Page 166 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 166
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
brigade, entered the town, and dispersed and drove back the Federal
cavalry. Another piece of artillery, with which the Federals had ad-
vanced, was abandoned and subsequently fell into our hands.
About this time, a considerable body of infantry was seen advancing
up the same road. Our batteries opened with marked effect upon the
retreating cavalry and advancing infantry. In a short time the infantry
followed the cavalry, falling back to Lewis', three miles down the river,
pursued for a mile by our batteries on the opposite bank, when the enemy
disappeared in the wood around a bend in the road. This attack of
General Shields had hardly been repulsed, before Ewell was seriously
engaged with Fremont, moving on the opposite side of the river. The
enemy pushed forward driving in the fifteenth Alabama, Colonel Canty,
from their post on picket. This regiment made a gallant resistance,
which so far checked the Federal advance as to afford General Ewell time
for the choice of his position at leisure.
His ground was well selected, on a commanding ridge, a rivulet and
large field of open ground in front, wood on both flanks, and his line in-
tersected near its centre by the road leading to Port Republic. General
Trimble's brigade was posted on the right, somewhat in advance of his
centre. The batteries of Courtnay, Lusk, Brockenbrough, and Raines in
the centre, General Stewart's brigade on the left, and General Elzey's
brigade in rear of the centre, and in position to strengthen either wing.
Both wings were in the wood.
About ten o'clock, the enemy threw out his skirmishers, and shortly
after posted his artillery opposite to our batteries. The artillery fire was
kept up with great animation and spirit on both sides for several hours.
In the meantime a brigade of Federal forces advanced under cover, upon
the right, occupied by General Trimble, who reserved his fire until they
reached the crest of the hill, in easy range of his musketry, when he
poured a deadly fire from his whole front, under which they fell back.
Observing a battery about being posted on the enemy's left, half a mile
in front, General Trimble, now supported by the thirteenth and twenty-
fifth Virginia regiments, of Elzey's brigade, pushed forward for the pur-
pose of taking it, but found it withdrawn before he reached the spot,
having, in the meantime, some spirited skirmishing with its infantry
supports. General Trimble had now advanced more than a mile from his
original position, while the Federal advance had fallen back to the ground
occupied by them in the morning.
General Taylor, of the eighth brigade of Louisiana troops, having
arrived from the vicinity of the bridge, at Port Republic, towards which
he had moved in the morning, reported to General Ewell about two, P.
M., and was placed in rear. Colonel Patton, with the forty-second and
forty-eighth Virginia regiments, and first battalion of Virginia regulars,
also joined, and, with the remainder of General Elzey's brigade, was
—143—
brigade, entered the town, and dispersed and drove back the Federal
cavalry. Another piece of artillery, with which the Federals had ad-
vanced, was abandoned and subsequently fell into our hands.
About this time, a considerable body of infantry was seen advancing
up the same road. Our batteries opened with marked effect upon the
retreating cavalry and advancing infantry. In a short time the infantry
followed the cavalry, falling back to Lewis', three miles down the river,
pursued for a mile by our batteries on the opposite bank, when the enemy
disappeared in the wood around a bend in the road. This attack of
General Shields had hardly been repulsed, before Ewell was seriously
engaged with Fremont, moving on the opposite side of the river. The
enemy pushed forward driving in the fifteenth Alabama, Colonel Canty,
from their post on picket. This regiment made a gallant resistance,
which so far checked the Federal advance as to afford General Ewell time
for the choice of his position at leisure.
His ground was well selected, on a commanding ridge, a rivulet and
large field of open ground in front, wood on both flanks, and his line in-
tersected near its centre by the road leading to Port Republic. General
Trimble's brigade was posted on the right, somewhat in advance of his
centre. The batteries of Courtnay, Lusk, Brockenbrough, and Raines in
the centre, General Stewart's brigade on the left, and General Elzey's
brigade in rear of the centre, and in position to strengthen either wing.
Both wings were in the wood.
About ten o'clock, the enemy threw out his skirmishers, and shortly
after posted his artillery opposite to our batteries. The artillery fire was
kept up with great animation and spirit on both sides for several hours.
In the meantime a brigade of Federal forces advanced under cover, upon
the right, occupied by General Trimble, who reserved his fire until they
reached the crest of the hill, in easy range of his musketry, when he
poured a deadly fire from his whole front, under which they fell back.
Observing a battery about being posted on the enemy's left, half a mile
in front, General Trimble, now supported by the thirteenth and twenty-
fifth Virginia regiments, of Elzey's brigade, pushed forward for the pur-
pose of taking it, but found it withdrawn before he reached the spot,
having, in the meantime, some spirited skirmishing with its infantry
supports. General Trimble had now advanced more than a mile from his
original position, while the Federal advance had fallen back to the ground
occupied by them in the morning.
General Taylor, of the eighth brigade of Louisiana troops, having
arrived from the vicinity of the bridge, at Port Republic, towards which
he had moved in the morning, reported to General Ewell about two, P.
M., and was placed in rear. Colonel Patton, with the forty-second and
forty-eighth Virginia regiments, and first battalion of Virginia regulars,
also joined, and, with the remainder of General Elzey's brigade, was
—143—
