50. L.
THE CHASE AFTER MILROY.
I Had gone to carry a message to Colonel Ashby, and spent
the night with him on the outpost, when on my return I found
the infantry in motion, and soon discovered that Jackson,
now re-enforced by General Ewell's division from Johnston's
army, was going, with a portion of his army, to attack General
Milroy, who had already crossed the Shenandoah Mountain,
west of Staunton, to form a junction with General Banks at
Harrisonburg.
The column was moved with great rapidity—by railway, partly
—and, advancing steadily westward, reached, on a bright evening,
the slope of the Bull Pasture Mountain—the enemy retiring
before them.
Here General Milroy's advance force was met and driven back,
and on the next morning Jackson rapidly advanced into the
narrow defile on the western side of which was the Valley of
McDowell, occupied in force by his adversary.
The battle of McDowell—upon which I shall not dwell long
—was an obstinate struggle for the possession of Sutlington's Hill,
a lofty eminence on the southern side of the gorge, and commanding
the valley in which General Milroy was posted.
The quick eye of Jackson saw speedily that this was the
key of the whole position, and he lost no time in hurrying forward
his regiments, as they came up, to secure possession of
it. Such was the roughness of the ground—a steep mountainside,
with huge masses of rock cropping out at every step—that
no artillery could be gotten to the crest; and the infantry, even,
were compelled to march in single file, winding in and out among
the huge rocks of the gorge.
Scarcely had the few regiments thus hurried forward formed
a thin line of battle on the hill, when the Federal forces, which
had promptly massed in front, were thrown against them, and
a furious conflict commenced for the coveted position. A heavy
column was first hurled against Jackson's left, but, after a fierce
conflict, was repulsed. Then the dark masses were seen to withdraw
from that quarter and concentrate in front of the Confederate
right. An assault more determined than the first followed,
to turn that flank; and in an instant the opposing lines had come
together with a crash which resembled the furious roar of a
mountain storm. The rattle of musketry and the bellowing of
the Federal artillery reverberated from the rocky sides of the
gorge, until the ears were deafened, and the opposing lines disappeared
in a heavy cloud, which concealed completely the
whole struggle.
Suddenly the long-sustained yell, heard from the Southern
troops whenever they gained a success, rose clear and ringing
from the slope, and then a wind swept back the smoke—the setting
sun lit up the scene—and the Federal line was seen falling
back, pursued by its adversaries.
This was General Milroy's last attempt. He did not renew the
struggle to gain possession of the hill.
With the coming darkness, the battle ceased, and the men lay
down in line of battle, ready to advance and attack at daylight.
The enemy did not await the assault. Toward day, the woods
in the valley were discovered to be on fire—the flames roared
aloft, forming a magnificent spectacle—and when skirmishers
were thrown forward, the Federal camps were found to be
deserted.
General Milroy had fallen back hastily, to avoid the heavy
blow which he foresaw would be struck at him on the return of
day; and was soon discovered to be in full retreat toward the
town of Franklin.
Jackson rapidly pursued him, and reached Franklin. Here,
however, the pursuit ceased. The Federal forces were found
posted in a strong position on the mountain spurs near at hand
—and again General Milroy set the woods on fire, to conceal his
movements. From the dense smoke which rose, darkening the
whole horizon, came the dull roar of artillery and the shriek of
shell.
Jackson had accomplished his design of preventing the junction
between Generals Milroy and Banks; and to attack his adversary,
thus strongly posted amid the mountain fastnesses, was
no part of his plan. He accordingly issued orders to the troops
to prepare for marching back.
Before this movement commenced, however, a solemn ceremony
of prayer and thanks took place in the army.
The scene was imposing. In the wild amphitheatre, surrounded
by fir-clad mountains, the little army was drawn up, as
though in line of battle, and prayers were offered by the chaplains.
As they spoke—the men listening with bent heads, uncovered—the
dull roar of artillery was heard in front; and, when
the speakers ceased, the solemn thunder of the guns filled up the
pauses. Overhead was the bright sun in a blue sky—the muskets,
neatly stacked in long rows, shone in the sunshine—soon
every man had taken his piece, and the column was ready to
march.
Returning over the same road, and repassing the Bull Pasture
Mountain, Jackson obliqued to the left, and advanced upon Harrisonburg.
As he approached that place, intelligence reached him that
General Banks had fallen back to Strasburg.
