Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/543

Rh On the 7th the march was continued to New Market, Pegram and Wharton encamped on the Timberville road; Gordon and Ramseur on the Forestville, and Kershaw on the Luray roads. The cavalry pursued the enemy to the line of Stony creek, the strong position that Jackson had held against Banks' advance in the spring of 1862. Early's infantry remained in camp in the vicinity of New Market on the 8th, while Rosser on the back road drove the enemy to Round hill, having an engagement with them near Tom's brook, while Lomax drove them to the same stream on the Valley turnpike.

Custer's cavalry turned on Early's on the 9th, and drove it back, with a loss of artillery; Lomax to Mt. Jackson, on the Valley turnpike, and Rosser to Stony creek, on the back road, where the latter rallied and turned upon the pursuing foe and routed them, capturing their train and eight pieces of artillery. Ramseur and Kershaw were advanced to Rude's hill to meet the enemy, coming up the Valley turnpike; but they retired to Edenburg, and at night Early's advance again held the line of Stony creek. On the 10th and 11th, the infantry remained in camp while the pioneers were repairing the telegraph line from Staunton to New Market. On the 11th, Lomax's division of cavalry crossed over from New Market to the Page valley. On the 12th the march was resumed, Ramseur in front, and the army advanced to the vicinity of Woodstock, preceded by Payne's cavalry from Timberville to Stony creek.

Early continued his advance on the 13th, with Gordon, preceded by Payne's cavalry, in the lead, and reached Hupp's hill, beyond Strasburg, by 10 a. m. Concealing his infantry behind the hill and a screen of woods. Early put his artillery in position and surprised Sheridan's camp, on the opposite side of Cedar creek, by opening on it with several batteries, and driving the Federals from their posts and camps, on the left of their position, in great disorder. Sheridan promptly advanced a brigade across Cedar creek, from his center, and opened from the batteries on his right, on the Belle Grove ridge. Early's artillery shelled the advancing column, while his infantry, still concealed, slowly withdrew. The enemy, supposing Early was retreating, advanced rapidly, when Conner's brigade of Kershaw's division and the