The Maryland Line in the Confederate States Army.Goldsborough, W. W. (William Worthington)
History
The Maryland Line in the Confederate States Army.
Goldsborough, W. W. (William Worthington)
Confederate States of America. Army; Maryland -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
“The history of the Maryland regiment, gallantly commanded by Colonel
Bradley T. Johnson during the campaign of the Valley, would be the
history of every action from Front Royal to Cross Keys. On the 6th, near
Harrisonburg, the Fifty-Eighth Virginia Regiment was engaged with the
Pennsylvania “Bucktails,” the fighting being close and bloody. Colonel
Johnson came up with his regiment in the hottest period, and by a
dashing charge in flank drove the enemy off with heavy loss, capturing
Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, commanding. In commemoration of this gallant
conduct I ordered one of the captured “Bucktails” to be appended as a
trophy to their flag. The action is worthy of acknowledgment from a
higher source, more particularly as they avenged the death of the
gallant General Ashby who fell at the same time. Four color bearers were
shot down in succession, but each time the colors were caught before
reaching the ground, and were finally borne by Corporal Daniel Shanks to
the close of the action.
“On the 8th instant at Cross Keys they were opposed to three of the
enemy’s regiments in succession.”
General Jackson, also, in his official report of the Valley Campaign,
thus speaks of the First Maryland’s participation in the battle of
Harrisonburg:
* * * * *
“Apprehending that the Federals would make a more serious attack, Ashby
called for an infantry support. The brigade of General George H. Steuart
was accordingly ordered forward. In a short time the Fifty-Eighth
Virginia Regiment became engaged with a Pennsylvania Regiment called the
Bucktails, when Colonel Johnson of the First Maryland Regiment coming up
in the hottest period of the fire, charged gallantly into its flank, and
drove the enemy with heavy loss from the field, capturing
Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, commanding. In this skirmish our infantry loss
was seventeen killed, fifty wounded and three missing. In this affair
General Turner Ashby was killed. An official report is not an
appropriate place for more than a passing notice of the distinguished
dead; but the close relation which General Ashby bore to my command for
most of the past twelve months will justify me in saying that as a
partisan officer I never knew his superior. His daring was proverbial;
his power of endurance almost incredible; his tone of character heroic,
and his sagacity almost intuitive in divining the purpose and movement
of the enemy.”
CHAPTER X.
On the afternoon and evening of the 9th, Jackson leisurely moved his
almost exhausted troops up the mountain until he reached its summit,
where he went into camp to afford rest to his men after their arduous
campaign.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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