Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/531

Rh enemy's pickets were driven across Cedar creek and his position reconnoitered from the commanding point in the Valley turnpike, near Stickley's, overlooking his camps along Cedar creek.

The reinforcements sent by Lee to Early, under Anderson, marching by way of Front Royal, had their pickets attacked by the enemy at Guard hill, on the road from Front Royal to Winchester, to Anderson's disadvantage. This was followed by the Kernstown-Winchester engagement. On the morning of the 17th, apprised of the approach of additional troops to Early's assistance, by the skirmish at Guard hill, the enemy fell back from Cedar creek, burning barns and hay and grain ricks as they retired down the Valley, in order to destroy the subsistence on which Early depended for a supply for his army. Pursuit was immediately begun, down the Valley turnpike, with McCausland's cavalry in front, followed by Gordon, and with Jackson's cavalry on the Middle road and Johnson's on the back road. The enemy was overtaken at Kernstown and his skirmishers driven in, when it was found that his cavalry was supported by a brigade of infantry, posted on Bower's hill, in front of Winchester. Early promptly formed in line of battle, with a brigade of Wharton's division on his left and Ramseur's sharpshooters on his right. These advancing about dark, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, drove the enemy from the hill and through Winchester, McCausland having helped the movement by marching to the right of Winchester and coming in by the Berryville road. General Anderson, with Kershaw's division of infantry and Fitz Lee's of cavalry, advanced by the Front Royal road and encamped on the Opequan.

On the 18th, Rodes pushed out a reconnoissance on the Berryville road and Ramseur on the Martinsburg road, while Anderson came forward and encamped on the Front Royal and Millwood road, and Wharton and Gordon encamped on Abraham's creek, near Winchester. McCausland pushed the advance to Stephenson's depot, on the road to Martinsburg and Shepherdstown. On the 20th there was some cavalry skirmishing along the Opequan.

On the 21st, Early marched from Bunker Hill to the vicinity of Charlestown, driving the Federal cavalry from the line of the Opequan back upon an infantry