[137] the top of the mountain and became hotly engaged with the enemy, who were in a strong position. Our battery was ordered forward and got within half a mile of the top, following the old Parkersburg turnpike. Here we were halted, and after some delay, it being found that it was impracticable to reach a position where artillery could be used, we retraced our steps and bivouacked on the eastern side, in full hearing of the battle and in sight of the smoke. Our infantry drove the enemy from their position and held the top of the mountain, but the loss in several of the regiments was very heavy. The next morning we resumed our march and crossed the mountain, finding the traces of a bloody fight at the summit, and pressing on, found that the enemy had destroyed their supplies at McDowell, and had begun a hasty retreat down a valley northward, toward the village of Franklin. On the 9th and 10th we followed, and overtook them near Franklin on the 11th, when our two parrot guns were engaged in a skirmish. This being Sunday, the following day was observed by order of our General, as a substitute for Sunday, and we rested. On the 13th we commenced our march back toward Staunton, and on that march we were all formally called up, and nolens volens were mustered into the Confederate service ‘for the war.’
When we reached the foot of that range of the Shenandoah Mountains known there as ‘North Mountain,’ we turned northward, taking the road which leads toward Harrisonburg, and on the 17th camped near Stribling Springs, where Henry B. Gibson and George W. Stuart joined the company,
Crossing the north fork of the Shenandoah river at Bridgewater, the battery passed through Harrisonburg on the 19th, and thence through Luray into Page county, and down the Shenandoah through Page and Warren counties, and reached Front Royal on May 23d, where the enemy was routed, though the battery was not engaged. On the 24th the two parrot guns were ordered forward under Captain Poague, with General Ashby, and fought and pursued the enemy from Middletown to Newtown, in Frederick county, where three men were wounded (two of them badly) and two horses killed.
From Newtown they continued in front till the 25th, when the whole battery engaged the enemy at Winchester, losing two men killed, Jonathan Agner and Robert B. McKim, and fifteen wounded. Some of the guns were ordered during this battle to take a position in a field, and had to pass through a gateway which was found to be too narrow. A. S. Whitt volunteered to cut down
