Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/525

Rh ferry. Imboden went to Millwood, McCausland to Salem church, Jackson toward Charlestown, and Johnson farther to the left. The cavalry holding the rear fought the enemy's advance, on that day, at Snicker's gap of the Blue ridge. On the 18th the pursuing enemy crossed the Blue ridge at Snicker's gap, and made a furious attack on the Confederate camps, with their artillery on the bluffs overlooking the Shenandoah from the east. They attempted to cross the river at Cool Springs, but were met by Rodes and Wharton and driven back with considerable loss, Gordon engaging them at the same time near Castleman's ferry. In advancing across the mountain, the enemy met a lively cavalry contention. On the 19th an attempt was again made to cross the Shenandoah at Berry's ferry, from Ashby's gap, but this was frustrated and considerable loss inflicted on the enemy by the cavalry brigades of Imboden and McCausland.

On the 20th of July, Ramseur's division, with the cavalry of Vaughn and Jackson, which had been sent to Winchester the night before, marched out three miles toward Martinsburg, when it was vigorously attacked at Rutherford's farm, by Averell's Federal division of cavalry, its left flank turned and the entire force signally defeated, but saved from utter rout by Jackson's cavalry, which charged to the front and covered the retreat. One of the most notable instances of womanly courage and devotion was displayed upon this battlefield during the succeeding night, when one of the many noble women of the Valley that had gathered to care for the Confederate wounded, Miss Russell, held in her lap, during the entire night, the head of a Confederate soldier who could not be moved without the risk of his life, and thus saved him from death.

In the afternoon of the 20th, the trains were started up the Valley toward Newtown, and during the night Breckinridge's corps, consisting of Gordon's and Wharton's divisions, followed by McCausland, marched to Cedarville by way of Millwood, and on the 20th, to Middletown on the Valley turnpike. Rodes marched through White Post and on to Newtown, while Ramseur, having covered the evacuation of Winchester, marched to Kernstown.

The army marched to Cedar creek on the 21st, slowly followed by the enemy with a large force; on the 22d the march was continued to the vicinity of Strasburg, the