To Front Royal & Back

Introduction

     Stonewall Jackson attacked and routed Colonel John Kenly’s small Union outpost of 1,000 men at Front Royal on May 23rd.  That afternoon seven hundred of the surprised Federals were captured.  Union Commander General Nathaniel P. Banks, situated at Strasburg, 12 miles west of Front Royal, was in danger of being cut off from his supplies and an escape route if Jackson’s force moved north to Winchester 18 miles away.  Banks was loath to fallback but his small force was greatly outnumbered.  The next morning he was in full retreat on the Valley Pike headed towards Winchester.  Jackson moved toward Winchester on another road but stopped after 3 miles to await word from his scouts on Banks' movements.  He didn’t know the strength of Banks' force or if he was  indeed moving to Winchester or if Banks would mount a Union counter attack at  Front Royal.  The delay saved Banks’ column.  After a long wait a courier reported to Jackson that Banks’ was moving north.  Jackson sent part of his force on to Winchester then traveled east and caught part of Banks’ column moving up the turnpike.  The Federals were an easy target for Confederate artillery and bloody hell broke loose in the crowded road as grape and cannister tore into the powerless Yankees.  But it was the tale end of Banks’ army.  Farther up the turnpike Jackson found the pursuing Confederate Cavalry had stopped to plunder supplies left in the road by the skedaddling blue coats.  Banks’ barely slipped away but he made it to Winchester in tact.  Jackson was furious.

     On May 25th Banks’ tried to make a stand on the high ground south of the town of Winchester.  Jackson had quartered in the town the previous winter and knew the lay of the land.   He planned accordingly.  And, he had the advantage in troop numbers by 2 to 1 over General Banks.  (Edwin Forbes sketch of the first battle of Winchester, May 25, 1862).

     After a brief fight early next morning the Union line broke and the Federals didn’t stop retreating until they reached and crossed the Potomac River at Williamsport, Maryland,  35 miles north.  Confusion as to the whereabouts of Confederate Cavalry allowed the Yankees to get a good head start.   The pursuing Confederate infantry was too exhausted to follow very far, the Calvary's whereabouts unknown,  and so Banks got away again.

     It was in this situation that President Lincoln urged General John C. Fremont in the west and General Irvin McDowell in the east to make haste and form a junction of troops at Strasburg, behind Jackson’s line, thereby cutting him off. 

      Jackson had been ordered north by Confederate authorities to demonstrate against Harper’s Ferry.  On the morning of May 30th,  Jackson decided it was time to withdraw to Winchester, and then Strasburg, before the approaching Federals cut off his escape route.  That afternoon he received word en route to Winchester, that General Shield’s division of 10,000 men (with McDowell's Corps) had arrived at Front Royal, 12 miles east of Strasburg.  It was now a race against the clock to consolidate his scattered forces at Winchester and move south to Strasburg before Federals formed a junction and cut him off.

     But Shields (pictured left) did not push on to Strasburg, he was waiting for his support, General Ord’s division of 10,000 men,   to come up, and he was waiting for Fremont to arrive from the west.   Fremont dallied.

     Fremont lost valuable time taking an erratic route to Strasburg and then halted 4 miles from the Valley Turnpike on May 31st.   He seemed to be in no hurry.  The weary Confederates crammed on the turnpike moving south would have made an easy target.   By morning, June 1st, Jackson’s full force had made it to Strasburg, securing his escape route, but just barely. 

     General Fremont & General Shields pursued Jackson up the valley, on the east flank & west flank respectively, but they never formed a junction.  They were divided by the Shenandoah River.  Jackson took advantage of geographical barriers to keep them apart.  The cunning Jackson defeated Fremont at Cross Keys,  June 8th, then reversed direction and defeated Shields at Port Republic the next day.

    The 13th Mass participated in McDowell's race toward Strasburg, but they remained behind near Front Royal in reserve, to protect the route to Washington.  To make matters more unpleasant for everyone involved, it was the rainiest week of the year. - Brad Forbush; Feb., 2010.

Picture Credits.
The Warren Heritage Society of Front Royal, Va. generously provided historic photographs and  information for this page.  I am grateful to Archivist Judith Pfeiffer for her assistance, and information about Lucy Rebecca Buck and the Buck family.  Other images are from the Library of Congress; the Army Heritage Education Center at Carlisle; and Century Publication's Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.  Artist John Paul Strain gave permission to use the image of his painting of Turner Ashby, "The Black Knight."  The N.C. Wyeth Illustration is from Mary Johnston's book "Cease Fire" now in the public domain.  The portrait of Gen'l Shields and depiction of the battle of Port Republic are from the book "The Life of General James Shields," also in public domain.  Photo of John Fuller (and other members of Co. B) was provided to me by a private collector. 

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Race (?) to Front Royal; May 28 - 31.

This battle map of the action at Front Royal, Va., May 23d, 1862, is credited to Nathaniel Michler, United States War Department, 1895.

It was downloaded from Wikepedia.com and is in the public domain. 

It shows the two forks of the Shenandoah River, the town of Front Royal and the road to Strasburg.

Jackson surrounded and surprised the small Union force at Front Royal which retreated across two bridges towards Nineveh where they turned and made a stand out of necessity.   Seven hundred men  were captured.  Then Jackson dispatched his cavarly towards Strasburg to see if Federal troops stationed there would come up to counter-attack. 

From "Three Years in the Army" by Charles E. Davis, Jr.

Wednesday, May 28
     Orders received that shovels, pickaxes, etc. were to be carried by the men instead of the wagons, as heretofore. This caused a good deal of grumbling. In additions we were to carry sixty rounds of cartridges, fifty in the boxes and ten in our haversacks. Our prejudices having been excited against McDowell, we promptly placed this disagreeable order with the others, to his credit.

---

Thursday, May 29.
     At 6 A.M. marched to Hay Market, twelve miles, arriving about 10 A.M., when we took cars and rode to Thoroughfare Gap, where we left the cars and marched through a rough crooked defile to the west side of the mountains and camped in an orchard.  While marching to-day, General Ord (pictured right) borrowed a pipe from one of the boys whom he saw smoking ; being suddenly called away by an aid, he took it with him.  There was not a man in the Thirteenth who wouldn’t have been glad to contribute a pipe, or anything else he had, to the comfort or pleasure of General Ord

Friday, May 30.
     Started at 5 A.M. and marched through White Plains and Salem, halting three miles from the latter place, making a distance of fifteen miles for the day’s march.  We were overtaken in the afternoon by a severe thunder-shower which lasted all night, in consequence of which we were completely drenched.  Some of the tents were washed away by the rain.

The following dispatch was sent by General McDowell to the President :

At 5 P.M. General McDowell sent a telegram from Piedmont to the Secretary of War of which the following is an extract :

Friday, May 31.
     Started at 5 A.M. and marched to Piedmont, five miles, where we drew rations of hardtack and coffee.  We then left our knapsacks, taking only our blankets and equipments, reforded the river and took up the line of march to Front Royal.  It rained hard nearly all day, so the wetting we got in fording the rivers and brooks didn’t count for much.  As we marched through Manassas Gap the water was knee-deep in the highway in some places, and the storm so rough that we took to the railroad. Finding the track encumbered with cars, we enjoyed the boyish sport of dumping them over the precipice,  a distance of eighty or a hundred feet, to the valley below, where they were completely destroyed.  We arrived within a mile or so of Front Royal at 1 A.M., after a march of twenty-five miles, in good order, though uncomfortably wet and tired.  It rained very hard, it was very dark, and the boys were not very affable when we finally halted for the night.  Rail fences soon supplied us with fuel, and very soon we were standing round cheerful fires, drinking hot coffee, and thinking how blessed is he who expects nothing, for he will not be disappointed.

General Shields Presses On; Rain & More Rain

Sunday, June 1.
     About noon we marched two miles on the road to Strasburg, where we were turned into a field for a halt, in line of battle.  While we were here Generals Shields and Ord rode by.  Being under the impression that it was to General Shields we were indebted for the rations we drew at Piedmont (though the fact is that it was McDowell’s thoughtfulness, who, anticipating our arrival at that point, had made the provision),  the brigade cheered him as he rode along.  General Ord received a share of the enthusiasm, but when General McDowell rode by there was none to do him reverence.   He must have felt this very keenly.   There was a good deal of gossip about a quarrel between McDowell and Ord. General Shields, at the head of his division, with his wounded arm in a sling, made quite a picturesque object, and the fact that he was on the way to cut off Jackson a part of whose force we could see in the distance trailing along the mountain-side, made him considerable of a hero, and no doubt added a fervor to our emotions.

     We were very much disappointed that we were not to join Shields in the pursuit of Jackson.  The following was telegraphed by General McDowell at 3 P.M. to the Secretary of War :

     It soon began to rain, which continued during the night. We found it much easier these days to put our trust in God than to keep our powder dry.

Picket Duty & A Poisoned Breakfast ?

Monday, June 2.
     At noon we marched about five miles on the road to Strasburg, and bivouacked in a pine grove.  We had scarcely reached the woods when it began to rain as though it hadn’t rained for many months, and was now making up for lost time.

     Some of the boys were sent out on picket duty; to think of anybody, even an enemy, being out such a night, seemed ridiculous.   The boys were posted in  a wheat-field, without umbrellas, the wheat the height of a man’s head, while the darkness was as densely black as Egypt is said to be, except when the lightning revealed how impossible it was to distinguish the points of the compass, after five minutes in such a place.   Indeed, several of the boys, when daylight did come, found themselves facing the St. Lawrence River, instead of the Gulf of Mexico, so bewildering was the darkness and the heat.  When daylight came and the sun chased away the black clouds, it brought with it a feeling of gladness, in spite of the unpleasantness of their position. 

(Artist Walter Tabor sketched this picket sentry for Century Magazine's publication "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.")

     A half-mile beyond the picket line was a large white house surrounded with out-buildings of a similar color, giving notice that the owner was a prosperous person.

     “Who can cloy the hungry edge of appetite by bare imaginations of a feast?”

     A half-starved soldier couldn’t gaze on such a scene without longing to investigate the possibilities of a breakfast.  To go out beyond the picket line was a dangerous experiment in those parts, but quite a number of the boys set aside apprehensions of danger.   One of the party was made spokesman to negotiate for a breakfast at a price not exceeding twenty-five cents each.  There was much surprise evinced at our appearance, and some hesitation about gratifying our wishes, by the lady of the house.   It was evident our presence was not wanted, but we put on our best manners, assuring her we had no intentions of disturbing her peace except so far as putting some one to the trouble of preparing a breakfast.  

    After some further hesitation she consented, and very soon the boys had the pleasure of eating a breakfast of fried ham, boiled potatoes, good bread and butter and coffee.  As they raised the coffee to their lips their hostess expressed a wish that it might poison every one of them.   There was some hesitation about drinking it, but as the boys looked at her and saw a faint smile on her face, they concluded she was not of the poisoning type, ands so took their chances.  She refused their offered recompense, like the true Southerner she was, and so they distributed the money among the servants, and marched back to camp with renewed strength.

Jackson Slips Away

General Shields offers the following report on why he didn't push his division to Strasburg to intercept Jackson.

     Rations getting short.  The whole corps was suffering for want of food, which was being delayed because of the inefficiency of the railroads and the bad condition of the highways.  The condition of affairs is so well depicted in the following communications of General Shields of this date to the Secretary of War that we are tempted to make a liberal extract from it :

Tuesday, June 3.
     Early in the forenoon we advanced across the north fork of the Shenandoah River, about two miles, where we halted, drew fresh beef and flour, after which we moved into a piece of woods near by and bivouacked for the night.  It began to rain hard in the night and before morning the camp was inundated with water, and a sorry mess we were in as the water poured around us.  The only thing we could do was to grab our things and run for the railroad track, which afforded us a temporary resting-place from the water.

Wednesday June 4.
     As soon as possible we were formed in line and marched rapidly back across the river.  We had a narrow escape from being left on an island formed by this freshet, which would have cut us off completely from the rest of the corps, without food, or the hope of getting food until the waters subsided, as we had barely crossed the river when the bridge was carried away, leaving a dozen of the Thirteenth on the other side.  We marched back toward Front Royal and bivouacked in a piece of woods on a hill, a mile back and overlooking the town.

     The river crossings played an important role in the military history of the town.   This photo by A. N. Carroll of Front Royal, shows the first iron bridges built after the war.  Until these were built the townspeople depended upon a ferry to cross the river.   Judith Pfeiffer of the Warren Heritage Society wrote me:  "During the battle the pontoon bridges had been set on fire; the old wooden bridges had been burned much earlier.   They were made of green wood and so did not burn well.  The fire was put out by the Confederates, but the usable part was too narrow to allow all of the troops to pass quickly.  Some of them discovered the railroad bridge still standing and made their way across it with great difficulty, some unfortunates falling to their demise in the river below."

Thursday, June 5.
     Our knapsacks, which we left at Piedmont, on the 31st of May, reached us to-day, soaked with rain and mud.  We were glad to get our “shelters” again.  After our experience of the last five days we no longer despised them.   The boys were getting ragged and seedy from overwork and exposure.  We had reached that period of our service when pork was eaten raw with pleasure.  This was quite an advance in our educations as soldiers.  Slowly we were being hammered into veterans.  This was the kind of service that prepared us for the campaigns of 1863 - 4.   It told on the men pretty severely, as our number was now reduced from 1,038 to 600 men for duty, and 94 men in the hospital.

Letter of James Ramsey, Company E

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Austin Stearns Memoirs; Front Royal; 

From Three Years with Company K; Fairleigh Dickenson Press; 1976;  p.74-76.  Used with Permission.

     At Piedmont on the east side of the Blue Ridge and at the entrance of Manassas Gap, we were ordered to pile up our knapsacks and leave them under guard and go through in light marching order.  How well now I remember that march through the mountains, for I was not feeling well and thought at one time that I should have to give up, but the thought that there might be work ahead for us buoyed up my spirits and I hung to and came out all right.  It was a cold, raw day and it commended to rain in the afternoon, which added much to our discomfort.  We came out of the Gap and bivouacked in some small pines near Front Royal, the rain coming down in torrents, and our knapsacks, with blankets, twenty miles away on the other side of the mountains, but we made our coffee and passed the night away.  In the morning, which was bright and clear, we sat in the sun to dry ourselves and await events; we only moved a short distance where we remained all night.  General Officers were as thick as bees around a hive.  The next morning we marched down and crossed the north fork of the Shenandoah on a temporary bridge, going along the railroad some four or five miles towards Strasburg; the weather was very warm and showers were of hourly occurance.  Our rations also were running very low and we were getting very hungry.  Some beef was found and killed, which was eaten before it was hardly dressed.  Col Coulter of the 11^th P.V. found some flour, which was distributed amongst the Brigade, a pint or so to a man.

     I saw a house about a mile away and with a comrade started for it, thinking that we might find something that we could buy or take that we might eat, but how vain were our hopes, for when we got there, there was so many ahead that they had confiscated everything that was eatable.

     When I asked the long, lean, and lank girl of about twenty if she hadn’t a chicken she could sell, she put on such a smile or grin and answered,  “If you Yanks should stay here a week there wouldn’t be a chicken left in all Clark County.”   I turned away, satisfied that if I wanted chickens I must travel in another direction.  Dan Warren of our mess was more fortunate than all the rest for he returned with the carcass of a lamb, a genuine lamb this time and no mistake.  (Stearns  is alluding to the lamb Cleary caught at Snickers Gap)  We procured a mess kettle and commenced to boil it to make a soup, each one contributing of his flour to make the thickening.  How eagerly we stood around the fire and watched the process of boiling with the thickening being put in:  how savory it smelt, and how our mouths watered for the delicious morsel that we thought was in store for us.  We had invited Lieut. Sanderson of Co. C to share with us in our feast and he had come with his dish, but alas, how vain are all earthly expectations, for when it was pronounced done it was quite dark and those having it in charge, when taking it off and setting it down quickly, set it on a stub and over went the kettle spilling about two thirds; the Lieut. seeing what happened ran quickly to his company, [and] what remained was divided around, a few mouthfuls to a man. 

John W. Sanderson, Co. C, was an original Lieutenant of Company K, (raised in Westboro).   He was replaced at Ft. Independence by William Bacon, and offered a Sergeant's commission in Company C, which he accepted.   He was quickly promoted to Lieutenant.  Sanderson finished his military career as a Captain in the 57th Mass.  AHEC photo.

     During the afternoon I went with two or three comrades out to an old church that was fast going to decay and secured all the boards we could bring in, and fixed us up a comfortable shelter with use of boughs at the ends, laying a floor as well.  Most of the boys preferr[ed] to lay down on the ground rather than work to prepare them a place.  During the night the rain fell in torrents; it actually poured, fairly drowning out those who were not so well provided as we were; our little place was crowded full, there was no chance to sleep, neither lay down, and so we huddled together and sat the night way.   It still continued to rain in the morning and the water was at least two inches deep where our regiment lay.  Being so short of provisions and the water in the creeks and rivers rising so rapidly and Stonewall having slipped back up the Valley, the Gen’l, fearing that the bridge would be carried away over the Shenandoah (which was only a temporary structure), ordered us back at once, and we taking the railroad track moved at a quick step; the creeks that but yesterday were only of the ordinary heights were now as large as rivers.  When we reached the bridge we found it weighted down with great stones, and with the weight of the troops and Artillery had been kept in place; the river was rising rapidly and running like a race horse, [but] the troops all passed over safely but about one hundred that stragled from the Brigade; before they came up the force of the water carried away the bridge leaving them behind.  The next day two of them, men from Co. B, undertook to cross in a boat, but the current was then so strong that it took them down stream; the body of one was found several days after, impaled on an Oak in the vicinity of Snickers Gap, or Ferry; the other was never found, at least we never heard that it was.  We were taken into the woods about a mile from the river on an elevated piece of ground where there was no danger of being drowned.

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Fremont & Shields' Pursuit of Jackson

     General Stonewall Jackson’s successful Shenandoah Valley Campaign is detailed in many books devoted to the subject.  This summary is offered merely as background to events surrounding the 13th Massachusetts Volunteers.  I’ve relied heavily on author James I. Robertson’s masterful biography; “Stonewall Jackson; The Man, The Soldier, The Legend.”   Also, "The Life of Major General Shields" by William Henry Condon, (1900). Other observations are mine. - Brad Forbush ©2010

War Correspondent Edwin Forbes followed the advance with General Fremont's Army.  This sketch shows Fremont's troops crossing the North Fork of the Shenandoah River at Mount Jackson; dated June 5th 1862.

The Chase; June 2nd – June 6th
     Anxious to get away from the approaching Federals, General Jackson spurred his weary troops south from Strasburg the evening of June 1.  Fremont was close on his heels and Shields was across the Shenandoah river coming up the Luray Valley to the east of Massanutten Mountain; the mountain that concealed Jackson’s movements from Shields.  There were only two bridges close by where Shields could cross the river to link up with Fremont and they were at New Market.  Jackson ordered them burnt and dispatched a cavalry squad to do so.  The river couldn’t be crossed because it was swollen with the heavy rains.  Shields force couldn’t link with Fremont until they reached a bridge further south.

     The rain helped stall Fremont’s pursuit even as the exhausted Confederates  slowed to a crawl on June 2nd.  Jackson himself had to clear a jumble of wagons and men to get them moving again.  Fremont was delayed again on June 3rd when Turner Ashby’s cavalry burned the bridge at Meem’s bottom after Jackson’s army crossed.  Fremont’s engineers attempted to span the water with wagons but high water washed them away.  Across the Massanutten Shield’s force slogged up the narrow Luray Valley slowed by incessant mud; his supply wagons followed 20 miles in the rear. 

     Shields dispatched Colonel Samuel S. Carroll’s cavalry with infantry support, and four pieces of artillery to take and hold the next bridge up the valley at Conrad’s Store.  Carroll’s force arrived on June 4th but Jackson’s cavalry had already destroyed the bridge that afternoon.  The Federal raiders decided to continue south toward the next bridge at Port Republic.

     The next day June 5th, Jackson passed Harrisonburg and moved toward Port Republic.  It was tough going in the rain and frustration was running high when darkness brought the line to a halt.  His main force reached Port Republic the next day, the first sunny day in a week.  (Illustration by N. C. Wyeth; from the  Mary Johnston Novel, "Cease Firing.")

     On June 6th, Ashby’s cavalry remained at Harrisonburg, waiting to ambush lead elements of Fremont’s troops.  General Ewell’s division moved to Cross Keys, and Jackson’s main force set up across the river from Port Republic.  Here, the tired Commander rested and planned his next move.

The death of Turner Ashby: June 6th
      The men of the 13th Mass lost an old adversary this day when General Turner Ashby, the dashing “Black Knight of the Confederacy” was killed in action against Union Infantry.

     Ashby’s cavalry ambushed the 1st New Jersey Cavalry in woods just outside Harrisonburg about 2 p.m.   More of Fremont’s lead cavalry rode  out and attacked Ashby.   His horse was shot out from under him.  Ashby then lead the charge on foot, up a hill through the woods shouting “Charge Men! For God’s sake Charge!”  In a few moments he was shot dead.

     The 13th were well acquainted with Turner Ashby.  It was his cavalry militia that attacked them at Beller’s Mill, Pritchard’s Mill, Bolivar Heights, and Hancock.  The aggressive raider did a good job disrupting traffic on the C&O canal and the B&O railroad, and helped to make things lively for the 13th while they picketed the Potomac River in the autumn and winter of 1861-62.  One night in March, a few months earlier, at dress parade, they were falling into line on the double-quick when a Winchester woman shouted “Ashby will make you run faster than that!”

     General Ashby’s death was a severe blow to Jackson.  Ashby’s aggressive cavalry screening and reconnaissance contributed a great deal to the Valley Campaign’s success.  Jackson learned of the death at 9 pm the evening of June 6, at the Kemper House, his headquarters in Port Republic.  Ashby’s body arrived the next morning and was placed in the parlor of the home.  Jackson mourned the loss, and wrote many months later, “as a partizan officer I never knew his superior. His daring was proverbial.  His powers of endurance incredible.  His tone of character heroic, and his sagacity almost intuitive in divining the purposes of the enemy.” 

(A Little Cold Water)
     Just a few nights earlier, on June 2nd, when Colonel John M. Patton of the 21st Virginia expressed regret his men had shot and killed 3 brave Union Cavalrymen who charged his regiment,  Jackson asked him,  "Colonel, why wouldn’t you have shot them?”

     “I should have spared them because they were men who had gotten into a desperate situation,” replied Patton.

     Jackson replied, “No, Colonel, shoot them all, I don’t want them to be brave.”

"The Black Knight" by artist John Paul Strain  © 2006; Used with Permission; depicts the dashing and daring cavalryman Turner Ashby on a scout.

June 7th
On the 7th Jackson considered the situation and tried to work out a strategy.  Fremont and Shields were close by and had the opportunity to inflict a serious blow to the Confederates if they could co-ordinate an attack.  Fremont was closer than Shields.  General Ewell's 3 brigades set up defensive positions at Cross Keys facing Fremont's advance.  Three miles east, another large concentration of Confederates with artillery, occupied high ground opposite Port Republic waiting for signs of Shield's advance.   Cavalry scouts screened points west, north and south of Port Republic.  In the afternoon a Union brigade doing reconnaissance approached Ewell's position at Cross Keys but retired when shots were exchnged.  Author James Robertson asserts Jackson and his staff got sloppy with the final troop dispositions for the evening, particularly regarding Port Republic.  Jackson's headquarters were unguarded, across a river and 1/2 mile away from his army.  Then, only a light guard was placed at the two bridges into town from the direction General Shields was approaching.  Perhaps Jackson was relying on his cavalry scouts to warn him of any approaching Federals.  The loss of General Turner Ashby would be keanly felt the next morning.

Pictured at right is Edwin Forbes sketch titled 'March of General Fremont's army through the woods in pursuit of Jackson; June 7th.'  

Union Cavalry Raid at Port Republic, June 8th
     In the early morning of June 8th, Col. Samuel S. Carroll’s Cavalry burst into Port Republic and sent the Confederates scrambling.   The loss of the late Turner Ashby’s vigilant reconnaissance was already having consequences.  General Jackson was headquartered  at the end of town ½ mile away and across the river from his own troops.   He and his staff dashed across the North Fork bridge spanning the Shenandoah river and barely avoided capture.  Two Federal canons took position at the bridge and started shelling  Jackson’s men on the hill opposite.  Meanwhile, on the south end of town, a very small but determined contingent of Rebels made a stand against the charging Federal Cavalry at the Kemper House, Jackson’s headquarters. The plucky Southerners were tenacious in their defense because directly behind them, in an exposed position, was the parked Confederate wagon train of supplies.  These Rebs were successful in holding back the attackers.  (Col. Samuel Sprigg Carroll pictured left; photo touched up in photoshop; Lib. of Congress photo.)

     Across town on the hill opposite the village, Jackson ordered one of his batteries to return fire at the two Federal canons posted at the North Fork bridge.  Then up came a brave band of Virginia infantry who charged the battery at point blank range and captured the guns; but they took heavy casualties. The Federal raiders were quickly overwhelmed and driven out of town.  Carroll’s men retreated 3 miles north of the town and connected with their infantry re-enforcements.  Carroll’s action at the bridge would later bring criticism from General Shields.  Following this attack at Port Republic, Fremont’s army started against General Ewell’s position over at Cross Keys, 3 ½ miles to the west.

Battle at Cross Keys, June 8th
     Fremont thought Jackson’ entire force was at Cross Keys when it was only General Ewell’s division* of Confederates.  Fremont’s force outnumbered Ewell’s perhaps 2 to 1 but were in poor condition from exposure and 143 miles of marching in horrible conditions.  Around 10 – 10:30 A.M.  a weak flank attack by the Federals was driven back by Confederate General Trimble’s Brigade.  That ended the Federal offensive but the adversaries skirmished throughout the day.

     Jackson remained at Port Republic.  He expected another attack from Shields after the morning Cavalry raid, but it never came.  In the evening, after thinking things over, Jackson decided to take the initiative and attack Shield’s force the next morning.  He correctly reasoned Fremont would remain inactive at Cross Keyes.  Jackson hoped for a quick victory over Shields followed by a return to Cross Keyes to finish off Fremont.  As long as the Confederates held the bridges at Port Republic, which prevented Shields and Fremont from uniting, a concentration of Confederate troops could outnumber the divided Union forces.  Jackson planned to bring 4 of his 5 brigades against Shield’s 2 brigades.  Confederate General Isaac R. Trimble’s reinforced brigade would remain on the west side of the river and demonstrate in front of Fremont at Cross Keys, then, slowly fall back toward Port Republic. 

 Battle at Port Republic, June 9th
     Jackson’s plan proved a bit too hasty and he ran into serious trouble during the morning assault, north of Port Republic on June 9th.  The narrow Federal line was strong and supported with 16 field guns.⁺⁺  Shield’s 2 brigades commanded by Brig. General Erastus B. Tyler and Col. Carroll, put up a good fight, and Jackson was hard pressed to prevent a Confederate defeat.  Jackson had impetuously attacked before all his troops were up.  

Federals under General Erastus B. Tyler defend against Confederate General Winder's attack.  The Confederates repeatedly charged and eventually captured the batteries on the hill in the background to win the field, but at a heavy cost.

     Desperate for reinforcements, Jackson hurried in his reserves that saved the day just before the start of an impending Federal counter-attack.  The key to the battle was the Confederate capture of six well placed field guns on a hill to Jackson’s right that had blasted the Rebs all morning.  A desperate charge by Confederate Brigadier General Richard Taylor’s brigade took the pieces after 3 attempts of bloody hand to hand fighting.  As this Union flank collapsed,  Southern reinforcements just arriving on the field,  charged the Federal Center and broke the Union line.  Jackson chased Shield’s retreating army 3 miles up the narrow Luray valley.  Shield’s men were battered and tired but they had inflicted heavy casualties on Jackson’s army considering the numbers involved.   Jackson’s army fell back to Port Republic, and headed away to Brown’s Gap.

     Meanwhile General Fremont cautiously advanced from the west toward Port Republic during the 4 hour battle.  By the time his troops arrived, Jackson’s only remaining brigade had crossed the river and joined the rest of the retreating Confederates.  The bridge was burned behind them, thereby preventing Fremont’s pursuit.  Stuck on the west side of the river, Fremont ordered his artillery to fire on Jackson’s now retreating army.  Jackson reported Fremont’s shells only fell among ambulances and parties attending to the dead and wounded of both sides.

Epilogue
     On June 10th both Fremont and Shields withdrew; their pursuit ended.  Both of their military careers would also soon end. 

     The brilliance of Stonewall Jackson was demonstrated in this campaign.  He made some mistakes at Port Republic but he was lucky that his adversaries couldn't exploit them.  

     General Shields was a brave man; a Mexican war Hero. His troops defeated General Jackson at Kernstown, March 23rd.** A shell wounded Shields in the arm at this engagement.  He was quickly recommended for promotion to Maj. General but the recommendation stalled in congress.  It was later withdrawn after the defeat at Port Republic. 

     Nonetheless he performed poorly in this campaign.   He was not even up with General Tyler during the fight at Port Republic.  He blamed Col. Carroll after the fight, for not having the good sense to destroy the North Fork bridge at Port Republic; (presumably to prevent Jackson from escaping the valley).  Thus he blamed his subordinate, Colonel Carroll, a brave and aggressive fighter for Jackson’s escape and I think it was a blemish on an otherwise admirable record.  When Carroll was dispatched June 2nd his orders from Shields were to secure a river crossing until re-enforcements arrived. 

     Thinking nothing could be gained, Lincoln suspended the pursuit of Jackson June 9th and  General McDowell eagerly forwarded the order to Fremont and Shields.  McDowell was eager to return to Fredericksburg and link up with McClellan’s army for the Peninsula Campaign. 

NOTES
*Ewell’s force at Cross Keyes.  Robertson claims 4,500 infantry.  The Civil War Almanac claims 6,500 & Fremont with 10,500.   The Nat’l. Park Service records  11,500 U.S.;  5,800 C.S.;  total estimated casualties: U.S.: 664; C.S.: 287.

** Former Captain of Co. I, 13th Mass., &  Infamous fraud,  Captain R.C. Shriber, was one of Shield’s staff officers  in this engagement and his glorified battle report on Kernstown  is in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

⁺⁺Port Republic National Park Service Estimates; 3,500 U.S. Troops engaged; 6,000 C.S. troops engaged.  Estimated Casualties: 1,002; U.S.; 816, C.S.

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Meanwhile...Back at Front Royal...
While Shields & Fremont were making history with Jackson, the 13th waited at Front Royal, cold, wet & miserable.

The Drowning of Fuller, Cushing, and John Brown; June 6th.

Friday, June 6.
     A beautiful day. So disciplined had we become by marching, bad weather and fasting, that we were happy if it didn’t rain, but when the sun appeared, our feelings became ecstatic.

     The sutler arrived with stores, and no longer we hankered for the “flesh pots of Egypt.”  The country was full of guerillas, making outpost duty dangerous and undesirable.  The escape of Jackson was a topic of conversation and, as usual, we wrongly credited McDowell  with the responsibility.

    "God's Blessing"

     One of the boys who was left on the opposite side of the river when the regiment crossed on the 4th inst., was drowned to-day while attempting to cross in a  skiff in company with a rebel.  When about midway of the stream the boat capsized and both men were dumped into the angry flood.  The current was so strong that our man, who was probably unable to swim, was carried out of sight in no time. He was a man over six feet in height, well-proportioned, and an excellent solder.  He was born in Maine, but had come to Boston, where he was employed when the war broke out.  He was the man whose letters from home had written across the entire top of the envelope in a bold, round hand “WITH GOD’S BLESSING.”  It was the custom of the chaplain, who acted as postmaster during his stay with the regiment, to stand on a box, or stool, in front of his tent, and call off the names on the letters. Whenever he came across one directed to our friend he would hold it up above his head, and in a voice of deep feeling, would say, “WITH GOD’S BLESSING !”  and the owner would at once step up and take it, so that very soon he became known in the regiment as “God’s blessing.”

Sergeant John Fuller, Company B, was the soldier nicknamed 'God's Blessing.'

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Letter of Edwin Rice; 13th Mass Band

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The John Brown Song

George Kimball, a veteran of the 12th Massachusetts Volunteers, told the following story at the 13th Mass  50th anniversary  dinner, June 29th, 1911, in Boston.  John Brown of the 12th Mass was drowned like Fuller and Cushing on June 6th 1862 at Front Royal.  James Ramsey of Company E, 13th Mass, who was fond of music, was at Fort Warren at the time refered to in this story and he knew John Brown which he mentions in a letter home. 

     The tune of “John Brown’s Body” was not original to Massachusetts, and antedated the war.  According to accepted tradition, it was composed by a Philadelphia musician, on order, for a Charleston, S.C., fire company, that desired a “chantez” to sing on a picnic.

     There were sundry rude verses to accompany this original music, the first line being:

“Say, Bummers, will you meet us?”

     There was so much “ginger” in the tune that it was quickly adapted as a revival hymn, the first line being:

“Say, Brothers, will you meet us ?”

     As a source of inspirations in camp-meetings, the tune was highly successful, and at the beginning of the war it was well known as a camp-meeting melody.

     The story of the adaptation of the tune to the words of “John Brown’s Body” has been well told in a small book, ...printed…in a private edition of a hundred copies at Philadelphia by James Beale, a veteran of the Twelfth Massachusetts.  The text had formed a paper read by Mr. Beale before the United Service Club at Philadelphia.

     This authority stated that “John Brown’s Body” originated with the Second Battalion of  Massachusetts Infantry, known as “The Tigers” – stationed at Fort Warren in the spring of 1861.

Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Library of Congress Photo

     There were a number of singers among the troops, and a quartet was formed, one of whom was John Brown, a Scot, who because of his name being the same as that of the abolition zealot, was the butt  of many good-natured sallies, which he did not always take with good grace.

     It was the custom of the quartet to have an hour’s singing after a hard day’s work.

     The story goes that when two of this quartet were returning to the fort – John Brown and the other being seated near the sallyport – the query was shouted,  “What’s the news?”   Promptly came the retort,  “Why, John Brown’s dead.”   Some one answered, having in mind the John Brown then before him, “But he still goes marching round.”

     This idea tickled the fancy of the regimental wits, and shortly a “John Brown” song was being put together, to the Southern tune, and “The Tigers” were chanting:

John Brown’s body lies a-moldering in the grave,
But his soul is marching on.

     The first line was repeated three times, and there was a chorus of “Glory, Hally, Hallelujah,” also repeated three times and followed by “His soul is marching on.”     Such was the origin of the song.

THE SONG GROWS.

     “The Tigers” left Fort Warren May 26, when the Twelfth Massachusetts had already been there more than two weeks.  The men in the original “John Brown” quartet enlisted in the Twelfth Massachusetts, and carried their song with them.     It soon became the fashion after dress parade for the regiment to strike up the song, and march around the parade ground.  This marching suggested the second verse:

 John Brown’s knapsack is strapped upon his back,
As we go marching on.

      It was a favorite figure of speech with army chaplains to characterize the troops as “soldiers of the Lord,” and from this the song-makers of the Twelfth drew an idea for another verse, thus:

He’s gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord.

     Still another verse was suggested by a nickname the regiment had been given, which was, “Webster’s cattle.”  This verse was begun with:

His pet lambs will meet him on the way,
As they go marching on.

     The Twelfth had an excellent band, which was instrumental in popularizing the new song.     “The air was whistled to the band master, William J. Martland,” writes Mr. Beale, “and written down by one of the band, S.C. Perkins, (pictured bottom right) and soon the tune was played on dress parade as accompaniment to the 1,100 voices of the regiment.”  

William J. Martland, Bandmaster, pictured left;  Under whose leadership "John Brown's Body" was first performed by a military band at Fort Warrren, May, 1861.  S. C. Perkins wrote the first score of "John Brown's Body" for a brass band, - the 12th Mass.  Photos from AHEC, Carlisle, Massachusetts MOLLUS Collection.

     A copy of the song was given to the leader of a celebrated local band, Gilmore, and he helped popularize it in Boston.  Not long after that the words and music were offered to the public by an enterprising Boston publishing house.  Other publishers also brought it out.  The favorite form being a penny dodger, with a border of red, white and blue, and the stars of the flag.  These versions closed with the verse:

Now, three rousing cheers for the union !
Now, three rousing cheers for the union !
Now, three rousing cheers for the union!
As we go marching on!

Glory, hally hallelujah!  Glory, hally hallelujah
Glory, hally hallelujah.  Hip, hip, hip, hip, hurrah!

12^TH DROPS  “JOHN BROWN’S BODY.”

     In the regiment that popularized it the song fell into disuse and eventually became unpopular.  Possibly the end of the regiment’s John Brown, who was drowned on June 6, 1862, at Front Royal, may have had something to do with this.

     Two months before the regiment had stood at Charlestown, Va., on the spot where old John Brown, of Osawatomie, went to the gallows, and there had sung

His soul goes marching on!

     It might be said to have been the last time the regiment publicly sang the song with the original spirit.  When in 1864 its thinned ranks returned to Boston a feeble effort was made to start the old war song of the regiment, but it was frowned down, and the men of the Twelfth marched silently through the streets that had rung with their fresh voices when, full of enthusiasm, they had marched away to the war to the tune of “John Brown’s Body.”

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Letter of James Ramsey, Co. E

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A Southern Perspective; Belle Boyd & Lucy Rebecca Buck of Front Royal

The Warren Heritage Society in Front Royal provided the following material.  I am very much indebted to archivist Judith Pfeiffer specifically for her assistance.  You may visit their site here:  Warren Heritage Society 

     The town of Front Royal probably hadn't changed much from Civil War times when this photo of Main Street looking east was taken in 1910.  Locals call the slow pace of life,  'Valley Time.'  

     The Strickler hotel is on the right.  It was used as army headquarters when the Federals were in town. (view looking east).

     Sentiments in the area were very strong for the Confederacy.  Young men of the town enlisted in the 17th Virginia Infantry.  Family members left behind naturally disliked the invaders from the north.

     13th Mass historian Charles Davis wrote:
 Many of the women in the town increased their incomes by the sale of pies to the soldiers.  They could not endure the sight of a Yankee except when he was buying some of their badly-cooked food.  Some of the young women who had nothing to sell were very “sassy.” And turned up their pretty noses.  The older ones, being in the commercial line, and married, had more sense, bent on “Making hay while the sun shines.”

     Two woman who lived in Front Royal at this time were Belle Boyd and Lucy Rebecca Buck.  Both kept records of the war.  

    Belle Boyd was a young 17 year old woman anxious to assist the Confederate cause whenever she could.  She was living in a small cottage with her aunt behind the Strickler hotel in the Spring of 1862.  The cottage has since been moved and restored and is now the home of the Warren County Heritage Society. (Strickler Hotel, pictured right).

     One of Belle's more famous exploits came when General Jackson’s army appeared in the hills above the town May 23^rd, and prepared to attack the small Federal Garrison.    Members of Stonewall’s staff saw the young lady frantically running along a fence line trying to gain their attention.  Henry Kidd Douglas was sent to speak to her. “She told him there was only one Regiment in the town – the Federal 1^st Maryland & 2 companies of another regiment.  He got General Jackson to ride to her.  She repeated to him her news, begged him to push on & he could take them all & then ran back to town.”  Quote of G. Campbell Brown; Gen'l.Ewell’s staff; (Tenn. Library and Archives) as noted in James I. Robertson's book "Stonewall."  

    Belle was twice captured and imprisoned briefly, before being released both times.  In 1864 she was arrested en route to England carrying messages from President Davis.  She later married her captor and embarked on an acting career.  In 1886 she began giving lectures of her life as a spy.

Belle Boyd; a true Southern Belle; Library of Congress Photo.

     Lucy Rebecca Buck was another passionate young diarist living in Front Royal at this time.  Young Lucy was eldest daughter among 13 children of William Mason Buck and Elizabeth Ashby Buck.  The Buck family was wealthy and risked losing everything during the war.  To help preserve the family property they opened their stately home "Bel Air' to the Union Commanders who wished to board there.  This was almost intolerable to young Lucy who wrote on May 3rd, 1862:      "I am so weary and exhausted with rage that I could scracely drag myself up to my room tonight.  Ma tells me it is so wicked to alow my passions to get such an ascendancy over my better feelings, but I cannot help it - it seems as if I am possessed of an evil spirit as well as surrounded by them."

     From, "Shadows On My Heart," p. 62, The Civil War Diary of Lucy Rebecca Buck of Virginia.  The following diary excerpts are from this same book.

     She was elated when the Jackson's Confederate army took the town back for a short while beginning May 23rd, but forelornly recorded the return of the loathsome Federals a week later.

"May 30^th
      Our cavalrymen in squads were dashing out of town just as the Yankees appeared on the hill.  There was some pretty brisk firing for a time, and suddenly a horrid shell came shrieking and whizzing over the house.  They had planted a piece on the hill next to the orchard, and as they had threatened to shell the place we concluded that they were fulfilling their threat.  All took refuge in the basement, the little children screaming and all confusion and uncertainty.  Worse than all Father was still in town and we did not know whether they would permit him to come out or not any more.  However, there were only a few shells sent on their errand of death, when the hills seemed to be overcast with dark clouds of the enemy’s columns.   They poured in from every direction, infantry, artillery and cavalry, through the waving wheat trampling it under foot, over the blooming clover crushing out fragrance and beauty there as remorsely as they would have crushed out life and hope in our bosoms.   The horrible beings poured in from all sides looking all the more so since our eyes had grown accustomed to seeing our dear Southerners.  When Jackson entered the town although the cannonading was of much longer duration and far heavier I rather enjoyed it, but during the firing today I was really sick of heart – every report was an insult – a demoniacal roar of triumph, each boom probably the death knell to many a brave spirit.  Until Father came in about two o’clock we felt very unprotected with the ruffianly fellows careening through the yard, but he appeared at that time much to our joy and told us the storehouse and all other buildings save the depot were uninjured – that was of course consumed"  . "Shadows of My Heart,"  (p. 91-92). Edwin Forbes sketch of Union Troops entering Front Royal from Manassas Gap on the right.

'Bel Air' the estate of George Mason Buck and Elizabeth Ashby Buck pictured, left.

June 1^st 1862
     Awoke quite early feeling very little refreshed.  Father at first thought it doubtful as to whether we would go to Bellmont today owing to want of conveyance, the horses having strayed off in the night.  It had ceased raining, and the first sound I heard on going downstairs was a band playing to an advancing regiment – playing “Gay and Happy” in the most unsabbath manner.  It was Ord’s division going by and while standing there looking they commenced discharging their guns again and the balls actually struck the front of the house a few inches below the window of Father’s room.  Horrid wretches!  As they pass by for sheer amusement they kick the water gate to atoms.  While they were passing Frank came out and stood near the door – he remarked to Grandma that General Kimball had detailed him to act as escort should we wish to leave today and now for the first time in my life I entered into conversation with a Yankee soldier.  I enquired if it were not dangerous to leave the house for fear it should be plundered – I knew that deserted houses generally suffered from such a proceeding.  “Oh no, not at all!”  He would promise “it should not be so” and from this we entered into a regular discussion which I really enjoyed for I made him acknowledge the superior generalship displayed by our “Stonewall,” made him own up to the “Banks panic” etc.  Laura & Lucy Buck, respectively, pictured right, circa 1860.

     (The family packed their bags and left town for a week)   En route, later that day, Lucy wrote:
     "When we got to the mountains we found they had a guard-among them a young Bostonian Clapp, a very polite but saucy fellow, when Frank went away I could not forbear giving him my hand and well wishes for his individual safety.  After giving him my hand I vented my spleen on little Clapp and talked him quiet – tis so refreshing to abuse someone when you’ve a heart full of bitterness."  From "Shadows of my Heart," p. 96-97.

     The Buck family managed to save their property from War's destruction.  Lucy's diary and Belle Boyd's exploits illustrate the passion young women of the south had for the Confederacy.

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Summary; June 8th - 14th  

     On Sunday June 8th, The order to march to Warrenton was countermanded.  The 13th would continue to hang around Front Royal until the 17th.  It was on this day, the 8th, that General Ord was relieved from command of the division and replaced with General James Ricketts.  Ricketts (pictured at right) would lead the division through Major-General John Pope's  summer campaign. 

     Also on this day General McDowell received instructions from the War Department to move as speedily as possible toward Richmond to co-operate with General McClellan.  There was a caveat however;  first provide for the adequate defence of Washington and the Union position at Fredericksburg.

     General McDowell wrote General McClellan telling him the same.  "I wish to say that I go with the greatest satisfaction, and hope to arrive with my main body in time to be of service."  McDowell heard through McClellan's friends that McClellan questioned McDowell's earnestness in joining forces.  Poor General McDowell, no one had confidence in him.

     On the 9th, they received another order delaying the move to Warrenton.  On the 10th the regiment was paid off.  Davis wrote:   "Though it rained hard all day and the camp was very muddy, the world seemed bright and pleasant to us, as it apparently did to the thrifty wives of Front Royal, who, regardless of the rain, brought their pies to camp to exchange for the filthy lucre of the “miserable Yankees.”

     Company I was sent to the town of Front Royal on June 11 to act as provost-guard.  Meanwhile General McClellan wrote the War Dept. that McDowell should come by water because the railroad bridges were out, the roads were bad, and it would ruin his plans to extend his right flank to meet McDowell's advance by land.  Events changed rapidly however, and McDowell never did join McClellan near Richmond.

    On Friday, June 13th the regiment reported 600 men on duty.  Davis commented that "forced marches, exposure, short rations, and malaria were the influences that reduced our number."   Still it seemed the Union was making great progress in the war effort as evidenced in Lt. Fox's letter home.

Letter of Lieutenant Charles B. Fox, Company K

Letter of John B. Noyes, Company B

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"SOME CAMP AMUSEMENTS"

Clarence H. Bell.
Boston, June, 1884

     The following story is composed of two excerpts from an article of reminiscences by 13th Mass. soldier Clarence Bell in the military magazine "Bivouac."

While checkers and chess contributed in a slight degree to the amusements of the camp, cards formed the chief enjoyment for those requiring mental recreation.  Usually the mere pleasure of playing was sufficient; but at times, financial motives became entangled with the manipulation of the pasteboards.  “Bluff” always had its devotees, but actual money on the table was sure to be confiscated by the officers of the guard.  This only happened a few times, when the subterfuge of using ammunition – that is caps – to be redeemed after the game was ended – was adopted.  An ignorant passer-by might hear a ringing voice issuing from a shelter tent, exclaiming : “I’ll chip a cap.”  For a while he might be puzzled to know just in what manner a cap might be chipped; but if he desired knowledge, he could readily secure it, and perhaps be invited to take a hand at the game, to find out how expensive “chipping a cap” might become.

    Very often the past time would be prolonged into the night, and candles be kept burning long after “taps.”  Of course, this was against authority; and the patrols were vigilant in securing the extinguishing of the lights.  But the tricky gamesters were often keen, cunning individuals, who would continue at their work, under the very eyes of the law, but covering the tent with rubber-blankets, and keeping the candle hidden in a box, thus escaping detection until they were surfeited.   

     At a camp near Front Royal, Va., soon after a visit from the paymaster, a party of card-players established themselves in a small grove, somewhat isolated from the regimental camps, but rather near to the brigade head-quarters.  This party formed the nucleus about which gathered all the followers of chance.  The grove became the paradise of the money-gainers, and the purgatory of the money-losers.  All sorts of games were in progress from dawn to sunset, - bluff, props, dice, sweat-boards, wheels of fortune, and many others.  It was estimated that nearly two thousand men were congregated there at one time.  This might not be an exaggeration, as they came from other brigades and divisions, attracted by the opportunities for making or losing a dollar.  

     General Hartsuff, the brigade commander at the time, was one afternoon sitting in front of his tent, and noticing the crowds at the edges of the wood, strolled down there to see what the attraction could be.  A near approach revealed the situation in a single glance.  He was rather stout, but it did not take him a great while to get back to headquarters, at which place considerable activity was immediately displayed.  Aides and orderlies saddled in hot haste, and were sent flying with dispatches to the different regiments, while a body of troops was deployed completely surrounding the grove.  The panic-stricken gamblers fled between the sentries; but many were captured and marched up for a reprimand, which was the only punishment meted out to them.  At the dress-parades that evening, a vigorous address was read to each regiment; and, as the boys had a profound respect for the old man, they never openly transgressed again.  The second offence would have been hazardous.

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Transfer Back to General Banks' Corps ?

Saturday, June 14.
Thermometer 95º
We were told by the colonel to-day that our transfer to General Banks’ corps would soon take place.  This information had a very pleasing effect on the boys.  We were also told that Maj.-Gen. Ord, commander of our division, was to be transferred to Corinth, Miss.  We had become very fond of General Ord, and we were sorry he was to leave us.

(Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks, pictured, right.)

Sunday, June 15.
  General McDowell sent the following to President Lincoln:

     In a  communication to the Secretary of War, he further says that he learns

     He also wrote to the same purpose to Secretary Stanton, The reply which he received from the Sectary of War was as follows:

     We might have been saved a good deal of headache about our transfer to Banks if General McDowell had invited us into his tent, and while extending the hospitalities of his sideboard, quietly informed us that his love was too overpowering to admit of the change; but this kind of forgetfulness was common among corps commanders.

Letter of Warren H. Freeman, Company A; June 15th

Monday, June 16.
    General Shields’ division returned to-day from Cross Keys as ragged and dirty as ourselves, but the fighting they had seen made them heroes in our eyes.

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Back to Manassas

Tuesday, June 17.
     At 11.30 A.M. we took cars for Manassas, fifty miles.  Left the cars about 6 P.M. and marched two miles and went into camp about half-way between the junction and the Bull Run battlefield of July, ’61, and on the rode to Blackburn’s ford.

The following information was sent from Manassas by General McDowell to General Banks on this date :

Wednesday, June 18.
     In camp at Manassas Junction, where we remained until July 4.  In our childhood we were taught that “God is everywhere,” but after seeing this place we concluded that there were exceptions to this statement.

13th Mass at Manassas; Carlisle Military History Institute; Massachusetts MOLLUS Collection

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     Some of us made ourselves quite comfortable by building up sides with boards and pitching tents on top, so as to make it high enough to walk in without stooping.  By putting two tents together, it looked like a hut with a canvas roof.  We built narrow seats against the sides, about eighteen inches from the ground, extending the whole length of both tents, serving the double purpose of a seat by day and bed by night.  As boards were scarce, this idea was not suffered from the first rain-storm. Manassas being situated as though at the bottom of a bowl, every time it rained all the water collected from the surrounding hills, and as it did not soak away very readily, the result was an inundated camp.

     Four to five hours daily were spent in drilling. Rations were in abundance and sutlers numerous, so on the score of food we had little reason for complaining.

Letter of Warren H. Freeman

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© Bradley M. Forbush, 2009

Page Updated February 28, 2010.