Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 10.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[145]

Southern Historical Society papers.

Vol. X. Richmond, Va., April, 1882. no. 4.

Memoir of the First Maryland regiment.
[written in July, 1863.]

By General B. T. Johnson.

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Paper no. 5.

The battle of Port Republic.

The manoeuvres of Fremont and Shields pursuing Jackson up the valley were now approaching consummation. From Front Royal the Massanutton range tends south parallel to the Blue Ridge, dividing from the lower valley of Virginia the Luray Valley. It terminates at the Picket Mountain some miles above Port Republic, at which point the two valleys unite in the great upper valley. Up the Luray valley is a fine country road, while up the other the broad turnpike offers every facility for the movement of a column. At Harrisonburg, a road turns to the east from the Valley pike, and crossing the East Fork of the Shenandoah at Port Republic, eight miles distant, continues to the left over Brown's Gap and to the right to Staunton. While Fremont pressed Jackson steadily up the valley pike, Shields was rapidly advancing up the Luray valley on Port Republic to intercept him if he attempted to