vance of Gen. Fremont's force on Sunday, June 1, encountered the enemy three or four miles from Strasburg, on the road to Winchester. Gen. Jackson had arrived in Strasburg on the previous day, and tarried to secure the safe arrival and departure of all his force. This encounter of the advance of Gen. Fremont was with the rear of Gen. Jackson. Col. Cluseret, with the 60th Ohio and 8th Virginia and a battery, formed this advance. The contest was with artillery, and was continued by Col. Cluseret until about noon, when he was ordered to retire under the hope of drawing Gen. Jackson on to attack the position which Gen. Fremont had in the meanwhile taken. He had formed a line of battle in a strong position, with Gen. Milroy on the left, Gen. Schenck on the right, and Gen. Stahl in the centre, with Blenker's division in reserve. In this affair five of the 8th Virginia and two of the 60th Ohio were wounded. While Gen. Jackson's rear was thus engaged with the advance of Gen. Fremont, the main body of his troops was pushing on through Strasburg, which was accomplished on Sunday. Thus Gen. Jackson reached Strasburg just in time to pass between Gen. McDowell on the one side, and Gen. Fremont on the other. The advance of Gen. McDowell reached Strasburg soon after the advance of Gen. Fremont. The afternoon wore away without any appearance of Gen. Jackson. The truth was that the attack on the advance of Gen. Fremont was made to divert his attention from the retreating movement Gen. Jackson was then making. A reconnoissance was made during the night beyond Strasburg. On Monday morning, June 2, Gen. Fremont pushed on to Strasburg only to find that Gen. Jackson was on his way to Woodstock unchecked and uninjured. The advance of Gen. Fremont's main force as it entered Strasburg met the 1st New Jersey and the 1st Pennsylvania cavalry under Gen. Bayard, then just coming in, as a part of Gen. McDowell's force.

Meanwhile the force of Gen. Shields which had been ordered to cooperate, had left Manassas Junction, and halted at Haymarket on Tuesday, the 27th of May, as has been stated. On the 28th this division, followed by other troops from Gen. McDowell's corps, advanced as far as Rectortown, thirteen miles, having passed over steep and rocky roads through Thoroughfare Gap. On Thursday, the 29th, it started at five o'clock P. M., with orders to be in Front Royal, twenty-eight miles distant, on the next day at noon, at which time Gen. Fremont was to reach Strasburg. Their entire train was left behind and at the appointed time their advance brigade, under Gen. Kimball, struck the enemy at Front Royal, completely routing them and taking a number of prisoners and a large amount of commissary and quartermaster's stores. On the next day a party of eighteen cavalry entered the outskirts of Strasburg. Finding that the enemy had retired before Gen. Fremont, and that he was follow

ing them, Gen. Shields moved up the east side of the Massanutten range of mountains to Luray, while Gen. Fremont advanced on the west side. Gen. Shields was in hopes of striking the enemy at New Market, but finding the Whitehouse and Columbia bridges burned, he resolved to push on further up the east side of the Shenandoah, to intercept the enemy at Conrad's Store (Miller's Bridge), Port Republic, or Waynesborough on the railroad eleven miles east of Staunton. Col. Carroll, in command of the 4th brigade, moved rapidly forward with one regiment, followed by the remainder of the brigade. A violent rain on the night of the 3d caused a delay, and various portions of the command were separated by rapid streams overflowing their banks. He, however, reached Port Republic in advance of the enemy.

At this time forces were gathering in other quarters. The 5th New York cavalry, Col. De Forrest, left Williamsport on Friday night, the 30th, at the time the attack at Harper's Ferry was made, and advanced to Martinsburg on Saturday morning, the 31st, and occupied the town. On the 2d of June Gen. Banks, having recrossed the Potomac, reached Bunker Hill, twelve miles from Winchester. Also by special train from Baltimore, Gen. Sigel arrived at Harper's Ferry on Sunday evening, June 1. During the next forenoon, he inspected the positions of the forces, and ordered a march at four o'clock in the afternoon. The next morning the advance of his division, consisting of Gen. Cooper's brigade, was beyond Charlestown, pushing forward to Winchester, where a junction was formed with Gen. Banks.

Meantime Gen. Fremont was in full chase of the swift-footed foe. Finding that the enemy had escaped him at Strasburg, and being joined by an advance of Gen. McDowell's, consisting of Gen. Bayard's cavalry, he ordered the cav alry and artillery to the front, and pursuit to be given.

A stand was made several times by the retreating enemy, during Monday, the 2d. A mile and a half beyond Strasburg, at a narrow and defensible pass called Fisher's Hill, the road, after crossing a bridge, turns abruptly to the right, and curving to the left passes the base of a thickly wooded hill with a deep ra vine on the right, and continues up the hill through a deep and densely wooded defile. Here the first stand was made by the rear guard under Gen. Ewell. His artillery occupied elevated positions overlooking the road on his front for a mile, and commanding a range of hills adjacent to the road on the right of Gen. Milroy. Finding it to be impossible to drive the enemy's centre, Gen. Milroy chose other elevated positions for his guns on the right, and a fierce contest ensued for several hours. The enemy at night encamped three miles beyond Woodstock, while the forces of Gen. Fremont occupied the town.

The pursuit was commenced at seven o'clock

on the next morning, Tuesday, June 3. The advance to Edinburg was made without incident. A military bridge constructed by Gen. Banks across Stony Creek, a swift, wide stream, was half burned by the flying enemy. The delay in repairing the bridge and crossing gave the enemy time to move to Mt. Jackson, eight miles beyond Edinburg, where he halted until noon of the next day, the 4th, when he was again in motion, owing to the approach of Gen. Fremont's advance. One mile beyond Mt. Jackson, is a long bridge over the Shenandoah, 8 river too swift and deep to be forded. Gen. Jackson left his artillery in position long enough to delay the advance of Gen. Bayard's cavalry, then crossed the bridge before the guns of his pursuers could be brought up, and burned the bridge in face of their cavalry. The bridge was rebuilt by noon of the next day, the 5th, and the army of Gen. Fremont was again in motion. At three o'clock the advance entered New Market, a distance of seven miles, and encamped two miles beyond. On the 6th, Friday, the advance reached Harrisonburg about two o'clock P. M. None of the enemy were seen on the way. Almost every bridge, however small, was found to have been burned. Information was immediately received that a body of Confederate cavalry was near the town. Cannon were planted on the highlands north, and a force of cavalry, under Col. Wyndham, was sent out to reconnoitre, with instructions to engage the enemy if the force was only two or three companies, but not if it was in force and supported by infantry. Some three miles beyond the town, Col. Wyndham discovered the Confederate cavalry and made an effort to oppose them, but unfortunately came upon a large force of infantry, which opened such a volley upon him that his troops were thrown into confusion, and suffered severely, and he himself was taken prisoner. Later in the day Gen. Bayard and Col. Cluseret with a force of cavalry and infantry encountered the enemy. One regiment, the Bucktail rifles of Pennsylvania, numbering one hundred and twenty-five, under Col. Kane, suffered a severe loss of fiftyfive men. This small force was rashly led against an overwhelming Confederate mass. The Union forces were finally withdrawn, and the enemy subsequently disappeared. Among the killed of the Confederate force was Col. Ashby, a brave and dashing cavalry officer. The forces of Gen. Fremont remained at Harrisonburg on Saturday, the 7th of June. A reconnoissance was made by Gen. Milroy, about seven miles on the road to Port Republic, where the enemy was found in a position well protected by woods. It seems that Gen. Jack son, before reaching the final bridge across the Shenandoah, determined to fight Gen. Fremont, and thereby check his pursuit. For this purpose he had chosen his position as above stated, at a spot called Cross Keys, near Union Church. At six o'clock on Sunday morning, June 8, the army of Gen. Fremont began to move, and

at half past eight his advance opened upon the enemy. Gen. Fremont says:

"The battle began with heavy firing at eleven o'clock, and lasted, with great obstinacy and violence, until four in the afternoon, some skirmishing and artillery firing continuing from that time until dark."

The right wing was under Gen. Schenck, the left under Gen. Stahl, and the centre under Gen. Milroy. The right wing was not assailed, except by skirmish fighting. The contest was hot on the centre, and Gen. Milroy forced the enemy back from point to point. He had penetrated the centre, and almost reached the enemy's guns, when the order to retire was given. This filled him with indignation, but he obeyed. Gen. Stahl's brigade was all engaged. Of this, the 45th New York and the 27th Pennsylvania first met the enemy, and being threatened by superior numbers, the 8th New York was sent to support them on the left, and the 41st New York on the right. These regiments were soon all engaged, and the enemy appeared to be bearing heavily upon this wing of the army. It finally gave way, and the whole line was ordered back to a more favorable position. The enemy did not advance, but commenced a retreat. The army encamped that night on the ground where their line was first formed in the morning. They drove the enemy's pickets and skirmishers over it at first, for no attempt was made on the other side to support them. The place where the fighting occurred, and the dead and wounded were strewn over the field, was in the enemy's possession all night.

The loss was very severe on both sides. In Gen. Stahl's command the loss was 69 killed, wounded 254, missing 79. The total loss was estimated by Gen. Fremont, immediately after the battle, at 125 killed and 500 wounded. The enemy's loss was less than this, owing to the shelter of their forces.

The despatch of Gen. Fremont to the War Department, dated on the next morning, says:

"There was no collision with the enemy after dark last night. This morning we renewed the march against him, entering the woods in battle order; his cavalry appearing on our flanks. Gen. Blenker had the left, Gen. Milroy the right, and Gen. Schenck the centre, with a reserve of Gen. Stahl's and Gen. Bayard's brigades,"

Port Republic is a small town on the south fork of the Shenandoah river, near which is the bridge by which the river is crossed. It is a few miles distant from Cross Keys, where the conflict between Gens. Fremont and Jackson's forces took place. It has already been stated that Col. Carroll, in command of the advance of Gen. Shields's division up the east side of the Shenandoah, arrived at Port Republic in advance of Gen. Jackson. This means, in advance of the main force of the enemy. On Saturday, the 7th, Col. Carroll received orders to move forward to Waynesborough, distant some thirty-five or thirty-seven miles, by the

way of Port Republic, for the purpose of destroying the railroad depot, track, and bridge, at that place, and to seize Gen. Jackson's train and throw his force upon Gen. Jackson's flank. Col. Carroll marched in obedience to these orders, on Saturday afternoon. His infantry, cavalry, and artillery had in the mean time come up, and he started for Conrad's Store with less than a thousand of the former, with one hundred and fifty cavalry, and with a single battery of six guns.

Halting, in the night, six miles before reaching Port Republic, Col. Carroll sent forward a party of scouts, who returned with the information that Gen. Jackson's train was parked near Port Republic, with a drove of beef cattle herded near by, and the whole guarded by about two or three hundred cavalry. On learning this he pushed forward, with the design of capturing the train and cattle, as his orders directed. He halted some two miles from the town, made a reconnoissance, and received further information confirming the report of his scouts, and then dashed into the town with his cavalry and two pieces of artillery, driving the enemy's cavalry out and taking possession of the bridge. He halted there for his infantry to come up, and disposed his pieces and little force to prevent a repulse from the train guard, when, before he had occupied the village any length of time, he was attacked by a force of the enemy superior to his own, and forced to retire and abandon his further march to Waynesborough. Thus the enemy recovered possession of the bridge and held it.

Col. Carroll brought his forces to a stand at the first defensible position, about two miles north of the town. At this time the conflict was going on between Gens. Fremont and Jackson at Cross Keys, several miles distant, and it was over this bridge that Gen. Jackson must retreat or be placed between the forces of Gens. Fremont and Shields. At two o'clock in the afternoon Gen. Tyler arrived to the aid of Col. Carrol.. As commanding one of the brigades of Gen. Shields's division, he had also been ordered to proceed to Waynesborough. He left Columbia Bridge on the 7th, and reached Naked Creek on the same day, and went into camp under orders to march at four A.M. When within six miles of Port Republic he learned of the engagement of Col. (acting brig.gen.) Carroll, and pressed forward immediately with infantry and artillery to his support, and reached him at two P. M.

Gen. Tyler in his report thus explains his proceedings: "From Col. Daum I learned the enemy had eighteen pieces of artillery, planted 80 as to completely command all the approaches to the town, and from the engagement with Gen. Carroll that morning, had obtained the range of the different points. Immediately on the arrival of my command, Col. Daum urged an attack with the combined force of infantry and artillery, to which I so far consented as to order the infantry into position

under cover of a thick wood which skirted the road, and commenced observing the enemy's position myself, which appeared to me one to defy an army of 50,000 men. I at once sent for Col. Carroll, Lieut.-Col. Schriber, Capts. Clark and Robinson, who had been over the ground; they all agreed in the opinion that an attack would result in the destruction of our little force."

The infantry was ordered back to bivouac for the night, and early in the morning Gen. Tyler was informed that the enemy were advancing evidently with the intention of outflanking him on his left. Forces were ordered up to counteract this movement, which was sucessfully done. The enemy retired into the woods, and a part crossed over and joined the forces attacking the right wing. The engagement now became very heavy on the right, additional troops having been brought up on both sides. Under cover of this conflict, the enemy threw another force into the woods, pressed down upon the battery on the left, and with a sudden dash captured it. The contest continued until Gen. Tyler, perceiving additional reënforcements for the enemy approaching, about ten o'clock ordered his troops to fall back, with a view of retreating until he should meet reënforcements. The retreat, he says, "save the stampede of those who ran before the fight, was as orderly as the advance." The number of his force is stated at three thousand, and that of the enemy much larger. This was evidently the rear guard of Gen. Jackson's army, which had been engaged, and some reenforcements were sent back to it. Gen Jack. son retired from before Gen. Fremont on Sunday night, and on Monday morning crossed the bridge at Port Republic, and while the main body continued to retreat, Gen. Tyler was thus held in check.

Meanwhile Gen. Fremont, as has been stated, commenced his march for Port Republic that morning, with his army in battle array. During the afternoon his whole army reached the river opposite the town, and he learned that a portion of Gen. Shields's division had engaged the enemy on both Sunday and Monday on the other side of the river. During the march of Gen. Fremont's forces from the battle field of the preceding day to the river, they could hear brisk cannonading, and see the heavy volumes of smoke arising from the valley where the contest was going on. When they arrived the Confederate force was gone. Thus closed the pursuit of Gen. Jackson with a portion of the forces of four major-generals of the U. S. army on his line of retreat, beside those of Brig.-Gen. Shields. The loss of men on both sides occasioned by this expedition was not very great either in killed, wounded, or prisoners. No accurate details are at present accessible; but the destruction of Federal stores was vast.

On the night of the arrival of Gen. Fremont's forces at the river, an alarm was raised in camp. Horses were harnessed, and men placed

in a condition for an immediate movement, but affairs finally became quiet, and a part of a night's rest was obtained. On the next morning, the 10th, orders to march were issued, and the army was soon in motion back to Harrisonburg, a distance of twelve miles, which it reached in a pitiless storm during the afternoon. On Wednesday it moved eighteen miles to New Market, and on Thursday reached Mt. Jackson, seven miles, and encamped for rest. Some forces of Gen. Jackson's army returned to Harrisonburg almost as soon as the Federal troops had left it. The division of Gen. Shields also fell back to New Market.

The force of Gen. Jackson was estimated by his opponents at twenty-five thousand men. The force of Gen. Fremont, on leaving Franklin, was stated to be about twenty thousand men. It should be stated in this connection, that on the very day on which Gen. Jackson attacked the 1st Maryland, under Col. Kenly, at Front Royal, the 23d of May, the Confederate General, Heath, in the western part of the Mountain Department, advanced rapidly and boldly with nearly three thousand men and attacked Col. Crook, acting brigadier-general, at Greenbrier Bridge, thirty-five miles from McDowell, and nine miles from Camp Alleghany. The command of Col. Crook consisted of the

36th and 44th Ohio and some batteries. The advance of Gen. Heath was met with so much vigor and promptness, that his forces were soon defeated, with the loss of his four pieces of artillery, and one hundred and fifty killed and wounded, and three hundred stand of arms, and a number taken prisoners. On his retreat, the Greenbrier bridge was burned to check or prevent pursuit. This affair occurred on the day previous to the reception of the order by Gen. Fremont to march to the aid of Gen. Banks. The ill success of this enterprise was such that it failed to cause any diversion from Gen. Fremont's command.

This exploit of Gen. Jackson, undoubtedly one of the most brilliant and successful thus far of the war, if its objects are considered, introduced into the whole campaign in Virginia a disturbing element of considerable magnitude. It diverted large masses of men from movements designed to accelerate events on the peninsula, delayed the advance of Gen. McClellan, and deprived him of the reënforcements he expected. The time required for the transfer of troops in the South and Southwest, where the Confederate campaign had been a failure, to Richmond, was thus gained, and when Gen. McClellan was next prepared to move, he found the enemy in accumulating force in front of him.

Ox the 25th of May Gen. McClellan issued a general order, which was read throughout the camps, directing the troops, as they advanced beyond the Chickahominy, to be prepared for battle at a moment's notice, and to be entirely unencumbered, with the exception of ambulances; to carry three days' rations in their haversacks, leaving their knapsacks with their wagons, which were on the eastern side of the river, carefully parked. Besides practical directions as to conduct, this order says to officers and soldiers: "Let them bear in mind that the Army of the Potomac has never yet been checked, and let them preserve in battle perfect coolness and confidence, the sure forerunners of suc

cess."

The divisions from the corps of Gens. Heintzelman and Keyes were among the first to cross the Chickahominy. They took a position on the right bank somewhat advanced therefrom. The right wing rested near New Bridge, the centre at Seven Pines, and the left flank on the White Oak Swamp. Gen. Sumner's corps remained on the east side of the river. On the

30th the Confederate Gen. Johnston made arrangements for an attack upon the Federal army, for the purpose of cutting off, if possible, the corps of Gens. Heintzelman and Keyes before they could be joined by Gen. Sumner. He selected the divisions of Gens. Longstreet, Huger, G. W. Smith, D. H. Hill, and Whiting, His plan was that Gens. Hill and Longstreet should advance by the road to Williamsburg and make the attack in front, and that Gen. Huger should move on the road to Charles City and attack in flank the troops assailed by Gens. Hill and Longstreet. Gen. Smith was ordered to the junction of the New Bridge Road and the Nine Mile Road, and to be in readiness to fall on the right flank of Gen. Keyes and to cover the left of Gen. Longstreet. The forces of Gens. Hill, Longstreet, and Smith were in position early on the morning of Saturday, May 31, and waited until afternoon for Gen. Huger to get into position. Prince de Joinville, who was a competent spectator, thus describes the scenes which followed this attack: "At the moment it was thus attacked, the

Federal army occupied a position having the form of a V. The base of the V is at Bottom Bidge, where the railroad crosses the Chickahominy. The left arm stretches toward Richmond, with this railroad and the road from that city to Williamsburg. There stood the left wing, composed of four divisions echeloned, one behind the other, between Fair Oaks and Savage stations, and encamped in the woods on both sides of the road. The other arm of the V, the right, follows the left bank of the river; that is the right wing. There are these five divisions and the reserve. Should one desire to communicate from one extremity to the other of those two wings, going by Bottom's Bridge, the way is very long, not less than 12 or 15 miles. In an air line the distance, on the contrary, is very trifling, but between the two arms of the V flows the Chickahominy. It was to connect both arms, in the space between them, that the construction of 3 or 4 bridges had been undertaken, only one of which was serviceable on the 31st of May. It had been built by Gen. Sumner, nearly halfway between Bottom's Bridge and the most advanced point of the Federal lines. It saved the army that day from a disaster." The other bridges were not ready. They were structures of logs, and time was required to build them. The approaches were always bad, and the tedious labor of corduroying long distances was ne

cessary.

"It was against the left wing of the army that every effort of the enemy was directed. That wing had its outposts at Fair Oaks station, on the York river railroad, and at a place called Seven Pines, on the Williamsburg road. There the Federals had thrown up a redoubt in a clearing, where a few houses were to be seen, and constructed abatis, to increase the field for sharpshooting of the troops posted there. The rest of the country was completely covered with woods. The previous day there had been a frightful storm, with torrents of rain, and the roads were frightful.

"All at once, about one o'clock in the afternoon, the weather being dark and gloomy, a very spirited fusilade is heard. The pickets and sentries are violently driven in; the woods which surround Fair Oaks and Seven Pines are filled with clouds of the enemy's sharpshooters. The troops rush to arms and fight in desperation; but their adversaries' forces constantly increase, and their losses do not stop them. The redoubt of the Seven Pines is surrounded, and its defenders die bravely. Col. Bailey, of the artillery, among others, there upon his pieces finds a glorious death. In vain Gens. Keyes and Naglee exhaust themselves in a thousand efforts to keep their soldiers together: they are not listened to. In this moment of confusion they perceive a little French battalion, known as the Garde Lafayette, which has remained in good order. They rush to it, place themselves at its head, charge the enemy and retake a battery. The battalion loses a

fourth of its men in this charge; but, like true Frenchmen, always and everywhere the same, they cry, "They can call us the Garde Lafourchette now?" alluding to an offensive nickname that had been given them.

"Meanwhile Heintzelman rushes to the rescue with his two divisions. As at Williamsburg, Kearney arrives in good time to reestablish the fight. Berry's brigade, of this division, composed of Michigan regiments and an Irish battalion, advances firm as a wall into the midst of the disordered mass which wanders over the battle field, and does more by its example than the most powerful reenforcements. About a mile of ground has been lost, fifteen pieces of cannon, the camp of the division of the advanced guard, that of Gen. Casey; but now we hold our own. A sort of line of battle is formed across the woods, perpendicularly to the road and the railroad, and there the repeated assaults of the enemy's masses are resisted. The left cannot be turned, where is the White Oak Swamp, an impassable morass; but the right may be surrounded. At this very moment, in fact, a strong column of Confederates has been directed against that side. If it succeeds in interposing between Bottom's Bridge and the Federal troops, which hold beyond Savage's Station, the entire left wing is lost. It will have no retreat, and is doomed to yield to numbers; but precisely at this momentthat is to say, at 6 o'clock in the evening-new actors appear on the scene. Gen. Sumner, who has succeeded in passing the Chickahominy, with Sedgwick's division, over the bridge constructed by his troops, and who, like a brave soldier, has marched straight through the woods to the sound of the cannon, arrived suddenly on the left flank of the column with which the enemy is endeavoring to cut off Heintzelman and Keyes.

"He plants in the clearing a battery which he has succeeded in bringing with him. They are not those rifled cannon, the objects of extravagant admiration of late, good for cool firing and long range in an open country: these are the true guns for a fight-twelve-pound howitzers,* the old pattern, throwing either a round projectile, which ricochets and rolls, or a heavy package of grape. The simple and rapid discharging of these pieces makes terrible havoc in the opposing ranks. In vain Johnston sends against this battery his best troops, those of South Carolina-the Hampton Legion among others. In vain he rushes on it himself; nothing can shake the Federals, who, at nightfall, valiantly led by Gen. Sumner in person, throw themselves upon the enemy at the point of the bayonet, and drive him furiously, with frightful slaughter and fear, back as far as Fair Oaks Station.

"Night put an end to the combat. On both sides nothing was known of the result of the battle but what each one had seen with his