The battles of Port Republic.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.] Port Republic, June 24, 1862.
Having noticed in several of the Richmond papers communications concerning the battles near this place of the 7th and 8th instant, and seeing that they are denominated the battles of Crose Keys and Lewiston, I beg leave to call the attention of the public, through the medium of your widely circulated journal, to a few facts and events which will entitle this place to the honor of having been the theatre upon which was enacted those glorious achievements.
As you are pressed for space and prefer short communications to lengthy ones, I shall be as brief as possible, and without further preliminary remarks give my reasons for believing that the recent battles fought near this place should be entitled the ‘"Battles of Port Republic." ’
In the first place, Jackson's army had retreated to this place, the long trains of baggage wagons and prisoners had passed safely over the bridge, and the firing commenced immediately on the banks of the river opposite the town.
The enemy were driven back by degrees until they reached the neighborhood of Union Church, where the hottest of the contest ensued, about two and a half miles from Port Republic.
In the second place, the enemy's cavalry dashed into town, surrounded the house that they supposed was the headquarters of Gen. Jackson, and demanded his surrender.
They were immediately fired upon and driven away faster than they came.
Many of the houses in town have bullet holes through them, and several of them had cannon balls and shells shot through them; and in several places the fences are completely riddled with grape and canister.
Also, many pieces of shell have been picked up in various parts of the town, all going to prove conclusively that those battles should be entitled the battles of Port Republic.
And it was at this point, too, that the enemy were aiming to cut off Jackson's retreat, and the battles having actually commenced immediately in, and were terminated in the immediate vicinity of the town, I am clearly of the opinion that this place should not be deprived of the historic glory which will be given to those important events.
If you had a map of the locality, and could see the geographical position of the place, I am sure you would enter the list with me and contend that Port Republic should certainly be entitled to the honor and glory of christening those battles; and I am sure you have not failed to observe that all of the Northern correspondents denominate them the battles of ‘"Port Republic."’ Much more might be said on this subject, but as I have already said enough to convince a candid public of the justness of our claims to the coveted honor, I shall say no more for the present. M. 