The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-01-11


plateau bounded on the east by the
Blue Ridge and on the west by range
OF the Allcghenies called there the
North mountains. stretches from the
headwaters OF the Shenandoah near
Staunton on the south 10 the Potomac
on the north. distance OF considerably
more than hundred miles. AT the
upper end this valley IL more than
forty miles wide. while at Strasburg'
fifty miles south OF the Potomac. the
extreme width Is scarcely twenty-five.
A broad macadamIzed road. the In
nous Valley pike. trayerses the entire
region from north To south. with lateral
roads extending TO the mountain boun-
DIARIES on either side, those toward the
Blue Ridge connecting through various
gaps with the railroads Of eastern Viz
ginia.
This beautiful and fertile region
called for protection for its own sake
as well as for that OF its patriotic pop
ulation (of which the Ellinghams were
fair sampler. Its numerous black
slaves and the rich supplies which Its
lush meadow lands and broad planta-
tons furnished.
IL was especially important from
southern military viewpoint that the
valley should be held intact by Con-
federate army. No portion OF the re-
gion could bee given up without serious
detriment 10 operations north Of Rich
mond.
IF this valley IL lost Virginia Is
lost" was Jackson's watchword.
Early In January. 1862, Captain Ell
bingham wrote 10 his sister In Rich
mond: I'VE have only conjecture as to
our destination. General Jackson keeps
his secrets SO well as TO deceive not
only the enemy. but ourselves"
without losing any time Jackson now
set out with flercer energy than ever 10
surprise the Federal garrison under
General Kelly at Romney. The wealth
er was fearful. even for ordinary tray
ell, to say nothing Of forced military
movements. Men and horses fell on
the icy roads. their guns going OFF all
along the line, the knees and muzzles
OF the animals lacerated, the men limp
ing along, leaving trails OF blood on the
frozen snow. The march was compar-
able TO Napoleon's passage OF the Alps
and not alone in It's hardships. but like
wise I'm It's results. for before the LIST OF
February. General Kelly had evacuated
Romney land for the moment there was
no Federal force left in the entire low
er valley.
With the opening OF spring four Fed
eral armies under Fremont. Banks, Me-
Dowel and Mcclellan respectively
were ready TO close in upon Richmond
Fremont and Banks In the north and
west expected to unite their forces and
drive jackson up the valley. cutting
the Confederate communications and
then sweeping down upon Richmond
from the mountains. while Mcclellan
marched up the peninsula between the
James and York rivers, and Mcdowell
advanced from fredericksburg
Early I'm March "Stonewall" Jackson
was back I'm Winchester with Banks
and an augmented Federal force at his
heels on the north. and Shields with
another army reported at Strasburg &c
the southwark
Here Bob Ellingham first made the
acquaintance of Colonel Ashby, com
mandlng .IaclSson's cavalry-a won
drous cavalier from Fauquler county,
mounted on milk white blooded
horse. the most dashng rider In the
whole state OF Virginia. and as lead
..V - arftr IauffnaI ~.
among the foremost OF his contempo-
raries. Ashby looked like Il Moor and
had the chivalrous soul OF Il Saladin.
They struck Shields near Woodstock
some forty miles up the pike. and on
March 23 attacked him. at Kernstown.
and were repused. This was one OF
the few setbacks Jackson encountered
In his campaign. and the furious inn
pulse OF his rebound that followed i'm
mediately after made Il a costly Vie
tory for his opponent. frenzy seized
"Old Stonewall" and his men and
made them invincible. irresistible. Tie
limltless resources OF the now thor
oughly aroused Washington govern
ment were brought to bear IN earnest
upon this bold secesslonlst.
The whole valley was alive with
marching and countermarchlng. nd
vancing and retreatlng armies. Jack
sons desperate game was 10 present a
menacing front In several directions at
once. while awaiting re-enforccments
sorely needed, General Banks came
over from Manassas. bent upon his dc
structlon. AZ the same time Blenker.
on his way with 10000 men to Join
Fremont was instructed 10 report ~
him MS he followed Jackson M the
valley. Jackson stood az bay at Swift
Run gap in the Blue Ridge mouutnins
with the Shenandoah river IA hS front
and his tanks protected by the foot
hills. Ewell. with handy Confederate
force. was not far away. hut on tls
other side Of the mountains Ia jack
gou'g rpar M f.nr1ousyf}fa