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He died on the 2d of March, when his country lost one of its ablest defenders.
For his brief but valuable services in
Western Virginia, the
Secretary of War had publicly thanked him.
General Shields, another brave soldier, who had done good service in
Mexico, was appointed
Lander's successor in command of the troops of the latter.
In the mean time
General Banks, commanding the Fifth Corps, had sent a force under
Colonel Geary to reoccupy
Harper's Ferry,
1 as the first step toward seizing and holding the Shenandoah Valley.
He took command there in person late in February, and with his forces occupied the heights near the ferry; also
Charleston and
Leesburg, and other important points on each side of the
Blue Ridge.
Jackson, who had occupied Ad places directly in front of
Banks, was pushed back to
Winchester, where he was posted with his division of nearly eight thousand men, when, early in March,
Johnston evacuated
Manassas.
That evacuation was followed by the retirement
of
Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley, on the approach of Union troops under
Generals Hamilton and
Williams.
He retreated to
Mount Jackson, about forty miles above
Winchester, where he was in direct communication with a force at
Luray and another at
Washington, on the eastern side of the mountain,. not far from Thompson's Gap.
Shields pursued
Jackson to his Marc halting-place, creating the greatest consternation among the inhabitants.
The secessionists fled southward, while their few slaves, suddenly relieved from bondage to their fugitive masters, took their departure, by every possible mode of conveyance, toward the
National lines.
Shields found his antagonist too strong to warrant an attack, and he fell back to
Winchester, for the twofold purpose of safety and drawing
Jackson from his supports.
He was closely pursued by
Jackson's cavalry, under
Turner Ashby, one of the most dashing of the Confederate cavalry officers in that region.
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Exodus of slaves. |
To
Banks had been assigned the duty of covering the line of the
Potomac and
Washington City, after the movement agreed upon in council at Fairfax Court House had been conditionally sanctioned by the
President, and he was ordered to place the bulk of his force at
Manassas Junction and
