Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/532

492 near Cameron station, and, engaging these about 9 a. m., he drove them toward Charlestown, in front of which some severe skirmishing took place; he also shelled the enemy's position. The Federals threw up rude fortifications in front of their lines and boldly resisted. Early encamped in front of the enemy near Cameron station. Vaughn's, Johnson's and Jackson's brigades of cavalry advanced to Leetown and then crossed to the vicinity of Charlestown; while McCausland's cavalry brigade followed the enemy's cavalry from the Opequan to Summit Point and covered the left of Rodes' advance. Fitz Lee, advancing his cavalry division by way of Berryville, engaged the enemy on that road, while Anderson forced them back on the Summit Point road. The enemy retired during the night, and on the morning of the 22d his cavalry was driven through Charlestown, and Early established his line of battle in the immediate front of that place, with Fitz Lee on his right and Lomax on his left. Anderson came to the vicinity of Charlestown. The army remained in this position on the 23d and 24th, extending its left along the Leetown road. The Federals drove in Early's pickets on the 24th; but they were easily repulsed and driven to within the defenses of Harper's Ferry.

On the 25th of August, leaving Anderson in front of Charlestown, with cavalry on his flanks, Early marched for Shepherdstown, by way of Leetown, with Wharton in front, and while on the march stumbled on Wilson's and Merritt's large divisions of Federal cavalry, which were starting on a reconnoissance up the Valley and had halted in a piece of woods to feed and rest, about two miles from Leetown, neither party expecting to meet the other. After some confusion, which was soon checked, Early formed a line of battle and boldly advanced, forcing the enemy back rapidly, although he met with bold and determined contention, during which artillery was used, through Kearneysville, on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, to near Shepherdstown, where another brave stand was made and the opposing forces engaged in combat until dark, when part of the Federal cavalry, under Custer, escaped across the Potomac and part of it toward Harper's Ferry. Early's infantry encamped near Shepherdstown. The cavalry divisions of Fitz Lee and Lomax, preceding Early from Charlestown, met at