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[133] to Schenck for assistance. Schenck was at Franklin, 34 miles north, which distance he traversed, with his brigade, in 23 hours, joining Milroy at 10 A. M. of the 8th; but he brought only three regiments, reduced by details to less than 2,000 men; while Milroy's force was but very little stronger. Jackson's column was considerably the larger, though it is stated that but six regiments were actually engaged in the eight.

The Rebels advanced to and posted themselves on the top of a ridge in the Bull Pasture Mountain, where it is traversed by the Staunton turn-pike, a mile or two west of McDowell. Schenck saw that Milroy's position was untenable, being commanded by hights in several directions; but he could not safely abandon it in broad daylight, and so decided to remain. Some desultory skirmishing and cannonading followed; until, at 3 P. M., upon information that the Rebels were trying to plant a battery on the mountain, where it would command our whole encampment, Schenek directed Milroy, with the 3d Virginia, 25th, 32d, and 82d Ohio, numbering a little over 2,000 men, to advance and feel of the enemy. Led by Col. N. C. McLean, of the 75th Ohio, they charged up the mountain with great gallantry, defying the fire of a superior force, whose heads only were visible, and were engaged at close range for an hour and a half, during which an attempt was made to turn the Rebel right, but repulsed. The fight did not wholly cease till 8 P. M., when our men were withdrawn by order, bringing in their dead and wounded, taking 4 prisoners and reporting but 3 missing. Our total loss in this well contested action was 256, including 145 slightly wounded. Gen. Jackson's report admits a loss on his part of 461--71 killed, including 3 Colonels and 2 Majors, and 390 wounded, among whom was Gen. Johnson. Our troops retreated to Franklin during the night, carrying off their wounded, but burning a part of their stores.

Jackson pursued next day toward Franklin, but did not see fit to attack. Returning to McDowell,1 he recrossed the Shenandoah Mountain to Lebanon White Sulphur Springs; where he gave his troops a brief rest, and then resumed2 his march to Harrisonburg, having ascertained that Banks had fallen back to Strasburg. Being joined near Newmarket by Ewell's division, he moved via Luray upon Front Royal, keeping his advance carefully masked by Ashby's cavalry, so that he swooped down3 almost unannounced on our small force holding that position, under Col. John R. Kenly, who nevertheless made a spirited resistance, but was soon driven out with loss by the enemy's overwhelming numbers. Kenly, after abandoning the town, attempted to make a stand on a ridge scarcely a mile in its rear; but, his force being hardly a tenth of that assailing him, he was soon compelled to retreat across the river, after destroying his camp and stores. He tried to burn the bridge over the North Fork of the Shenandoah, but the Rebels were upon him and extinguished the flames. A few miles farther on, he was overtaken by the Rebel cavalry under Ashby and Flournoy, and a fight ensued, in

1 May 14.

2 May 17.

3 May 23.

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