Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 60

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607

USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. > Part 60

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Jackson had started for Middletown before Banks could be persuaded that he was virtually cut off; and when he came to a full knowledge of the situation, he seemed frightened and un- able to understand that this was one volt only of the electric shock that was yet to come. Ashby was sent towards Middletown to keep the left flank covered, and get that point in readiness for the infantry brigades that were closing up on the captures at Front Royal and Buckton, which were estimated at the value of $300,000. Jackson had nearly worn out men of all branches of the army; and the night found all in need of rest. So far, the movement was successful, not only in the loss to the post at Front Royal, but he was now in camp within the enemy's lines, and felt secure in taking a few hours for rest, knowing that Banks must come out or be compelled to see the Confederates go on towards the Potomac. At early dawn of the 24th, Geo. H. Stewart with the 2nd, were off for Newtown, while the infantry did not get into full line be- fore 7:30 A. M. Ashby had stirred up Banks' scouts as they came out towards the Cedarville roads, and had severe skirmishing with them. They were convinced that a heavy force was trying to cut Banks' retreat, and finally suc- ceeded in convincing that general, that retreat must be made at once. Genl. George H. Gordon, one of Banks' prominent field officers, in his at- tractive description of the situation to be seen in his "Brook Farm to Appomattox," gives out some valuable information. He says: "Banks was obstinate, and waited late in the night before he ordered his personal effects to be packed and sent away;" and then orders were given to fall back. This movement was going on, when Jack- son started in the morning. Two brigades were

far in the rear of the Ed. Johnson command, who failed to reach the Front Royal camps until the morning of the 24th, being foot sore from their long tramp from Franklin; and this was the case with several regiments of Jackson's old men. Banks' fresh troops had this advantage, and were thus enabled to pass in haste beyond Middletown and Newtown without serious in- terruption. This only applied to the main body of infantry. The road from Strasburg was lined with wagons, stragglers and army equipments. Stewart on reaching Newtown, saw within his grasp a rich wagon train, which he soon put to confusion; but he in turn was overrun by infantry and artillery and several thousand cavalry. Ashby was at Middletown by 12:30, supported by one of the Louisiana regiments, where they struck the re- treating column. Wagons were piled up in the road, and retreat hindered long enough for Chew's Battery to give the line a broadside, while the Louisianians poured a deadly volley into the frightened mass. The panic at this time was fearful. The road was jammed with dead horses, men and riderless horses. 200 prisoners were left in the hands of the Confederates at this point. Surviving squadrons tried to escape towards Winchester. Some turned back; and hundreds dashed towards the mountains, hop- ing to escape the furious Southrons. Genl. Hatch with two brigades of cavalry, infantry and artillery, rallied on the ridges West of Middle- town. By that time, 2 P. M. Jackson was up. Ashby was sent after the flying squadrons down the Valley Pike. At 3 P. M. there was every reason to believe that Banks was fully routed. Ewell was on his way to Winchester over the Front Royal road, proceeding slowly to await news from Jackson. It is well known that both infantry and cavalry were loath to hurry away from the spoils of the camp; and they have been criticized by several of Jackson's staff officers. But it must be remembered that hundreds of the cavalrymen had worn out their horses and needed fresh mounts; and loose horses were at hand among the prisoners and captured wagons; and who can complain if they exchanged their jaded horses for those the prowess of their arms had secured; and who can blame them for filling up on captured bread and meat, when they had been in their saddles since 6 o'clock in the morning; and who can censure them for leading off their broken-down horses to places of safety-horses they had brought from their homes. It may be, some were seen with more than one led horse. The writer knows whereof he speaks when he states some of these horses led away to farms nearby, were those from which some gallant comrade had fallen, and the effort made to save the Boy's horse and trappings, that might later

CARTMELL'S HISTORY

on find their way to those who perhaps would never see the lost rider again. Dabney in his strictures on such incidents, was not justified in using this language. Not content to brand them as horse thieves, he says: "Nor did the men pause until they carried their illegal booty to their homes which were, in some instances, at the distance of one or two days' journey. That such extreme disorders could occur, and that they could be passed over without a bloody pun- ishment, reveals the curious inefficiency of offi- cers in the Confederate Army." If so many of these cavalrymen had gone to distant homes, how did they return in time to take part in all the work of the next few days Brigade officers report none missing save those killed and wounded. Genl. George H. Gordon says : "When we arrived at Bartonsville late in the afternoon, an effort was made to rally the fleeing army, and Genl. Banks in order to save his wagon trains that had not come up, placed at my disposal three regiments of infantry and two batteries, to check further attack from the Confederates; that I went back as far as Newtown and drove Ashby and a detachment of infantry out of Newtown. Genl. Hatch then came up with part of his bri- gade (cavalry) from a back road and together they held the rear safely." Stewart, it appears, had gone to meet Ewell, after Ashby came down from Middletown. Gordon says further, that about sunset, finding Confederate infantry and artillery pressing his rear, in such numbers that he could not check, he burned such wagons that he could not move, and then fell back on Win- chester about dark. Jackson followed closely, but found some resistance at Bartonsville. Sev- eral guns well posted and supported by some infantry regiments, disputed every inch of ground. Some prisoners captured at that point were Massachusetts men, and said they belonged to the 2nd Mass. then immediately in front. If all of Banks' regiments had been such as this regiment, Jackson's Valley campaign might have ended in disaster; for reinforcements were al- ready hurrying from Washington, and Fremont was cutting his way through the blockaded moun- tain roads. Jackson knew he could not tarry, and proceeded to force a flank movement through the fields, with hope of halting Banks' main army long enough for battle, instead of skirmishing with a rear guard. The 5th regiment had several companies who knew the lay of the land, and served as good pilots that night. Surviving com- rades of that hour have told the writer that nothing but the thought of home kept them on their feet. Men were dropping down in dead sleep. Jackson forged ahead, however, until he arrived at a point West of Kernstown. The Federal rear guard had fallen back, and had

again taken position across the fields near the old Opecquon Presbyterian Church. They soon gave way. This was now about an hour before daylight, May 25th. Jackson ordered a halt, and instantly the men were in a deep sleep; and it has been said, that the General was the only sentinel. He and his men knew they would not de disturbed. Sleep was all they had to refresh the worn-out body. From this they were aroused quietly by word passing along the line, as soon as it was light enough to select the routes of march. Word was sent out to the division strung out from the Valley Turnpike to the Pritchard hill; and they, too, were on their feet. All now were in motion, marching in several columns, the West column hugging the range of hills until they arrived at a point due West from the writer's residence on the Valley Turn- pike, when a strong Federal position was en- countered on the ridge over which the Middle Road passes. Several men were killed on the ground known as the "Beutell property." The Federals retired to another high point South- west from the old stone mill (Hahn's.) Some casualties occurred at several points due West from the residence of Mrs. Annie R. Hack. The ground was stubbornly held by the skirmishers, falling slowly back upon the strong position the Federals held on the ridge running from Abrams Creek towards Winchester. We must remember that Ewell was on the Front Royal Turnpike, and also had some skirmish lines to overcome. When darkness settled down, his column was within 21/2 miles of Winchester. When the next morning came, Ewell was in motion as promptly as Jackson; but he had with him only one bri- gade. This was Trimble's, with ten guns. The Federals held strong positions; and many of their officers and men displayed as much bravery as veterans of the Stonewall brigade cared to encounter; while over on the Front Royal Road just West of the Rouss (Hollingsworth) Spring, Genl. Donnelly had posted his brigade, with one regiment behind the old stone fence on that part of the road where it turns towards the old Spring. Just as Jackson with the Stonewall brigade, had forced the Federals across Abrams Creek, above Hahn's Mill, and the reserves under Taliaferro and Elzey were coming in from the turnpike to take position on the left of the Stonewall Brigade, Johnson's old Brigade under Scott, began to scale the high hill above the old woolen factory. The column on the Front Royal Road moved up under Trimble. Ewell intended to move up the Town Run hollow, sweep past the cemetery, and strike Banks on flank and rear ; but when Trimble ascended that point of the Front Royal Road where the stone fence made the curve towards the spring, the Federal regi-

3.39

BATTLE OF WINCHESTER

ment concealed by the fence, arose and poured a deadly volley into his ranks at short range. Eighty officers and men went down; the column was driven back, but soon rallied and swept for- ward in time to see the Federal regiment has- tening towards Cemetery Hill. At this time, the firing from Jackson's advancing army, sweep- ing the ridge with canister and musketry, struck the ear of Genl. Donnelly, and he hastened to seek a place of safety. But while they hesitated in the hollow North of F. A. Shryock's gardens, Ewell had his guns in position, and catching the range, shelled the demoralized regiments with deadly effect; while Trimble charging with the infantry at a double-quick, overtook the Fed- erals, who were forced to capitulate, and were left by Ewell as prisoners under care of Trim- ble, while he and the cavalry and artillery, swept around to the Senseny Ridge and caught the fleeing brigade on their flank. Many of them went down as they ascended from the Shawnee hollow, while scores threw down their arms and sought shelter behind the limestone ledges. (Polk Miller, while in Winchester a few years ago with his minstrel troupe, had the writer and some friends accompany him to the scene of the stone-fence engagement, and there pointed out the spot where he saw men of his command go down with the unfortunate Eighty; and traced the charge of Trimble's Brigade, and found where the Federals had given up.)

While Ewell was thus engaged, the battle was waging hotly over on the ridge where Jackson's men had obtained a footing on the hillside. There they met Gordon and his Massachusetts men, supported by a large force of cavalry, who made an effort to charge part of Dick Taylor's Louis- ianians. The 10th Va. caught them on the flank, and sent many troopers to the ground. Then the Louisianians and Virginians rolled over the rocky cliffs and charged with full force into Gordon's plucky Brigade. The shock was too great; they gave way, and Taylor wheeled his men into line alongside the Stonewall Brigade, just as Elzey's Brigade appeared on the sum- mit, when the whole pressed forward with shots and yells. Nothing left now of Banks' Army could stand that avalanche, as it swept towards the streets of the old town, where they had sung their farewell in March "we'll be back in the Sweet By and By." Men tell the story to each other to-day, of how they saw Jackson rushing headlong with his troops, waving his old cap, shouting at the top of his voice: "Press forward to the Potomac." The reserves followed the fugitives into and through the town. Some squads of Federals held their ground, and gal- lantly tried to stay the rout. Banks had gone; and along the highways, through field and lane,

his infantry, artillery, cavalry and all rushed madly after him. Some organized bodies boldly tried to burn the military stores and other build- ings. The pursuing armies pushed through the town, the streets lined with patriotic women. This spurred the old Valley men to press on; but the men were exhausted. Cavalry horses were jaded; and all the available cavalry had gone in pursuit under Ashby. The cavalry had been so hard-pressed for days, that their horses were now unfit for pursuit; and the infantry, too, was worn out. In vain did the General try to rally the men, to press forward to the Poto- mac. They got out on the Martinsburg Pike in time to see the fugitives everywhere rushing wildly away; but the old Valley Army was worn out. They got as far as the old Carter (now Jackson) farm, where they gave up the chase. Genl. Geo. H. Stewart had under his command about 700 cavalry that should have been profit- ably employed, working on the regiments that Trimble and Ewell had thrown into confusion. He was ordered to perform one movement which he declined to do, giving as his reason that his orders had not come from Genl. Ewell, thus ignoring Genl. Jackson's order. Jackson, it is said, exhibited temper and impatience at his tar- diness in joining in the pursuit with his fresh horses and men. Stewart felt the force of it, and tried to redeem himself; but he was not forgiven by the General. Stewart went forward and overtook Ashby and Chew's battery below Stephensons; and together they pressed the ene- my wherever they found opposition. They picked up many fugitives and sent them to the rear. Unfortunately, Genl. Jackson was imposed on by reports coming to him that Ashby, who had been with him on the extreme left, had gone off without orders to Berryville. This was enough to worry the General. We would doubt very much this statement about Jackson, were it not for the statement made by his aide Major Dabney in his "Life of Jackson." But under the excitement of the hour, Jackson failed to con- sider how unreasonable, if not impossible, it was for such a thing to occur. Why should, and how could Ashby have withdrawn his cavalry from the West side of the battle lines, and reached the Berryville Turnpike Avirett in his "Ashby and his Compeers," p. 249, proves by Col. Chew that the charges cannot be sustained. It is to be regretted that Col. Henderson, who wrote that most attractive work "Stonewall Jack- son and the American Civil War," was so often misled in following Dabney in his unfair criti- cisms of the cavalry arm of the service, and especially in the case just mentioned. Ashby had very few of his men with him at Winches- ter. They were watching gaps and roads from

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Franklin to the Valley, and every mountain crossing from the South Branch country. One company had been sent from Middletown to watch the gaps in the Blue Ridge This was Capt. Sam. Myers'. Harness had been left at Cedar Creek to watch the road from Wardens- ville. It was a victory complete enough; and the result should have been accepted in the same spirit that one other victor has exhibited-"There is glory enough for all;" and such incidents not carped over, when neither Jackson nor Ashby can raise a voice. We all must acknowledge that the cavalry arm of the service had been neglected up to the period mentioned, so far as the Valley District was concerned. Ashby was Colonel of the Seventh; but no officer of his grade was in the Upper Valley to organize the new companies that were coming in to join Ashby's Cavalry, and they were allowed to scout where they pleased. Genl. Jackson was too much absorbed with his strategic plans, to give the matter the attention it deserved. Ashby had no power; and it was not until Major Funsten of the Seventh, made personal application to the Secretary of War, that permission to organize some of the new companies into a battalion was granted; and he had barely taken the initiative in forming the 17th Battalion, when Jackson was on the wing, and no time was allowed for strict Battalion drill. The companies were again sent off upon independent expeditions. The 17th later became the nucleus of the celebrated 11th Virginia Cav- alry.

Old cavalrymen who were in the pursuit over the Martinsburg Turnpike, have often told the true story. Banks' main army was shattered and flying to Martinsburg; but while this was the case, stubborn resistance was offered at sundry places by several thousand cavalry supported by artillery, and were hard to dislodge. Genl. Jack- son in his pursuit of the enemy from Bartonsville up to 6 o'clock next morning, found them slowly yielding only to his superior numbers. Banks might have taken new courage and collected an army in support of his rear guard, that would have detained Jackson too long in the Lower Valley, and thus miss his opportunity to get be- yond Fremont's objective point. Banks made a short halt at Martinsburg, and then hastened on to Williamsport and crossed over the remnant of his army on pontoons. On the 26th, all were on the North side. Then Banks sent on his historic report, which has afforded amusement to every student of that campaign. Banks and his army had been electrified; and so had Wash- ington, and all the States North of the Potomac. McClellan caught the alarm as the news flashed over the wires from Washington. Shields with two divisions and one brigade of cavalry-21,200

officers and men-was ordered to turn towards the Valley and discontinue his march towards Richmond. Truly the victory was assuming vast proportions, but not beyond Genl. Jackson's hopes and expectations. For nearly two days after the rout, the Valley army enjoyed a much-needed rest, while congratulations poured in from all sections. On the 28th, the Stonewall Brigade was on its march towards Harpers Ferry, where the Federals under Genl. Saxton, had a force of 7,000 men and 18 guns. Genl. Winder's skir- mishers struck a force in the vicinity of Charles- town, two regiments of infantry, artillery and a large force of cavalry. A spirited attack was made by the Confederate advance guard only, when the imposing force fled in disorder, throw- ing away guns, accoutrements, blankets, etc. They were pursued to Bolivar Heights. The main force appeared on the high ground with artillery. Winder waited for Ewell, who came upon the 29th, and at Halltown they arranged for an at- tack. The 2nd Virginia crossed the Shenandoah and seized Loudoun Heights. The Federals with- drew to the Potomac for shelter, and were pre- paring to abandon the post, which was within easy grasp of Winder and Ewell, who were ready to make the final stroke the next morning. But during the night something had occurred that caused Jackson to call a halt. Word had come from his cavalry scouts that Fremont was on his way from Wardensville and Shields was coming too near Manassas Gap to pass unheeded. Jack- son had already collected every wagon, both army and private property, and had been loading them with captured stores and sending them up the Valley. May 29th found Ewell and Winder some- what puzzled over the order from Jackson: "March main force to Winchester, after one brigade and two batteries are left in position to hold enemy in check." Jackson was then at Charlestown, but was taking the train for Win- chester. On his arrival, he was informed that Shields had already seized Front Royal, 12 miles from Strasburg, and with his division only could seriously interfere with Jackson's efforts to pass Strasburg; and if Fremont could arrive in time with his 15,000 men, this meant fierce battle and a loss of all his captures. Banks with rein- forcements at Williamsport, and the Harpers Ferry garrison in his rear, put Jackson to his best work. To reap the benefits of his wonderful campaign, he must retire in good order, and carry his 2,000 prisoners and captured stores to some safe place beyond Strasburg, which was seriously threatened on the evening of the 29th. Jackson gathered his forces near Winchester on the 30th, and set everything to work for his evacuation; and when night came, the whole army was ordered to move in the early morn-

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ing. On the 31st, the head of the column was taken by the 21st Virginia guarding the 2,000 prisoners. Next went the wagon trains in double lines, extending from Winchester to beyond the bridge at Bartonsville. Genl. Winder was then or- dered up to take the rear. Nothing interfered with the march except a few broken wagons which were cast aside, left to be repaired and put in the rear. The principal portion of the army went into camp that night beyond Strasburg. The Stonewall Brigade bivouacked at Newtown. Jackson felt sure that Fremont and Shields would over-estimate his strength; and as they had no communication, neither was willing to come on an uncertainty to strike his flanks, lest they should be demolished. Official reports now show that this was true in both cases. Fremont was within 6 miles of Strasburg and believed that Jackson had 30,000 men; Shields at Front Royal placed them at 25,000.

Ashby was on the Cotton Town road with his cavalry, holding Fremont's advance in check. On June Ist Ewell went out to support him, and give time for the Stonewall Brigade to get up. Early in the morning, heavy picket firing was heard out towards Cedar Creek. Then it was that Ewell got his artillery in position and sent shot after shot into the advance guard. Infantry regiments poured several volleys into the confused column. Then Ashby and his cav- alry did the rest. Fremont was content to. for- tify against Jackson, not knowing what had occurred during the last few days. In the even- ing, a brigade under Genl. Bayard tried the roads from Front Royal, and came up in time to see the rear guard of Jackson's army wind- ing its way over Fishers Hill. Fremont stood aghast while his dead and wounded Germans of Blenker's division were gathered up, viewing the gray troopers trotting off to the rear of Jack- son's army. Jackson was safe in camp at night of June Ist, with captured stores sufficient to equip his army, of clothing, shoes, etc., and thou- sands upon thousands of good rations, medical and ordnance supplies in untold quantities, 9,354 small arms and some fine pieces of artillery,- all of which went safely through to Staunton. This was all done, according to official reports with a loss to the Valley Army of 68 killed, 386 wounded, 3 missing, and 156 captured.

Jackson felt sure that he must prepare for these armies in his rear and on his left flank; for he knew Shields would push up the Luray Valley, and with his heavy reinforcements, be able to reach the upper gaps in the Blue Ridge and hold them against Jackson's escape to rein- force Johnston's army. Shields started his ad- vance on the Ist, and waited for the morning

to go to hold the bridges at Luray, and then to move rapidly up to Conrads Store and hold the bridge across South River, near the present village of Elkton at the mouth of Swift Run Gap. When Shields' advance got to the two bridges near Luray, they found them burned. The Con- federate cavalry had anticipated them by four hours. This cut Shields off from Newmarket. This was June 2nd; and seemed to frustrate his plans. While Shields had been maturing his plans for work in the Luray Valley, Jackson was somewhat annoyed by Fremont's pursuit, who evidently felt sore over his failure to "bag Jack- son" at Strasburg. One of his officers, speaking of this failure, writes in a spicy way about the "Pathfinder." He says: "When the General sur- veyed his army of Hungarians, Germans, etc., that formed the advance guard (the one of honor). recoil before the Rebel cavalry and a detachment of infantry, and learned of Jackson's achievements, there was a perceptible sigh, but it was one of relief."

The Valley Army was called upon to do some good marching, so as to keep out of the way of skirmish lines continually forming be- tween Ashby's Cavalry and the splendid brigade under Bayard-a detachment from Shields' army. The men who composed that brigade were good horsemen and hard fighters. Bayard showed his efficiency every day. Ashby's splendid dashes with his gray troopers, were always met by cool men, with light artillery. It was on the 2nd of June that a desperate encounter occurred about Maurertown North of Woodstock, between the cavalry commands; and then it was the Chew Battery barely escaped with the Flying Artil- lery. Ashby was driven back in disorder, losing some of his men. Jackson's rear guard, was not disturbed, however, but the army hastened on to Mt. Jackson, and crossed the North fork of the Shenandoah,-culverts and small bridges being destroyed in their rear. The army was in camp South of the river in the afternoon of the 3rd of June. On the 4th, Ashby and his' cavalry who were up with him, crossed the river and fired the bridge. Bayard was close at hand, and made desperate efforts to save the bridge; but Ashby, who was equal to a squadron in any battle, was on the bridge, and succeeded by the help of about twenty men, all that could find standing room, in beating back the head of the Federal column, until the work was assured. The fire soon made the bridge dangerous for the heavy body of horses, which backed in confu- sion. Ashby had his beautiful white horse killed, and a number of the gray troopers were wound- ed. A swollen river was now between the armies, with no hope for the Federals of using their pontoons, though they made several ineffectual

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Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia., Part 60

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920 Publication date: 1909 Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.] Number of Pages: 607

Author: Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), 1838-1920
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: [Winchester, Va.] : [Printed by the Eddy Press Corp.]
Number of Pages: 607