The Washington herald., 1914-07-18

tured eighty-two wagons. all Of the Mary
land plunder that Early lost in his re-
treat.
The head Of Early's column was by
that time through the gap in the noun
tains, and by the next morning all were
safe across the Shenandoah. and posted
on the rolling hills of its western bank.
ready to strike the FederaIs a hard
blow when they should appear.
Enemy ON River Hank.
The difficulty OF throwing d pursuing
force upon a retreating enemy with a
mountain gap and a deep river between
the two was now apparent.
Gen. Wright ordered Gen. Crook to
take the advance in the pursuit. Crooks
cavalry followed the cavalry rear guard
Of Early's column toward Smokers Gap,
and engaged II after dawn without ad-
vantage. On July Il it tried to cross
the Shenandoah in front of the gap, and
was obliged TO fight all day without ac-
complishing its purpose.
Gen. Wright now ordered Crook for
ward to the river in force. and put the
Sixth Corps in motion from Leesburg to
support him.
From the summit Of the Blue Ridge
Federal officers looked down upon the
open. rolling country Of the lower val
4Nss ~ anu btl lnc Oh Betty
vile, five miles from the river. They
saw Early's force in camp around the
town. and a strong rear guard covering
Castlemans Ferry at the foot of Smokers
Gap.
This force was in command 70 Mai.
Gen. John c. Breckenridge. It was post
ed on high, rolling. wooded hills and
banks, ready to offer effective resistance
to a crossing Of the river
dng mile below the ferry. at Island
ford. A division under Col. Joseph
Thoburn, of the First West Virginia In
fantry, dashed across the river in water
waist high. the Thirty-fourth Massachu-
setts Regiment leading. and surprised
and captured fifteen Confederate pickets
From these Gen. Thoburn learned that
the enemy was in force not far off He
sent news Of this to Gen. Crook. and
the latter ordered him to hold on until
division Of the Sixth Crops could be
sent to support him.
Shot Down at Ford.
The Confederates had watched the
movement across the ford, and had taken
steps to meet it The divisions of Gen.
John B. Gordon and Gen. Robert E.
Rodes were hurled upon Thoburn's COM
mand and it was swept into the river.
oShiC Va inc BOOQ
order to the farther bank. Others broke.
The dead and wounded on the bank
were left where they fell The enemy
opned a heavy fire on the crowded ford.
and the current OF the river swept away
many a poor fellow there shot down.
No support came to Thoburn, as Gen.
Wright had decided to attempt a cross
ing elsewhere.
The Federal losses were sixty-five men
killed, 3oi wounded and 56 missing,
total Of 80. The Confederates also lost
heavily. for while on the river bank
shooting al their retreating foes they
were subjected to a heavy fire from Fed
eral batteries on the heights across the
stream.
This bloody Check further reduced the
already waning chances OF the FederaIs
to halt Early in his retreat. and led in
directly to the Confederates taking the
offensive. a step that was to decide the
course OF events in the Valley Of the
Shenandoah for the next six months
events In which the name Of Sheridan
was to attain great prominence.
Tomorrowi Gen. aBaldyH Smith Re-
iieVed Of Command.
loORGiEhs. lsAl \