ARMY OPERATIONS. 



109 



decker ; the 1st Maryland cavalry, Major Deems, 

 and a section of Reynolds's battery. Small bo- 

 dies of the enemy appeared in the neighborhood 

 during that aud the ensuing day, as if with the 

 object of alluring the Federal forces from their 

 strong defensive position to one where they 

 could be more easily attacked and overpower- 

 ed. This was the opinion of the Federal com- 

 mander. The whole force of Gen. Jackson 

 was not before Harper's Ferry. Finding the 

 strength of front presented against him, he 

 determined to collect all the plunder he could 

 convey with prisoners, and retire. To effect this 

 object more securely and to deceive his enemy 

 respecting his movements, he left a force with 

 Gen. Ewell, which became his rear guard, and 

 which made the demonstration upon Har- 

 per's Ferry. Gen. R. Saxton, who was in com- 

 mand at Harper's Ferry, fearing a flank move- 

 ment on the part of the enemy, crossing the 

 Potomac above and occupying Maryland Heights 

 on the Maryland side at the same tune that an 

 attack should be made in front, determined to 

 defeat it. He therefore withdrew his forces 

 from Bolivar Heights on ' the Virginia side to 

 an inner line of defence, on the heights known 

 as Camp Hill, immediately above the town of 

 Harper's Ferry. The occupation of this inner 

 line presented" a twofold advantage: First, that 

 being mucli less extended, it could be held by 

 a smaller force the enemy, from the nature 

 of the ground, being unable to bring into action 

 a larger force than the Federal ; secondly, that 

 it would enable Gen. Saxton to bring his naval 

 battery on the Maryland Heights to bear upon 

 the enemy, as they advanced down the declivity 

 of Bolivar Heights into the valley which sep- 

 arates it from Camp Hill. They would thus 

 be exposed for a considerable time to a heavy 

 fire from this formidable battery, where great 

 elevation would enable it to throw shells 

 directly over the heads of the Federal forces on 

 Camp Hill into the face of the advancing foe. 

 With the force rendered by this contraction of 

 his front available for other purposes, he deem- 

 ed it prudent to occupy the crest of the hill 

 above the naval battery, on the Maryland shore, 

 to frustrate any attempt of the enemy to take 

 this hill in the rear and turn his batteries 

 against him. 



On Friday night, the 30th, about dark, the 

 enemy advanced beyond Bolivar Heights to 

 storm the works on Camp Hill. The batteries 

 on Camp Hill, and the one on Maryland Heights, 

 opened upon them. The scene at this time 

 was very impressive. The night was intensely 

 dark ; the hills around were alive with the 

 signal lights of the enemy ; the rain descend- 

 ed in torrents ; vivid flashes of lightning illu- 

 mined at intervals the green and magnificent 

 scenery, while the crash of the thunder, echo- 

 ing among the mountains, drowned into com- 

 parative insignificance the roar of Federal ar- 

 tillery. 



After an action of about one hour's duration 

 the enemy retired. He made another unsuc- 



cessful attack at midnight, with regiments of 

 Mississippi and Louisiana infantry, and after a 

 short engagement disappeared. Signal lights 

 continued to be seen in every direction. 



A reconnoissance the next day developed 

 that the rear of the Confederate force passed 

 through Charlestown about one hour before 

 the arrival of the Federal reconnoitring force 

 from Harper's Ferry. 



Gen. Jackson was now on his retreat. If he 

 had not accomplished all that he aimed at, the 

 result will show that he was completely suc- 

 cessful in cutting off nearly all reinforcements 

 to Gen. McClellan. The fear of having his 

 own retreat cut off now caused his rapid move- 

 ments. Gen. Fremont from the west, and Col. 

 Kimball with the division of Gen. Shields from 

 the east, were on the march to intercept him. 

 The Confederate movements, which had been 

 made to prevent the retreat of Gen. Jackson 

 from being cut off, consisted in the march of Gen. 

 Smith up the Shenandoah from Strasburg to 

 prevent Gen. Fremont from crossing over, as 

 he was ordered, to Harrisonburg. If Gen. 

 Fremont could have successfully crossed to 

 this point, he might have taken up a posi- 

 tion so far in the rear of Gen. Jackson as 

 to have effectually cut him off. It has been 

 said that it was impossible for Gen. Fremont 

 to cross to Harrisonburg. "When he received 

 the order to come to the aid of Gen. Banks 

 he was at Franklin, sixty-five miles from 

 Staunton, and a less distance from Harrison- 

 burg. Instead of taking this route, he march- 

 ed a hundred miles to Strasburg. The Confed- 

 erate forces which attacked Gen. Milroy and 

 drove him back from McDowell, crossed the 

 mountains, whence they retired to Staunton 

 or Harrisonburg. This was some three weeks 

 previous. The enemy also expected Gen. Fre- 

 mont to cross to Xew Market or Harrisonburg, 

 thus showing that no local obstacles prevented. 

 The means of transportation were limited ; the 

 supplies could hardly have been found by that 

 route. 



On Thursday, the 29th, Gen. Jackson ordered 

 a retrograde movement, and sent off his train 

 and prisoners. Early Friday morning, he left 

 camp between Halltown and Charlestown, and 

 his advance rested the first night at or near 

 Middletown, and the next day (Saturday) en- 

 tered Strasburg. On Saturday morning, Gen. 

 Ewell, disappearing from Harper's Ferry with 

 the rear guard, followed Gen. Jackson, and en- 

 camped on Saturday night at Middletown, thus 

 performing a march of thirty-four miles in one 

 day. 



Where now were the pursuers of Gen. Jack- 

 son, who were to cut off his retreat ? On Sat- 

 urday night the advance of Gen. Fremont ar- 

 rived at Brent's Gap, about six miles northwest 

 of Strasburg. It was at noon of the previous 

 day that Gen. Fremont was expected to be in 

 Strasburg by Gen. Shields, who was advancing 

 from the east, having been ordered to be in Front 

 Royal at that hour, which he was. The ad- 



