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Chapter 41: return to Virginia.
We rested on the 14th and 15th, near
Leesburg; and on the morning of the 16th, resumed the march to the
Valley, through Sincker's Gap in the
Blue Ridge.
Hunter had arived at
Harper's Ferry, and united with
Sigel, and the whole force had moved from that place, under
Crook, to
Hillsboro, in
Loudoun, and a body of cavalry from it made a dash on our train, as we were moving towards the
Valley, and succeeded in setting fire to a few wagons, but was soon driven off by troops from
Rodes' and
Ramseur's divisions, and one piece of artillery was captured from the enemy.
On the morning of the 17th, we crossed the
Shenandoah, at Snicker's or Castleman's Ferry, and took possession near
Berryville-
Breckenridge covering the ford at the ferry and the river above and below, and
Rodes' and
Ramseur's division the roads from
Harper's Ferry.
On the 18th the enemy, having moved through Snicker's Gap, appeared on the banks of the
Shenandoah, and there was some skirmishing.
In the afternoon, a heavy column of his infantry made a dash at Parker's Ford, one mile below the ferry, and crossed over, after driving back the picket of 100 men at that point.
Breckenridge moved
Gordon's and
Echols' divisions to the front, and held the enemy in check, while
Rodes' division was brought up from the left, and attacked and drove him across the river, with heavy loss, and in great confusion.
The enemy's main body still occupied the eastern bank of the
Shenandoah on the 19th, and smaller columns moved up and down the river, to effect a crossing.
Imboden, with his own and
McCausland's cavalry, resisted and repulsed one of these columns, which attempted to cross at Berry's Ferry, with considerable loss to the enemy.
The horses of
Vaughan's cavalry having been
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brought from
Southwestern Virginia, his small force had been now mounted.
On this day I received information that a column under
Averill was moving from
Martinsburg towards
Winchester, and as the position I held near
Berryville left my trains exposed to expeditions in the rear from
Martinsburg and
Harper's Ferry, I determined to concentrate my force near
Strasburg, so as to enable me to put the trains in safety and then move out and attack the enemy.
This movement was commenced on the night of the 19th;
Ramseur's division, with a battery of artillery, being sent to
Winchester, to cover that place against
Averill, while the stores, and the sick and wounded were being removed, and the other divisions moving through
Millwood and
White Post to the
Valley Pike at
Newtown and
Middletown.
Vaughan's and
Jackson's cavalry had been watching
Averill, and, on the afternoon of the 20th, it was reported to
General Ramseur, by
General Vaughan, that
Averill was at
Stephenson's depot, with an inferior force, which could be captured, and
Ramseur moved out from
Winchester to attack him; but relying on the accuracy of the information he had received,
General Ramseur did not take the proper precautions in advancing, and his division; while moving by the flank, was suddenly met by a larger force, under
Averill, advancing in line of battle, and the result was that
Ramseur's force was thrown into confusion, and compelled to retire, with the loss of four pieces of artillery, and a number in killed and woundedBrigadier
Generals Lewis and
Lilly being among the wounded, and Colonel Board of the 58th Virginia Regiment among the killed.
Colonel Jackson made a vigorous charge with his cavalry, which enabled
Ramseur to rally his men, restore order, and arrest the progress of
Averill before he reached
Winchester.
The error committed, on this occasion, by this most gallant officer, was nobly retrieved in the subsequent part of the campaign.
I received at
New Market the news of
Ramseur's misfortune, and immediately moved to his assistance with
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Rodes' division; but on arriving at
Winchester, I found that the enemy, after being checked, had fallen back a short distance; and, as another and much larger column was moving through
Berryville, I did not go after
Averill, but moved the whole command to
Newtown — the stores, and such of the wounded and sick as could be transported, having been gotten off.
On the 21st my whole infantry force was concentrated near
Middletown; and, on the 22nd, it was moved across
Cedar Creek, towards
Strasburg, and so posted as to cover all the roads from the direction of
Winchester.
A report having been sent to me, from
Mount Jackson, that a force of the enemy was moving from the
Valley of the
South Branch of the
Potomac to that place,
Imboden was sent to ascertain its truth, and it proved to be false.
We rested on the 23rd, while waiting to ascertain the movements of the enemy, and during the day a report was received from the cavalry in front that a large portion of the force sent after us from
Washington was returning, and that
Crook and
Averill had united and were at
Kernstown, near
Winchester.
