Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/517

Rh Rodes and Ramseur. Early's force moves to threaten Martinsburg, and Fitz. Lee (who has resumed command of all the cavalry) towards Williamsport.

August 26—Enemy in position and quiet until afternoon about 5 o'clock, when he advances four or five regiments of infantry and one of cavalry to feel our lines. The picket line of the Fifteenth South Carolina regiment, Kershaw's brigade, breaks, and about a hundred men of it are captured. The enemy soon retires. During the night we hear from Early, who is at Leetown, and it is determined to move for Brucetown at early dawn.

August 27—Move at day via Smithfield—McCausland's and Lomax's brigades of cavalry in our rear. Camp near Brucetown. The two cavalry brigades picket the line of the Opequon. Early moves to Bunker Hill.

August 28—McCausland moves his brigade towards Leetown, under orders from Fitz. Lee.

August 29—Early drives the enemy's cavalry through Smithfield. His troops afterwards return to camp.

August 30—Without change.

August 31—Bryan's brigade moves at daylight into Winchester to watch a probable movement of the enemy on Winchester from Berryville, where he seems to be in force. In the afternoon the whole division moves and takes its former camp near town.

September 1—Some cavalry skirmishing on the Berryville road. A small party of enemy's cavalry reported to have crossed Front Royal road towards Newtown. Humphreys' brigade is sent down on Berryville road to support the cavalry; but the enemy's force having been exaggerated, it returns to camp. Wofford is posted near town on the Valley pike.

September 2—Enemy's cavalry at Berryville. It is proposed for Kershaw and Fitz. Lee to surprise him. As it is about being executed it is abandoned, the enemy having retired towards Charlestown. Early gets up towards Stone chapel and a small body of enemy's cavalry attack his rear.

September 3—Move at 12 M. from Winchester for Berryville by the pike. Strike the enemy about four miles from Berryville, and encounter the Eighth corps, which, after a short engagement, we drive away. The Sixth corps is meanwhile at Longmarsh run near Summit Point. General Humphreys wounded.

September 4—Between 9 and 10 A. M. General Early arrives to aid us, and proposes to attack by his left. Agreed to and he starts