succeeded in piercing Ewell's
center. Ewell, having gained highly
| important day Of time, made good his
retreat. Fremont lost 664 men, two
! thirds of whom were in Stahfs Ger
man Brigade. Ewell admitted loss of
| 329 with Gems. ElZey and Stewart Sc
verely wounded
The Battle of Port Republic.
In spite of all the mistakes of the
Union commanders, Jackson was still
in position of the greatest peril. While
| Ewell was making his successful fight
to arrest FremOnt's advance Jackson
was at Port Republic, seven miles away,
preparing to cross the Shenandoah Riv-
er, then running full of water Col. S.
s. Carroll, commanding Shields's Firs,
Brigade, arrived near Port Republic
June T. and learned from his scouts
that Jacl5son's Cavalry was in the town
and q herd of beef cattle across the
river. Carroll had about 1000 infantry.
| $50 cavalry and four pieces of artillery.
| The next day he rushed into the town,
drove out the cavalry, seized the bridge
and passed over it to the other side,
when he'ffound that he had run into a
hornets nest. A swarm of the enemy
poured otit of the woods upon him, and
soon Is pieces'iof artillery opened their
| fire. In spite of all this he made his
| retreat in fair order, but did not burn
| the bridge. OF which he had possession
from 20 minutes to three-fourths of an
| hour. 7.''-+' -.
This failure became the subject Of
| the fiercest contention. 1t had played
a strong part in the orders from Wash
| ngton, sometimes to burn it by all
| means, sometimes to be sure and save
it. Gen. Shields severely blamed Col.
Carroll for not obeying his (Shieldss)
orders 10 burn it. Carroll was able to
produce Shields's orders to save it.
Carroll rallied his forces. and fell
| back to a position about two miles from
| the town, where he was soon Joined by
Tyler with brigade, making the whole
force about 1000 men.
Shields, with the remainder of his
division, was at Conrad's store, some
Is miles from Port Republic.