Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[296] cooperating, if necessary, with General Trimble, and prevent his being cut off from the main body of the army by the destruction of the bridge in his rear. But finding the resistance more obstinate than I anticipated, orders were sent to Taliaferro and Trimble to join the main body. Taliaferro came up in time to discharge an effective volley into the ranks of the wavering and retreating enemy. The pursuit was continued some five miles beyond the battle-field by Generals Taliaferro and Winder with their brigades and portions of the batteries of Wooding and Caskie. Colonel Munford, with cavalry and some artillery, advanced about three miles beyond the other troops. Our forces captured in the pursuit about four hundred and fifty (450) prisoners, some wagons, one piece of abandoned artillery, and about eight hundred muskets. Some two hundred and seventy-five (275) wounded were paroled in the hospitals near Port Republic.

Whilst the forces of Shields were in full retreat, and our troops in pursuit, Fremont appeared on the opposite bank of the south fork of the Shenandoah, with his army, and opened his artillery upon our ambulances, and parties engaged in the humane labors of attending to our dead and wounded, and the dead and wounded of the enemy. The next day, withdrawing his forces, he retreated down the Valley.

On the morning of the twelfth, Munford entered Harrisonburgh, where, in addition to wagons, medical stores and camp equipage, he captured some two hundred small-arms. At that point there also fell into our hands about two hundred of Fremont's men, many of them severely wounded on the eighth, and most of the others had been left behind as sick. The Federal surgeons attending them were released, and those under their care paroled.

The official reports of the casualties of the battle show a loss of sixteen (16) officers killed, sixty-seven (67) wounded, and two (2) missing; one hundred and seventeen (117) non-commissioned officers and privates killed, eight hundred and sixty-two (862) wounded, and thirty-two missing, making a total loss of one thousand and ninety-six, (1096,) including skirmishers on the sixth; since evacuation of Winchester, one thousand one hundred and sixty-seven, (1167;) also one piece of artillery. If we add to the prisoners captured on the sixth and ninth, those who were paroled at Harrisonburgh, and in hospitals in the vicinity of Port Republic, it will make the number of the enemy who fell into our possession about nine hundred and seventy-five, (975,) exclusive of his killed and such of his wounded as he removed. The small-arms taken on the ninth, and at Harrisonburgh, numbered about one thousand (1000.) We captured seven pieces of artillery, with their caissons and all of their limbers, except one. The conduct of the officers and men, during the action, merits the highest praise.

During the battle, I received valuable assistance, in the transmission of orders, from the following members of my staff: Colonel Abner Smead, Assistant Inspector-General; Major R. L. Dabney, Assistant Adjutant-General; First Lieutenant A. S. Pendleton, A. D.C.; First Lieutenant H. K. Douglass, Assistant Inspector-General; First Lieutenant J. K. Boswell, Chief Engineer, and Colonel William L. Jackson, volunteer A. D.C. The Medical Director, Dr. Hunter McGuire, gave special attention to the comfort and treatment of the wounded. Major W. J. Hawks, Chief Commissary, and Major J. A. Harman, Chief Quartermaster, had their departments in good condition. For further information respecting the conduct of officers and men who distinguished themselves, as well as for a more detailed account of the movement of troops, I would respectfully refer you to the accompanying official reports of other officers.

I forward, herewith, two maps, by Mr. J. Hotchkiss, one giving the route of the army during the retreat from Strasburgh to Port Republic, and the other of the battle-field.

On the twelfth, the troops recrossed South River, and encamped near Weyer's Cave. For the purpose of rendering thanks to God for having crowned our arms with success, and to implore his continued favor, divine service was held in the army on the fourteenth.

The army remained near Weyer's Cave until the seventeenth, when in obedience to instructions from the commanding general of the department, it moved toward Richmond.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the action of the eighth instant at Cross-Keys, between the division commanded by me and the forces under Major-General Fremont. I was ordered on the seventh, by the General Commanding, to occupy the advance, and my division encamped for that night near Union Church. The enemy made a reconnoissance in the afternoon, and, going forward, I found General Elzey drawing up his own and General Taylor's brigades in position. I at once determined to meet the enemy on the ground selected by General Elzey.

On the morning of the eighth, the enemy advanced, driving in the Fifteenth Alabama, Colonel Cantey, from their post on picket. The regiment made a gallant resistance, enabling me to take position at leisure. The camp-fires left by the regiment — no tents or any thing else — were the camps from which the enemy report to have driven us. At this time I had present Elzey's, Trimble's, and Stewart's brigades, short of five thousand men — Taylor's having been ordered to Port Republic. The general features