June, 1862. |
 |
| A. Elzy. |
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| Union Church at Cross Keys.4 |
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Stewart's) of the rear division of his army at Union Church, about seven miles from Harrisonburg, to keep back the Nationals and gain time, while he should throw forward his own division to cover the bridge at Port Republic, five miles farther on, and prevent Shields from crossing it.
Ewell strongly posted his force, about five thousand strong, on a ridge that crossed the road near the church, with his flanks well protected by woods.
This excellent position was chosen by General vance of the center; Stewart was on the right, and Elzy on the left.
In that position he was attacked on Sunday morning, the 7th,
by Fremont, who had moved out of Harrisonburg at six
o'clock, and at nine was ready for battle.
Schenck was on the right,1 Milroy in the center,2 and General Stahl on the left,3 forming a line about a mile and a half in length.
Between Milroy's right and Schenck's left were the Sixtieth Ohio, Eighth Virginia, and the Garibaldi Guards of Blenker's division, commanded by Colonel Cluseret.
Stahl's wing was supported by Bohlen's brigade, and the remainder of Blenker's division was held as a reserve.
The Nationals moved steadily to the attack, down through a little valley and up a slope, in the face of a storm-of shot and shell.
At eleven o'clock the conflict was general and severe.
It was specially so at the center, and continued several hours, Milroy and Schenck all the while gaining ground; the former with heavy loss.
The brunt of the battle fell upon him and Stahl, and upon Trimble on the part of the Confederates.
Stahl's troops
finally gave way, and an order was given at about four o’Clock for the whole line to fall back, at the moment when Milroy had penetrated Ewell's center, and was almost up to his guns.
That daring soldier obeyed, but with the greatest reluctance, for he felt sure
1 With the Thirty-second, Fifty-fifth, Seventy-third, Seventy-fifth, and Eighty-second Ohio.
2 With the Second, Third, and Fifth Virginia and Twenty-fifth Ohio.
3 With the Eighth, Forty-first, and Forty-fifth New York and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania, with the remnant of the brave Bucktails who survived the battle on the previous day.
4 this little picture shows the appearance of the Church when the writer sketched it, in October, 1866. it was built of brick, and stood in a grove of oaks, a short distance from the Port Republic road from Harrison. Burg. Its interior was a ruin, and its walls showed many scars of heavy shot and shell. In front of it was a cemetery, in a substantial inclosure. Fremont used the Church for a hospital.
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