Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/526

486 army encamping on Hupp's hill. McCausland moved to the vicinity of Front Royal. On the 23d, the enemy's cavalry attacked Early's rear guard near Newtown, but was driven back to Kernstown. McCausland's brigade marched up the North Fork of the Shenandoah from near Front Royal, to the vicinity of Buckton; the army remaining in camp near Strasburg, resting and cleaning up.

Having sent his prisoners, and the trains not needed, to the rear, and concentrated and rested his army, General Early again made a forward movement on the 24th, and marched toward Winchester, Gordon in front, preceded by Vaughn's cavalry, with Johnson on the right flank, Jackson on the left on the middle road, and Imboden on the back road. The enemy's pickets were driven in at Bartonsville, and the cavalry engaged them, at Kernstown, at 10 a. m. The infantry following soon came up, and a line of battle was formed, with Wharton on the right and Gordon on the left of the Valley turnpike, and Ramseur still further to the left on the middle road. Wharton soon turned the enemy's left flank, and they retreated in confusion from Stonewall Jackson's first battlefield of his famous Valley campaign. Johnson engaged the enemy's cavalry on the Front Royal road, and Rodes was moved across to cut off their retreat. They made desperate efforts to repulse the Confederate attack, but were pressed vigorously, not only by the cavalry, but also by Rodes and Gordon, through Winchester, and the infantry pursuit continued to Stephenson's and the cavalry to Bunker Hill, forcing them to burn and abandon 70 wagons and 12 caissons. The Confederate artillery did excellent work during this second Kernstown-Winchester engagement. The army went into camp between Winchester and Stephenson's. McCausland's cavalry marched that day by way of Cedarville to Winchester and on to Stephenson's. The Federal forces retreated toward the Potomac, the Confederate cavalry following to Martinsburg, where it had a lively skirmish with the Federal rear guard.

On the 25th, there was a heavy rain in the morning, after which the army marched to Bunker Hill. The cavalry, following the enemy to Martinsburg, again had a lively skirmish with its rear guard, covering its retreat across the Potomac. On the 26th, General Early marched to Martinsburg and encamped in its vicinity; the cavalry