Port republic, battle of.
Before the battle of
cross Keys (q. v.), “
Stonewall”
Jackson had crossed the
Shenandoah River, and was encamped at Port Republic.
The vanguard of
Shields's force, under
General Carroll—less than 1,000 infantry, 150 cavalry, and a battery of six guns— had arrived there almost simultaneously with
Jackson.
With his cavalry and five pieces of artillery,
Carroll dashed into the village, drove
Jackson's cavalry out of it, and took possession of the bridge that spanned the river.
Had he burned that structure, he might have ruined
Jackson, for he would have cut him off from
Ewell at
Cross Keys.
But he waited for his infantry to come up, and was attacked by a superior force and driven to a point 2 miles from the town, where he was afterwards joined by
Gen. E. B. Tyler and his brigade, 2,000 strong,
Tyler taking command.
Meanwhile,
Ewell had escaped from
Fremont, crossed the bridge, and reinforced
Jackson.
A flanking movement was now begun by the
Confederates, which
Tyler resisted with his whole force, about 3,000 in number.
With these lie drove 8,000 Confederates into the woods.
At the same time an augmented force attacked
Tyler's right, and a severe battle ensued.
Gen. Dick Taylor's Louisiana brigade made a sudden dash through the woods and captured a National battery, when
Colonel Candy, with
Ohio troops, made a countercharge and recaptured it, with one of the guns of the
Confederates.
The artillery-horses having been killed, he could not carry off the battery; but he took back with him sixty-seven Confederates.
So overwhelming was
Jackson's force that
Tyler was compelled to retreat, and was pursued about 5 miles, covered by
Carroll's cavalry.
The battle was disastrous to the Nationals, but it was recognized by both sides as one of the most brilliant of the war. In the engagement and retreat the
Confederates captured 450 prisoners and 800 muskets.
The National army then fell back to
Harrisonburg (June 9), when
Fremont went on to
Mount Jackson, and
Shields to
Newmarket.
