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When the Federals had safely withdrawn from the battle-field, General Schenck lighted his camp-fires and fell back in the direction of Franklin.
This was done without loss either of men or material, except of some stores for which Milroy had no transportation.
On the ninth of May Jackson moved into MacDowell and fed his troops.
On the tenth of May Jackson moved forward in pursuit.
Coming to roads that led to Harrisonburg, it was feared Banks might send reinforcements to Schenck.
The narrow defiles of the roads were therefore blocked up by felled trees.
On the 11th the pursuit was continued.
Schenck set fire to the forests.
The sky was overcast with volumes of smoke, which shut out the view.
Jackson moved slowly: his skirmishers scoured the burning woods on each side of the highway.
The Federals posted cannon on every height, and used them to retard the progress of their enemy.
Jackson “declared that this smoke was the most adroit expedient to which a retreating foe could resort to embarrass pursuit, and that it entailed upon him all the disadvantages of a night attack.”
1
On Monday the 12th, while Jackson was within two miles of Schenck's position at Franklin, he made up his mind that Schenck was not only very strongly posted, but
1 See “Campaign in the Valley of Virginia in 1861-1862,” by William Allan, from which, on page 80, this extract from Dabney's “Life of Jackson,” p. 351, is taken.
James R. Osgood and Company, 1883.
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