Page 165 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 165
A HISTORY OF
The main body of my command had now reached the vicinity of Port
Republic. The village is situated in the angle formed by the junction of
the North and South rivers, tributaries of the south fork of the Shen-
andoah. Over the larger and deeper of those two streams, the North
river, there was a wooden bridge, connecting the town with the road
leading to Harrisonburg. Over the South river there was a passable
ford. The troops more immediately under my own eye were encamped
on the high ground north of the village, about a mile from the river.
General Ewell was some four miles distant, near the road leading from
Harrisonburg to Port Republic. General Fremont had arrived with his
forces in the vicinity of Harrisonburg, and General Shields was moving
up the east side of the south fork of the Shenandoah; and was then at
Conrad's store, some fifteen miles below Port Republic, my position being
about equi-distant from both hostile armies. To prevent a junction of
the two Federal armies, I had caused the bridge over the south fork of
the Shenandoah at Conrad's store to be destroyed. Intelligence having
been received that Gen. Shields was advancing further up the river.
Captain Sipe,7 with a small cavalry force, was sent down during the night
of the 7th to verify the report and gain such other information respecting
the enemy as he could. Captain G. W. Myers, of the cavalry, was sub-
sequently directed to move with his company in the same direction for
the purpose of supporting Captain Sipe, if necessary. The next morning
Captain Myers' company came rushing back in disgraceful disorder, an-
nouncing that the Federal forces were in close pursuit. Captain Chipley
and his company of cavalry, which was in town, also shamefully fled.
The brigades of Generals Taliaferro and Winder were soon under arms,
and ordered to occupy positions immediately north of the bridge. By
this time the Federal cavalry, accompanied by artillery, were in sight,
and, after directing a few shots towards the bridge, they crossed South
river, and dashing into the village, planted one of their pieces at the
southern entrance of the bridge. In the meantime the batteries of
Wooding, Poague and Carpenter were being placed in position, and
General Taliaferro's brigade having reached the vicinity of the bridge,
was ordered to charge across, capture the piece, and occupy the town.
Whilst one of Poague 's pieces was returning the fire of that of the enemy
at the far end of the bridge, the thirty-seventh Virginia regiment,
Colonel Fulkerson, after delivering its fire, gallantly charged over the
bridge, captured the gun, and followed by the other regiments of the
". Emanuel Sipe, captain Co. H, 12th Va. Cavalry, later lieutenant-
colonel, assigned to command of the 7th Va. Cavalry. He was born in
Rockingham, July 5, 1830. Prior to the war he was lieutenant-colonel of
the 116th Va. Militia; and both before and after the war was a prominent
merchant and man of affairs. He died Sept. 23, 1901.
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The main body of my command had now reached the vicinity of Port
Republic. The village is situated in the angle formed by the junction of
the North and South rivers, tributaries of the south fork of the Shen-
andoah. Over the larger and deeper of those two streams, the North
river, there was a wooden bridge, connecting the town with the road
leading to Harrisonburg. Over the South river there was a passable
ford. The troops more immediately under my own eye were encamped
on the high ground north of the village, about a mile from the river.
General Ewell was some four miles distant, near the road leading from
Harrisonburg to Port Republic. General Fremont had arrived with his
forces in the vicinity of Harrisonburg, and General Shields was moving
up the east side of the south fork of the Shenandoah; and was then at
Conrad's store, some fifteen miles below Port Republic, my position being
about equi-distant from both hostile armies. To prevent a junction of
the two Federal armies, I had caused the bridge over the south fork of
the Shenandoah at Conrad's store to be destroyed. Intelligence having
been received that Gen. Shields was advancing further up the river.
Captain Sipe,7 with a small cavalry force, was sent down during the night
of the 7th to verify the report and gain such other information respecting
the enemy as he could. Captain G. W. Myers, of the cavalry, was sub-
sequently directed to move with his company in the same direction for
the purpose of supporting Captain Sipe, if necessary. The next morning
Captain Myers' company came rushing back in disgraceful disorder, an-
nouncing that the Federal forces were in close pursuit. Captain Chipley
and his company of cavalry, which was in town, also shamefully fled.
The brigades of Generals Taliaferro and Winder were soon under arms,
and ordered to occupy positions immediately north of the bridge. By
this time the Federal cavalry, accompanied by artillery, were in sight,
and, after directing a few shots towards the bridge, they crossed South
river, and dashing into the village, planted one of their pieces at the
southern entrance of the bridge. In the meantime the batteries of
Wooding, Poague and Carpenter were being placed in position, and
General Taliaferro's brigade having reached the vicinity of the bridge,
was ordered to charge across, capture the piece, and occupy the town.
Whilst one of Poague 's pieces was returning the fire of that of the enemy
at the far end of the bridge, the thirty-seventh Virginia regiment,
Colonel Fulkerson, after delivering its fire, gallantly charged over the
bridge, captured the gun, and followed by the other regiments of the
". Emanuel Sipe, captain Co. H, 12th Va. Cavalry, later lieutenant-
colonel, assigned to command of the 7th Va. Cavalry. He was born in
Rockingham, July 5, 1830. Prior to the war he was lieutenant-colonel of
the 116th Va. Militia; and both before and after the war was a prominent
merchant and man of affairs. He died Sept. 23, 1901.
-142-
