Summary:
On May 8, 1862, Confederate forces under Thomas J. Jackson met and defeated fragments of
John C. Fremont's Union troops under Robert Milroy at the battle of McDowell. Jackson
acted to prevent Milroy from linking up with Banks and capturing Staunton, a town which
Jackson describes as important. In this letter, Jackson reports on the battle. He also
mentions VMI cadets stationed in Staunton.
Brig. Gen. R.H. CHILTON,
Assistant Adjutant and
Inspector-Gen.,
Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia.
March 7, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to submit to you a report of the operations of my command in the battle of McDowell, Highland County, Virginia, on May 8:
After the battle of Kernstown I retreated in the direction of Harrisonburg. My rear guard--comprising Ashby's cavalry, Capt. Chew's battery, and from time to time other forces--was placed under the direction of Col. Turner Ashby, an officer whose judgment, coolness, and courage eminently qualified him for the delicate and important trust Although pursued by a greatly superior force, under Gen. Banks, we were enabled to halt for more than a fortnight in the vicinity of Mount Jackson.
After reaching Harrisonburg we turned toward the Blue Ridge, and on April 19 crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah, and took position between that river and Swift Run Gap, in Elk Run Valley.
Gen. R.S. Ewell, having been directed to join my command, left the vicinity of Gordonsville, and on the 30th arrived with his division west of the Blue Ridge.
The main body of Gen. Banks' pursuing army did not proceed farther south than the vicinity of Harrisonburg; but a considerable force, under my command of Gen. Milroy, was moving toward Staunton from the direction of Mounterey, and, as I satisfactorily learned, part of it had already crossed to the east of the Shenandoah Mountain, and was encamped not far from the Harrisonburg and Warm Springs turnpike. The positions of these two Federal armies were now such that if left unmolested they could readily form a junction on the road just named and move with their united forces against Staunton.
At this time Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson, with his troops, was near Buffalo Gap, west of Staunton, so that, if the enemy was allowed to effect a junction, it would probably be followed not only by the seizure of a point so important as Staunton, but must compel Gen. Johnson to abandon his position, and he might succeed in getting between us. To avoid these results I determined, if practicable, after strengthening my own division by a union with Johnson's first to strike at Milroy and then to concentrate the forces of Ewell and Johnson with my own against Banks.
To carry out my design against Milroy Gen. Ewell was directed to march his division to the position which I then occupied, in the Elk Run Valley, with a view to holding Banks in check, while I pushed on with my division to Staunton. These movements were made.
At Staunton I found, according to previous arrangements, Maj.-Gen. Smith, of the Virginia Military Institute, with the corps of cadets, ready to co-operate in the defense of that portion of the valley. On the morning of May 7 Gen. Johnson, whose familiarity with that mountain region and whose high qualities as a soldier admirably fitted him for the advance, moved with his command in the direction of the enemy, followed by the brigades of Gen. Taliaferro, Col. Campbell, and Gen. Winder, in the order named.
Encountering the enemy's advance near the point where the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike intersects the Harrisonsburg and Warm Springs turnpike, Gen. Johnson pressed forward. The Federals rapidly retreated, abandoning their baggage at Rodgers' and other points east of the Shenandoah Mountain. After the advance had reached the western base of the Shenandoah Mountain the troops bivouacked for the night.
On the following morning the march was resumed, Gen. Johnson's brigade still in front. The head of the column was halted near the top of Bull Pasture Mountain, and Gen. Johnson, accompanied by a party of 30 men and several officers, with a view to a reconnaissance of the enemy's position, ascended Setlington's Hill, an isolated spur of the Bull Pasture Mountain on the left of the turnpike, and commanding a full view of the village of McDowell. From this point the position, and to some extent the strength, of the enemy could be seen. In the valley in which McDowell is located was observed a considerable force of infantry. To the right, on a height, were two regiment, but too distant for an effective fire to that point. Almost a mile in front was a battery supported by infantry.
The enemy, observing a reconnoitering party, sent out a small body of skirmishers, which was promptly met by the men with Gen. Johnson and driven back.
For the purpose of securing the hill, all of Gen. Johnson's regiments were sent to him. The Fifty-second Virginia Regiment, being the first to reach the ground, was posted on the left as skirmishers, and it was not long before they were engaged in a brisk encounter with the enemy's skirmishers, whom they handsomely repulsed. Soon after this three other regiments arrived, and were posted as follows: The Twelfth Georgia on the crest of the hill, and forming the center of our line; the Fifty-eighth Virginia on the left, to support the Fifty-second, and the Forty-fourth Virginia on the right near a ravine.
Milroy having during the day been re-enforced by Gen. Schenck, determined to carry the hill, if possible, by a direct attack. Advancing in force along its western slope, protected in his advance by the character of the ground and the wood interposed in our front and driving our skirmishers before him, he emerged from the woods and poured a galling fire into our right, which was returned, and a brisk and animated contest was kept up for some time, when the two remaining regiments of Johnson's brigade (the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-first) coming up, they were posted to the right. The fire was now rapid and well sustained on both sides and the conflict fierce and sanguinary.
In ascending to the crest of the hill from the turnpike the troops had to pass to the left through the woods by a narrow and rough route. To prevent the possibility of the enemy's advancing along the turnpike and seizing the point where the troops left the road to ascend the hill, the Thirty-first Virginia Regiment was posted between that point and the town, and when ordered to join its brigade in action its place was supplied by the Twenty-first Virginia Regiment. The engagement had now not only become general along the entire line, but so intense, that I ordered Gen. Taliaferro to the support of Gen. Johnson. Accordingly, the Twenty-third and Thirty-seventh Virginia Regiments were advanced to the center of the line, which was then held by the Twelfth Georgia with heroic gallantry, and the Tenth Virginia was ordered to support the Fifty-second Virginia, which had already driven the enemy from the left and had now advanced to make a flank movement on him.
At this time the Federals were pressing forward in strong force on our extreme right, with a view of flanking that position. This movement of the enemy was speedily detected and met by Gen. Taliaferro's brigade and the Twelfth Georgia with great promptitude. Further to check it, portions of the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-first Virginia Regiments were sent to occupy an elevated piece of woodland on our right and rear, so situated as to fully command the position of the enemy. The brigade commanded by Col. Campbell coming up about this time was, together with the Tenth Virginia, ordered down the ridge into the woods to guard against movements against our right flank, which they, in connection with the other force, effectually prevented.
The battle lasted about four hours-from 4.30 in the afternoon until 8.30. Every attempt by front or flank movement to attain the crest of the hill, where our line was formed, was signally and effectually repulsed. Finally, after dark, their force ceased firing, and the enemy retired.
The enemy's artillery, posted on a hill in our front, was active in throwing shot and shell up to the period when the infantry fight commenced, but in consequence of the great angle of elevation at which they fired, and our sheltered position, they inflicted no loss upon our troops. Our own artillery was not brought up, there being no road to the rear by which our guns could be withdrawn in event of disaster, and the prospect of successfully using them did not compensate for the risk.
Gen. Johnson, to whom I had intrusted the management of the troops engaged, proved himself eminently worthy of the confidence reposed in him by the skill, gallantry, and presence of mind which he displayed on the occasion. Having received a wound near the close of the engagement which compelled him to leave the field, he turned over the command to Gen. Taliaferro.
During the night the Federals made a hurried retreat towards Franklin, in Pendleton County, leaving their dead upon the field. Before doing so, however, they succeeded in destroying most of their ammunition, camp equipage, and commissary stores, which they could not remove.
Official reports show a loss in this action of 71 killed and 390 wounded, making a total loss of 461. Among the killed was Col. Gibbons, of the Tenth Virginia Regiment. Col. Harman, of the Fifty-second, Col. George H. Smith and Maj. John C. Higginbotham, of the Twenty-fifth, and Maj. Campbell, of the Forty-eighth Virginia, were among the wounded.
To prevent Banks from re-enforcing Milroy, Mr. J. Hotchkiss, who was on topographical duty with the army, proceeded with a party to blockade the roads through North River and Dry River Gaps, while a detachment of cavalry obstructed the road through Brock's Gap.
As the Federals continued to fight until night and retreated before morning, but few of their number were captured. Besides quartermaster and commissary stores, some arms and other ordnance stores fell into our hands.
Dr. Hunter McGuire, my medical director, managed his department admirably.
Lieut. Hugh H. Lee, chief of ordnance, rendered valuable assistance in seeing my instructions respecting the manner in which the troops should go into action faithfully carried out. I regret to say that during the action he was so seriously wounded as to render it necessary for him to leave the field.
First Lieut. A.S. Pendleton, aide-de-camp; First Lieut. J.K. Boswell, chief engineer, and Second Lieut. R.K. Meade, assistant chief of ordnance, were actively engaged in transmitting orders.
Previous to the battle the enemy had such complete control of the pass through which our artillery would have to pass, if it continued to advance on the direct road to McDowell, that I determined to postpone the attack until the morning of the 9th. Owing to the action having been brought on by Milroy's advancing to the attack on the 8th, Maj. R.L. Dabney, assistant adjutant-general, was not with me during the engagement.
Maj. J.A. Harman, chief quartermaster, and Maj. W.J. Hawks, chief commissary, had their departments in good condition.
Leaving Lieut. Col. J.T.L. Preston, with a detachment of cadets and a small body of cavalry, in charge of the prisoners and public property, the main body of the army, preceded by Capt. George Sheetz, with his cavalry, pursued the retreating Federals to the vicinity of Franklin, but succeeded in capturing only a few prisoners and stores along the line of march.
The junction between Banks and Milroy having been prevented, and becoming satisfied of the impracticability of capturing the defeated enemy, owing to the mountains character of the country being favorable for a retreating army to make its escape, I determined, as the enemy had made another stand at Franklin, with a prospect of being soon re-enforced, that I would not attempt to press farther, but return to the open country of the Shenandoah Valley, hoping, through the blessing of Providence, to defeat Banks before he should receive re-enforcements.
On Thursday, the 15th, the army, after divine service, for the purpose of rendering thanks to God for the victory with which He had blessed us and to implore His continued favor, began to retrace its course.
Great praise is due the officers and men for their conduct in action and on the march.
Though Col. Crutchfield, chief of artillery, did not have an opportunity of bringing his command into action on the 8th, it was used with effect on several occasions during the expedition.
My special thanks are due Maj. Gen. F.H. Smith for his conduct and patriotic co-operation during the expedition.
Col. T.H. Williamson, of the Engineers, rendered valuable service.
For further information respecting the engagement and those who distinguished themselves I respectfully refer you to the accompanying reports of brigade and other commanders.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T.J. JACKSON,
Lieut.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 12, Serial No. 15, Pages 470-473, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
