position behind the stone wall mentioned, with a precision which was galling and dangerous in the extreme. No one could mount to the crest of the hill without hearing the sudden report of their excellent long-range guns, succeeded by the whistling of balls near his person. Colonel Campbell, commanding the 2d brigade of Jackson's division, went up to the summit to reconnoitre, and was giving some directions to Colonel Patton, the senior officer under him, when a ball pierced his arm and breast, and he was borne from the field, surrendering the command of the brigade to Colonel Patton. To drive out these persistent and accurate marksmen, Captain Poague threw several solid shot at the wall which protected them; but in spite of the missiles and crashing stones around them, the line of sharpshooters still gallantly held their position.

While this hot fire was going on, the Federal commander was making his preparations to assail Jackson's position in force. All was ready at last, and suddenly the Federal infantry was seen moving in heavy columns to the left, with the evident intention of gaining possession of the ridge to the north and west of the town.

Meanwhile Ewell had not been idle. As soon as Jackson's guns were heard upon the left, he rapidly advanced toward the southeastern side of the town, and became engaged with the enemy, who were posted on the hills, and in the farm-houses which here dot the rolling landscape. The 21st North Carolina and 21st Georgia attacked and drove back the advance force of the enemy, and Ewell pushed forward rapidly; but here, as on the left, one of those obstinate stone walls, which appears so often in the narratives of battles taking place in the Valley region, opposed its bristling front to his further progress. The Federal sharpshooters lined it, and, resting their guns on the top, poured into the ranks of the 21st North Carolina, which was in advance, so destructive a fire that this regiment was forced to fall back with heavy loss. This success was, however, brief. Taking the place of the repulsed regiment, the 21st Georgia made a determined charge; the enemy were driven from their

cover; and the main body of Ewell's forces, which had been arrested by this obstacle, swept forward amid the thunder of artillery to the assault.

On the left of Jackson's immediate position a similar advance was made, as we have seen, at the moment when his lines were pushed forward on the right. To defeat the enemy's attempt to gain possession of the hill west of the town, Jackson ordered General Taylor to advance with his brigade-move in rear of the Stonewall Brigade-and making a circuit far round to the left, ascend the northern hill, and thus confront the enemy's line as it appeared. The movement was promptly made, aud the foot of the hill reached in the midst of a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, which the Federal batteries already mentioned, and the sharpshooters behind the stone wall, poured into the Confederate ranks, as they took position. No attention was paid to this fire by Taylor. He formed his line of battle, with the 10th Virginia on his left, and the 23d on his right, and immediately gave the order for the troops to advance rapidly and gain possession of the hill. The men responded with cheers, and moved forward steadily up the slope, reaching the summit without resistance, and confronting the columns drawn up to receive them.

The Federal forces were thus caught in the grasp of Jackson, pressing upon both their flanks. The great leader "had his war-look on," declares a soldier," and rode about the battlefield regardless of shot and shell, looking as if nothing was going on." The moment was enough to rouse him, and send a thrill through the pulses of any but a man of iron. Ewell was driving them on the right, and doing great execution with his musketry and artillery, whose traces may yet be seen on the houses and fences; and now Taylor was ready to fall on their main body on the left. The attack was not delayed. Jackson's lines swept down the hill, and across the intervening field, and came into collision with the enemy. The volleys of musketry were succeeded by the thunder of triumphant cheers rising above the roar of the artillery; and driving the Federal line before them, Taylor's men, reënforced by the Stonewall Brigade, burst

suddenly like a torrent into the town. At the same moment Ewell closed in on the right. General Elzey, who had been in reserve on the turnpike, advanced in front; and the whole Federal army gave way in disorder, and rapidly retreated.

The scene which ensued in the streets of Winchester is almost beyond the power of words. Men, women, and children thronged in crowds from the houses, and uttered cries of wild joy at the sight of the gray uniforms. The women were before the men in this ovation. All personal danger was lost sight of in their excitement. As the Federal forces rushed tumultuously through the town, the ladies swarmed into the streets, and paid no attention to the shell and musket-balls bursting and whistling around them. They hastened to every Southern soldier who had been wounded and needed their services; and a gentleman of the highest veracity declares that guards had to advance and clear the way for the platoons to deliver their fire on the enemy. Winchester was indeed wild with delight. Confederate flags and white handkerchiefs waved from every window; bright smiles saluted the troops on every side; and men, women, and children were heard shouting " Thank God, we are free! Thank God, we are free once more!" The whole town was one great scene of uproar and rejoicing-of mingled gray coats and blueof old men and children—and the flitting forms of girls, boldly penetrating the crowd to administer to the wants of the wounded.

Jackson for the first time in his military career seemed mastered by excitement. He caught his faded cap from his head, and waving it in the air, cheered for the first and last time on record. His affection for the people of Winchester was so great, and his soldier pride so profoundly gratified at this triumphant return to a place from which he had been compelled to retreat, that he lost control of himself. The shouts of the men, the sobs and exclamations of the women, and the shrill cries of the children, mingled in one chorus of welcome; but they did not divert his attention from the work before him. The troops were pushed forward without a moment's pause, and Jackson rode far in advance of the column, in dangerous proximity to the enemy.

One of his officers said, "Don't you think you are exposing yourself to danger, General?" But his reply was, "Tell the troops to press right on to the Potomac !"

The Federal forces were followed persistently by the infantry, and the artillery kept up its fire; but they were not pressed with cavalry, owing to the absence of Ashby's men, and the singular impression of General George H. Steuart that he was under Ewell and not Jackson. The pursuit was thus stopped for the moment by the exhaustion of the infantry, who halted five miles from the town; but Steuart coming up about an hour afterward, and forming at Bunker Hill a junction with Ashby, who had swept round to the left, the Federal forces were followed hotly through Martinsburg, and driven across the Potomac, with the loss of many prisoners, and the capture of immense stores.

"It is seldom," says General Banks, in his report, "that a river crossing of such magnitude is achieved with greater success, and there never were more grateful hearts in the same number of men than when, at mid-day of the 26th, we stood on the opposite shore. My command had not suffered an attack and rout. It had accomplished a premeditated march of nearly sixty miles in the face of the enemy, defeating his plans, and giving him battle wherever he was found."

It seemed thus that both the Federal and Confederate commanders were well pleased with the result, and congratulated themselves upon the issue of the campaign.

CHAPTER XII.

THE LION IN THE TOILS.

JACKSON had thus driven his opponent before him, and regained possession of Winchester; but the Federal garrisons at Charlestown and Harper's Ferry remained, and to these his attention was now directed.

The troops, however, absolutely required rest. They had

made an exhausting march. From the camp above Luray to the point where the pursuit had stopped was about sixty miles, and this distance the men had passed over in three days, fighting two battles on the way. This was enough to break down their strength, and it was necessary to give them a resting-spell. On the following day, accordingly, religious services were held throughout the army, and thanks returned for the recent successes of the Southern arms. The men then rested for that day and the next. The army was then thoroughly refreshed and ready for new movements, which commenced immediately.

On the morning of the 28th of May, the Stonewall Brigade and the batteries of Poague and Carpenter, the whole under General Winder, left their camps near Winchester, and proceeded, by way of Summit Point, toward Charlestown. When they had reached a point about four miles from the town, intelligence was received that the enemy occupied that place in force, and intended to dispute their further advance. This information was promptly conveyed to Jackson, who immediately sent Ewell's division to coöperate in the movement. But Winder did not wait for reënforcements. He steadily advanced in the direction of the town, and, emerging from the woods within a mile of the place, saw the Federal forces in line of battle immediately in his front, and apparently about fifteen hundred in

number.

He decided to attack them, and at once advanced, when, as he made his appearance, they opened upon him with two pieces of artillery. Carpenter's battery was placed in position, supported by the 33d Virginia, and returned the fire with such vigor that, in twenty minutes, the Federal forces retired in disorder, throwing away their arms, blankets, haversacks, and accoutrements. Winder followed them into the town, and here a scene took place similar to that which had occurred at Winchester. The ladies crowded the streets, waving their handkerchiefs, and exhibiting a "wild joy," says a letter of the time, at sight of their friends. The 2d Virginia was formed almost entirely of volunteers from Jefferson, Frederick, Clarke, and Berkeley ;