[
524]
force was “superior or equal” to that of
Johnston, he might “cross and offer him battle.”
The conditions would not warrant a movement then, and the disabilities were laid before the
Chief.
Two days afterward,
Scott telegraphed to
Patterson that he expected he was “crossing the river that day in pursuit of the enemy.”
Patterson was eager to advance, notwithstanding his foe was greatly his superior in numbers and equipment; and when, on the 29th,
harness for artillery horses arrived, he made instant preparations to go forward.
1 A reconnoissance in force was made on the 1st of July,
and on the 2d the whole army crossed the
Potomac, at the
Williamsport Ford, and took the road toward
Martinsburg, nineteen miles northwest of
Harper's Ferry.
Near Falling Waters, five miles from the ford, the advance-guard, under
Colonel John J. Abercrombie, which had crossed the river at four o'clock in the morning, fell in with
Johnston's advance, consisting of about three thousand five hundred infantry, with cannon (
Pendleton's battery of field artillery), and a large force of cavalry, under
Colonel J. E. B. Stuart, the whole under the command of the heroic leader afterward known as “
Stonewall”
Jackson.
Abercrombie immediately deployed his regiments (First Wisconsin and Eleventh Pennsylvania) on each side of the road; placed
Hudson's section of
Perkins's battery, supported by the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, in the highway, and advanced to the attack, in the face of a warm fire of musketry and artillery.
A severe contest ensued, in which
McMullen's Philadelphia company of Independent Rangers participated.
It lasted less than half an hour, when
Lieutenant Hudson's cannon had silenced those of the insurgents, and
Colonel George H. Thomas's brigade was coming up to the support of
Abercrombie.
Perceiving this,
Jackson fled, hotly pursued about five miles, to the hamlet of
Hainesville, where the chase was abandoned.
Having been reenforced by the arrival of
General Bee and
Colonel Elzy, and the Ninth Georgia Regiment,
Johnston had sent a heavy force out to the support of
Jackson, and the Unionists thought it prudent not to pursue further.
Jackson halted and encamped at
Bunker's Hill, on the road between
Martinsburg and
Winchester.
The skirmish (which is known as the
Battle of Falling Waters) and the chase occupied about two hours. It was a brilliant little affair, for the insurgents considerably outnumbered the
Union troops, and were sheltered by a wood in a chosen position; but by greater operations, that soon followed, it was almost totally obscured.
On the following day,
General Patterson and his army entered
Martinsburg, where he was joined on the 8th by the Nineteenth
