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Battle of Port Republic

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Autograph Letter Signed, 4p. octavo, on "Uncle Sam in Earnest 1776 1862" lettersheet, pencil, Harrisonburg, June 23, 1862, and reads in part: "...We have been at this point now for a week as a cavalry brigade by ourselves, not knowing pricesly where the main part of Jackson’s Army is. Rumors place it in Eastern Virignia, and on the Rapidan & thorugh Culpeper & Orange, helping Genl. Johnston & the Mudocracy out of the trenches & trying to induce them to fight a little in the open field as the retreating game is about played out. What our Cavalry are to do, or where we are to go remains a matter of doubt...From Hall Town we marched on waggon & army 34 miles to Newton between Winchester & Strausburg, next day the enemy came up from the right aroudn teh North Mountain from towards Cumberland and was within 4 miles of Strasburg when the rear of the Army train passed, & then held in check by a small fight. From this point Gen. Jackson moved his army baggage train & 3000 prisoners up the valley turnpike, with Fremont behind him & Shields in the little Valley of Page...keeping Shield off by burnign the bridges across the Shenandoah & worrying Fremont behind by the same process, without least panic in a train of 600 waggons say 6 miles long with artillery miexed & so proceeded until he reached Port Republic where the Shenandoah makes a band like a half hoop. At this point Jackson drove back Shields pickets on the left of the line Sunday morning then crossed the long bridge & drove back Fremonts Column with a loss of 2000 men to Fremont & about 300, I should think to his own army. I rode over teh battle field on one side Sunday evening & down to where I saw the Yankees trying to rally & we were complimented by a shell or two from their artillery. Their position there was not over 4 1/2 miles from Port Republic at sundown. On Monday morning Jackson marched his Entire force across the river & drove Shields in 3 hours in a full run down the little valley & before Fremonts Army could recover to give any hel. At 3 oclock PM I had rode over Mondays field & was standing near the captured battery, when I turned & saw Fremonts Army in line of battle on the heights around Port Republic but unable to cross the river Jackson having burned the bridge there in the morning. The army made a fine show & their artillery might have done ours great execution if they had come up in time but they were too late. Jackson with army & baggage had crusshed the head & front of both columns & marched into his mountain hold at Browns Gap leaving the Yankees to run back when no man pursued...Now such a retreat shows generalship sure enough & shows the stupid too late, slow, sorry support the Richmd Administration gives to energetic action & the folly on their part which rendered a retreat necessary..." VG.

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