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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
