Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/342

328 has the largest army he has ever commanded. He had fought from the Shenandoah Mountain. General Edward Johnson's force, consisting of six regiments and some artillery, and he now has it besides his old command, that of Ewell's.

On the 23d of May, 1862, Jackson's army left its bivouac, near Luray, taking the road to Front Royal, the head of the column reaching there about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. General Jackson, as usual, immediately made an attack with what few men were up. His eagerness all through this campaign was surprising, and his escape from death was almost a miracle. The enemy were found drawn up in line of battle in a strong position on the opposite side of the Shenandoah River. He had a line of skirmishers formed under his eye and gave them the command forward, and pushed them and some advance cavalry from the start. The yanks, finding things getting so hot, set fire to the two bridges and were immediately charged by the cavalry and skirmishers who saved the bridges in a damaged condition. They crossed at once and were right in the midst of the enemy. Jackson right along with them. The enemy made a bold stand and fought well, but they could not stand Jackson's mode of warfare and retreated to a farm orchard and buildings. Here they made a gallant stand, but the regiments of Flournoy and Munford's Cavalry are now up and are formed under Jackson's eye and charge the protected enemy. Our cavalry swept everything before them and the entire force of the enemy were killed, wounded and captured. In one of the attacks on the enemy, in a different direction, that gallant Captain Sheets, Ashby's right hand, was killed. He was known throughout Jackson's command for gallant deeds and his was a Severe loss. We captured 600 or 700 prisoners, some artillery, a large quantity of stores and several hundred beef cattle.

Next morning as our brigade passed the prisoners one of them hallowed to us, "How are you, Tom?" Tom replied, "What are you doing in such bad company, Bob?" Tom, however, left our ranks and went inside the prison lines and had a hearty shake of the hands, and a few minutes conversation. Coming back, he said it was his brother. Here literally is brother against brother. We march in the direction of