Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/282

260 of the 8th, after his discomfiture at Port Republic, watching the Confederate batteries and their supports on the bluffs across the river threatening destruction to his flank if he should again advance. Tyler's infantry brigade of about 3,000 men, accompanied by 16 guns, after floundering through the mud from Conrad's store, joined Carroll about 2 p. m. Tyler concluded that his force was too small to attack Jackson and create a diversion in Fremont's favor, therefore he remained in bivouac with Carroll the rest of the day.

Convinced that Fremont was either disposed of, or could be kept at bay by a portion of Ewell's command, Jackson provided for falling upon Shields' advance on the morning of the 9th. A foot-bridge, made of the running gear of heavy farm wagons pushed into the river in a continuous line and planked over, was constructed across South river, and at dawn Winder was ordered to cross both rivers and march down the river road to attack Shields, whose advance, under Tyler, had taken position on the bluff of the terrace near Lewiston, overlooking the wide bottom lands between that bluff and the South Fork of the Shenandoah, with his infantry so disposed that he could quickly swing on his left and throw them into line of battle across the meadows and at right angles to the general direction of the river and the road to Port Republic. Ewell was instructed to leave Trimble's brigade and part of Patton's to look after Fremont and to follow Winder at an early hour with the rest of his command. Taliaferro's brigade was left with the batteries on the bluff north of the river, whence he could aid Trimble in holding back Fremont at or near Cross Keys, it being Jackson's intention, if he could quickly dispose of Shields' advance, to turn back with his whole force and again attack Fremont in the afternoon of the 9th, but providing, in case he could not do this, for Trimble to retire across the bridge and burn it, thus leaving Fremont without the means of crossing to aid Shields or to attack Jackson's rear.

By 5 o'clock in the morning of June 9th, Winder was crossing South river and Jackson was moving with him against the Federal troops at Lewiston, without waiting for Taylor, whose brigade was following, but which was delayed in crossing South river by a derangement of the foot-bridge. Tyler had selected a strong position. Upon