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

On the 6th of June, as I have shown, Jackson turned off the main road, and marched on Port Republic; on the 7th he passed his whole train over the river and turned to face Fremont who was then at Harrisonburg, six miles off. Early on the 8th Shields's advance seized Port Republic and the bridge, Jackson's only retreat. At sunrise, then, this was the position: Jackson with his back to the river facing Fremont six miles off, while in his rear two miles distant Shields's advance had possession of his only retreat, while the main body was rapidly coming up — certainly not more than fifteen miles distant. With the quickness of lightning Shields's advance was driven from Port Republic and the Stonewall brigade, and Charles Winder assigned the duty of keeping then from regaining it. At the same time, Ewell was thrown on the advancing columns of Fremont. Eight hours hard fighting stopped him. By this time Shields had come within striking distance.

At daylight on the morning of Monday the 9th of June we crossed the river, Gen'l Trimble holding Fremont back with his skirmishers, until the last man and horse was safely over, when withdrawing them he fired the bridge, destroying every hope of Shields for succor against Jackson, who was now coming down on him like a lion. Extending down the right side of the Shenandoah, between the river and the mountain, is a plateau, which some times widens out into a mile in depth. About three miles above the burning bridge, the Yankee General had formed his line of battle, his left thrown up the side of the mountain, on the slope of which he had posted a battery of six twelve-pounder Napoleons, while his right was completely protected by the river. Our line marched steadily forward, and the Second brigade of General Edw'd Johnson's old command, consisting of the Fifty-eight, Forty-fourth, and other Virginia Regiments, swept the Yankees before it until, hesitating at an unfortunate time, they were charged in turn and driven back. The Stonewall brigade steadily pressed on, while the Louisianans, swinging round the mountain side, at once with a terrific yell were launched like an avalanche on the battery and its supports, the gallant Wheat as usual in the lead, and each striving to be ahead. The Yankees stood well to their guns, and plied the charging line with canister, but they were borne down and every gun taken in their places. That ended the battle in rout and confusion. Of four brigades brought in by the enemy, we captured 1,000 prisoners and six pieces of artillery. They left probably 1,000 to 1,500 killed and wounded on the field. The residue were so demoralized, as to be useless during the rest of the campaign.