FIGHTING JACKSON AT KERNSTOIVN.

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BATTLE-FIELD OF KERNSTOWN, VA., SEPTEMBER , 1885.

On tins side of the stone-wall Jackson formed his lino of battle, March 23d, 1862 —See F on map, p. 807.

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“ the troops under his command upon the success of their achievement, andthe permanent expulsion of the rebel army from the valley of Virginia .”

General Shields, who had remained out of the field on account of woundsreceived in the engagement of the 22d of March with Ashby’s cavalry in frontof Winchester, now arrived, and in “General Orders, No. 28,” dated NewMarket, April 30th, 1862, relieving me from command of the division, said:

“ The general commanding the division, having so far recovered from his wounds as to be ableto serve in the field with his brave troops, desires to make it known to them that lie places him-self again at their head. Brigadier-General Kimball will rejoin the First Brigade, and againresume command of it. And, thus directing, the general cannot suffer the occasion to pass with-out expressing to that gallant officer and his staff his grateful acknowledgments for the effi-cient manner in which they managed the division and directed its affairs while he was compelledby his condition to be absent from the field. His special thanks are due to General Kimball forhis devotion to the interests and honor of the command and the signal service he has rendered itin this emergency.”

With a commission, now as brigadier-general (for my victory over Stone-wall Jackson at Kernstown), I resumed command of my gallant old brigade,rejoiced to be freed from the greater responsibilities, gratified with the successattending me while in command of the division, and grateful to the Govern-ment for the recognition of my services.

Stonewall Jackson , although out of the valley, was still immediately in ourfront. He was daily increasing in strength by reenforcements, and was activein demonstrations. On the 1st of May, Jackson’s army made movementsthreatening our right at Harrisonburg , and our left near the crossing of theShenandoah toward Luray. Under cover of these a part of the force underEdward Johnson moved, on the 7th, to prevent the capture of Staunton by