the battle of Kernstown, he seemed able to achieve, with his own particular troops, impossibilities almost. He held them in his grasp as a sharp and tempered weapon, and it never failed him.

CHAPTER VIII.

MCDOWELL.

KERNSTOWN had been only a momentary check. The enemy now resumed their former design of following Jackson and clearing out the upper regions of the valley, with an energy greater than before.

The plans of the Federal authorities for the conduct of the campaign and the thorough subjugation of the State were now ripe. The following letter from General McClellan, addressed to General Banks on the first day of April, will throw some light on the Federal programme :

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, ON BOARD COMMODORE, April 1, 1862. MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS, Commanding 5th Army Corps:

GENERAL: The change in affairs in the Valley of the Shenandoah has rendered necessary a corresponding departure-temporary at least-from the plan we some days since agreed upon.

In my arrangements I assume that you have a force sufficient to drive Jackson before you, provided he is not reënforced largely. I also assume that you may find it impossible to find any thing towards Manassas for some days; probably not until the operations of the main army have drawn all the rebel force toward Richmond.

I doubt whether Johnston will now reënforce Jackson with a view to offensive operations. The time has probably passed when he could have gained any thing by so doing.

I will order Blenker to move on Strasburg, and report to you for temporary duty; so that, should you find a large force in your front, you can avail yourself of his aid.

In regard to your movements-the most important thing is to throw Jackson well back, and then to assume such a position as will enable you to pre

vent his return. As soon as the railway communications are reëstablished, it will be probably important and advisable to move on Staunton; but this would require communications, and a force of 25,000 to 30,000 for active operations. It should also be nearly coincident with my own move on Richmond; at all events not so long before it as to enable the rebels to concentrate on you and then return on me.

Please inform me frequently by telegraph and otherwise as to the state of things in your front. I am very truly yours, GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General Commanding.

It will thus be seen that, to "throw Jackson well back," and, when the railroad was ready, to "move on Staunton," were the intentions of the Federal commander about the first of April. To cooperate with General Banks, two other columns were to move in the same direction from different points-one under General Fremont from the upper waters of the Potomac, and a considerable force under General Milroy from the direction of Monterey. With Banks and Fremont following on Jackson's rear, and Milroy sweeping down on his flank from the western mountains, it was confidently anticipated that the Confederate leader would be crushed, and the rich region around Staunton fall into the hands of the Federal forces.

Such was the plan of operations, and such the situation of Jackson, in the beginning of the month of April, which had now opened with its bright verdure and brilliant sky.

Jackson slowly retreated after the battle of Kernstown, the enemy pursuing him in force and skirmishing incessantly with his rear-guard under Ashby. That cavalier was untiring in the performance of his important duty, and the roar of his artillery continued throughout the day-saluting the ears of the troops as they awoke in the morning or laid down in bivouac at night. The men suffered few hardships during the retreat. The weather was growing mild, and delightful with the approaching spring, and though, by an order of Jackson, none but commanders of brigades were allowed to have tents, the troops did not complain of sleeping in the open air. They kindled their campfires on the side of the turnpike, and, lulled by the distant thun

der of Ashby's artillery, went to sleep as soundly as if they had been at home in their beds.

Jackson thus crept along in the days succeeding Kernstown —like a wounded wolf, but turning every moment to snap at his pursuers, and offer battle if they pressed on him—and thus came again to the vicinity of Mount Jackson, where he went into the old camps which he had abandoned to march to Winchester. Here he remained for more than a fortnight, paying no attention to the enemy, whose large force was at the village of Edinburg, in his front. General Banks seems to have been afraid to attack him during this time, and contented himself with skirmishes while waiting for reënforcements to his already large

army.

About the middle of April, however, General Banks again began to move, and Jackson promptly broke up his camp and resumed his retreat. He reached the north fork of the Shenandoah where the turnpike crosses it without loss, and now, if he could destroy the bridge in his rear before the enemy reached it, their further advance would be temporarily checked. They were pressing on, driving Ashby before them; and knowing the importance of preventing, if possible, the destruction of the bridge, made great exertions to attain that object. Ashby held them in check only by the most determined fighting; and when the infantry and artillery crossed the bridge, the roar of the guns from the rear-guard, close at hand, indicated the near approach of the enemy. The bridge was finally passed by the army, and it was Ashby's business now to destroy it, and check further pursuit. The task delighted this soldier; for nothing is more certain than the fact that he loved danger for its own sake, and never was so happy as when contending face to face with imminent peril. Those who differ from him in temperament may doubt this assertion, but the friends who knew him best will support our statement. The work now before him was one of those tests of the stern fibre of his courage which he loved best of all in the life of a soldier. With the masses of Federal cavalry and artillery, supported by infantry, pressing

hotly on him, he had employment for his best faculties. Hurrying his cavalry across the bridge, he followed in person with the artillery, which thundered over at a gallop, and then with a detachment of picked men he hastened to apply fire to the bridge. The enemy were now upon him. Their cavalry advanced at a gallop, firing volleys as they came, but Ashby remained seated upon his white horse superintending the work. It was more difficult than he had expected. The timbers were wet from rain, the flame would not kindle, and the bullets whistling around the heads of the working party embarrassed their exertions. The Federal cavalry had now reached the bridge, the first files dashed across, and Ashby's men ran to their horses, leaving him alone. He was obliged to follow or be captured, and galloped off last, pursued by eight of the enemy, whose fire he was unable to return, his own pistols having been emptied. They followed him closely, firing incessantly upon him as he retreated, and this animated chase continued for nearly two miles. Assistance was then near, and, looking back, Ashby saw that two of his pursuers were in advance of the rest. This odds was not great, and he at once reined in. The Federal cavalrymen came on at a headlong gallop, carried forward by their horses, and the next moment terminated their career. A bullet from one of Ashby's command pierced one of them through the body, and the other, arriving abreast of Ashby, was cut down with one blow of his sabre.

Such was the famous chase of Ashby. He had distanced his enemies, but the fine horse which he rode-the beautiful milk-white charger which the whole army admired—had received a mortal wound. A ball had pierced his side, and the blood was now gushing out at every pant. As he was led along the line of a regiment under arms, an eye-witness declares that he never had imagined so spirited and magnificent an animal. "He was white as snow," says our authority," except where his side and legs were stained with his own blood. His mane and tail were long and flowing; his eye and action evinced distinctly the rage with which he regarded the injury which he had received.

He trod the earth with the grandeur of a wounded lion, and every soldier looked upon him with sympathy and admiration. He had saved his master at the cost of his own life. He almost seemed conscious of his achievement, and only to regret death because his own injuries were unavenged."*

The Federal forces did not press Jackson closely after the passage of the bridge, and he continued his retreat without interruption. Crossing, on the 19th of April, into Elk Run Valley, he took up a strong position between that place and Swift Run Gap, and faced the enemy, with the determination to make a stand and receive his attack. His new position had been chosen with the eye of a soldier, and gave him many advantages. He was able here to meet, in a strong position, the assault of the force which had followed him up the valley; to face the column under Milroy, rapidly advancing from the west, toward Staunton; and, if necessary, to retreat upon Richmond, and unite his forces with those of General Johnston, against the army under General McClellan on the Peninsula.

The strength of his position was appreciated by General Banks, and the main body of that commander's army did not proceed further south than Harrisonburg. He seems to have regarded the campaign as ended. On the 24th of April he telegraphed to President Lincoln: "The rebel Jackson has abandoned the Valley of Virginia permanently, and is en route to Gordonsville by the way of the mountains." General Banks was soon to find, however, that the dangerous rebel had no thought of retreating.

We have a characteristic picture of Jackson at this time, which may interest the reader. He was riding, on one Sunday morning, along his lines drawn up for inspection, when Dr. Dabney, his chaplain, determined to address the men. He and Jackson accordingly dismounted and tied their horses; the Bible was laid open upon the head of a bass drum; the small drums beat to attention, and Dr. Dabney preached to the troops. During the sermon of more than an hour, Jackson stood perfectly motionless, with his old cap drawn down to shield his eyes from *See note in Appendix.