308

FIGHTING JACKSON AT KERNSTOtVN.

troops as I believed would result in their rout and capture of their trains, bymoving up the creek with a strong flanking detachment to the back or dirtroad from Winchester to Strasburg, while my other troops followed along theturnpike upon which the enemy’s trains were moving. I hoped thus to headhim oft before he could reach Fisher’s Hill beyond Strasburg. Major-GeneralBanks , arriving as this movement was being commenced, assumed command.He deemed it prudent to await reenforcements, and our army remained incamp at Middletown and Cedar Creek that night, while the enemy escaped toFisher’s Hill.

Having been reenforced by the return of Williams’s division, the armyunder General Banks moved forward on the morning of the 25th, and afterlight skirmishing occupied Strasburg and Fisher’s Hill, the enemy continuinghis retreat toward Woodstock and Mount Jackson. Our army remained incamp at Strasburg and Fisher’s Hill, awaiting supplies, until April 1st.

On the morning of April 1st our forces moved forward, with three days’rations, but without tents or baggage, to Woodstock, the enemy having con-tinued his retreat to Mount Jackson. Receiving additional supplies, we movedforward from Woodstock on the 8th, meeting and skirmishing with the enemydaily. On the 15th our army arrived near Mount Jackson, finding the enemyin force, and after a brisk engagement compelling him to fall back and hismain force to cross the Shenandoah at Mount Jackson, beyond which he tookposition at Rude’s Hill, covering the village and the crossings of the river.

General Banks , on the morning of the 17th, directed a forward movementto force a passage across the river. The river was much swollen by rains,rendering it impossible to ford. There being but one bridge, it becamethe center of contest, the enemy having failed to destroy it, although hehad set fire to it. A splendid dash by a detachment of our cavalry throughthe bridge drove the enemy away and extinguished the flames. This gallantcharge was made by two companies of the 1st Ohio , under Captains Menkenand Robinson, and one company of the 1st Michigan , led by a little corporal.Dismounting, they put out the fire, carrying water from the river in their oldslouched hats for the purpose. (The name of this dashing corporal was GeorgeR. Maxwell, who afterward, by his gallantry and daring achievements, rose tothe command of his regiment and brigade under the heroic Sheridan.) Thebridge secured, our army moved forward under a heavy fire from the enemy’sline and batteries. By 11 a. m. the crossing was completed, and the enemy,forced from his position, retreated beyond New Market toward Harrisonburg and Port Republic, and our forces encamped in positions in advance of NewMarket.

In this engagement our forces captured one company of cavalry, andinflicted other heavy losses upon the enemy, our loss being light. For his suc-cess General Banks received that night the thanks of the President.

On the 19th and 20th our forces, under General Williams, advanced andoccupied Harrisonburg , while Shields’s division held the roads to Luray, thecrossings of the Shenandoah, and New Market. General Banks , in “ GeneralOrders, No. 20,” dated New Market, Virginia , April 21st, 1862, congratulated