00000506 |
Previous | 506 of 866 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
BATTLE OF HARRISONBURG. 475
a road to the right of the main valley road, with the hope of cutting off Banks,
but the latter, owing to the time gained by Kenly's gallant defence of Front
Royal, and his own forced marches was too quick for him, for when Jackson
reached Middletown he struck only the rear guard of the Federal army.
Banks with his force attempted to check the advance of Jackson by taking a
position on the heights of Winchester, May 25th, where he opened battle, but
being assailed on both flanks, he made a rapid retreat to the north bank of
the Potomac, making a march of fifty-three miles in forty-eight hours. In
his official report of his campaign in the valley, General Banks says: " There
never were more grateful hearts in the same number of men than when at
midday on the 26th, we stood on the opposite shore of the Potomac."
Jackson continued the pursuit to Charlestown, where he detached General
George H. Steuart with the first Maryland regiment and two batteries of
artillery to attack the Federal camp on Bolivar Heights, and make a demonstration upon Harper's Ferry from the Shenandoah Heights. This small
force drove the Federal troops from their camp on Bolivar Heights, and having accomplished their purpose, soon after retreated with the rest of the army
towards Winchester.
General Fremont, who had been stationed at Franklin, now received
orders by telegraph from Washington to intercept Jackson and cut off his
retreat in the valley. He went northward forty miles to Moorfield, then
crossed the Blue Ridge mountains and reached Strasburg June 1st, just after
Jackson's force had passed through it. Shields, who was moving along the
south fork of the Shenandoah, on the east of the Massanutten range, while
Fremont was thus moving on the west, attempted to intercept Jackson farther
South, but that wily chieftain retarded the pursuit of Fremont, and delayed
Shields by burning the bridges as he passed them. Marching rapidly, the
Confederate troops on the 5th of June, reached Harrisonburg and encamped
for the night, about two miles from the town, the Federals occupying Harrisonburg.
Early the next morning the enemy's pickets were within rifle-shot,
and followed closely the Confederates on their, march towards Port Republic.
Ewell's was the rear division. The rear brigade comprised the 58th and
44th Virginia, and 1st Maryland regiments of infantry, and the Baltimore light artillery, Captain Griffin, all under the command of General
George H. Steuart, who had been transferred from the cavalry to the infantry
a short time before. Early on the morning of the 6th of June, when about
four miles from Harrisonburg, Steuart and Ashby determined to give their
persistent foe a check, and accordingly they applied to General Ewell for the
necessary orders. Contrary to his own judgment, he yielded to their earnest
solicitations, and ordered Steuart's brigade and Asby's cavalry to attack and
surprise the enemy's advance. Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, who commanded
the 1st Maryland regiment, in a letter to a friend, gives the following particulars of this engagement:
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000506 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | BATTLE OF HARRISONBURG. 475 a road to the right of the main valley road, with the hope of cutting off Banks, but the latter, owing to the time gained by Kenly's gallant defence of Front Royal, and his own forced marches was too quick for him, for when Jackson reached Middletown he struck only the rear guard of the Federal army. Banks with his force attempted to check the advance of Jackson by taking a position on the heights of Winchester, May 25th, where he opened battle, but being assailed on both flanks, he made a rapid retreat to the north bank of the Potomac, making a march of fifty-three miles in forty-eight hours. In his official report of his campaign in the valley, General Banks says: " There never were more grateful hearts in the same number of men than when at midday on the 26th, we stood on the opposite shore of the Potomac." Jackson continued the pursuit to Charlestown, where he detached General George H. Steuart with the first Maryland regiment and two batteries of artillery to attack the Federal camp on Bolivar Heights, and make a demonstration upon Harper's Ferry from the Shenandoah Heights. This small force drove the Federal troops from their camp on Bolivar Heights, and having accomplished their purpose, soon after retreated with the rest of the army towards Winchester. General Fremont, who had been stationed at Franklin, now received orders by telegraph from Washington to intercept Jackson and cut off his retreat in the valley. He went northward forty miles to Moorfield, then crossed the Blue Ridge mountains and reached Strasburg June 1st, just after Jackson's force had passed through it. Shields, who was moving along the south fork of the Shenandoah, on the east of the Massanutten range, while Fremont was thus moving on the west, attempted to intercept Jackson farther South, but that wily chieftain retarded the pursuit of Fremont, and delayed Shields by burning the bridges as he passed them. Marching rapidly, the Confederate troops on the 5th of June, reached Harrisonburg and encamped for the night, about two miles from the town, the Federals occupying Harrisonburg. Early the next morning the enemy's pickets were within rifle-shot, and followed closely the Confederates on their, march towards Port Republic. Ewell's was the rear division. The rear brigade comprised the 58th and 44th Virginia, and 1st Maryland regiments of infantry, and the Baltimore light artillery, Captain Griffin, all under the command of General George H. Steuart, who had been transferred from the cavalry to the infantry a short time before. Early on the morning of the 6th of June, when about four miles from Harrisonburg, Steuart and Ashby determined to give their persistent foe a check, and accordingly they applied to General Ewell for the necessary orders. Contrary to his own judgment, he yielded to their earnest solicitations, and ordered Steuart's brigade and Asby's cavalry to attack and surprise the enemy's advance. Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, who commanded the 1st Maryland regiment, in a letter to a friend, gives the following particulars of this engagement: |
