The Richmond Daily Dispatch
August 1, 1863
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| Gen. R. S. Ewell (Library of Congress) |
Our army
Correspondence.
Madison C. H., Va., July 28, 1863.
Having been on the march
with Ewell's corps since Thursday, the 23d, I have had no opportunity of
communicating with you, and no means of forwarding a letter had the opportunity
of writing been presented. I have just arrived here, and have only time enough before
the closing of the mail for Richmond to give some particulars of the fight at
Manassas Gap, on the afternoon of the 23d, the day we left Winchester.
Generals Longstreet and
Hill preceded Gen. Ewell, and passing through Chester's Gap, in the Blue Ridge,
Wright's brigade, of Anderson's division, was detached by Gen. Hill, and left
to guard the pass until Gen Ewell, who was in the rear, should have sufficient
time to come up, cross the river at Front Royal, proceed without interruption
down the Valley and cross the mountains at a point lower down. Not long after
the departure of the corps of Hill and Longstreet, the Yankees, estimated by
some at one or two corps, advanced from the direction of Centreville and
Manassas, with the purpose of taking possession of the Gaps near Front Royal
and prevent the "escape" of that portion of our army that had not
attained the Eastern side of the mountains.
Thursday morning they advanced to Manassas
Gap, preceded by cavalry, who attacked Gen. Wright's brigade, which advanced to
meet them, and after considerable skirmishing drove them back upon the main
body of infantry which advanced to their support and poured down upon the
brigade in several columns. The fight became general, and although against most
fearful odds, our men heroically met the onset and held their ground firmly.
The strength of superior numbers, however, seemed likely to prevail, and the
brigade, although fighting most gallantly, were compelled to fall back
gradually, and did so in good order.
The timely arrival of
General Rodes, with his splendid division, the advance of Ewell's corps,
changed the fortune of the day and put a speedy end to the conflict. Although
Wright's brigade, even falling back, had thus far succeeded in thwarting the
enemy's purpose, it is difficult to estimate the consequence had it not been
relieved of the great disadvantages under which it was contending, by the
opportune coming up of Gen. Rodes. The latter, after throwing a pontoon bridge
across the Shenandoah at the junction of the two forks, immediately advanced,
formed in line of battle and threw out skirmishers.
Although his men had
marched nearly twenty-five miles that day, the necessity of relieving their
gallant comrades in arms, and the sight of the hated foe, caused them to forget
the fatigue they had already undergone. The enemy, drawn up in three lines of
battle, were soon repulsed by this new accession of strength, yet inferior in
numbers to themselves. Our artillery also being brought to bear, their first
line, after driving back our skirmishers, was broken, and fell back in
confusion and disorder.
The second line
advancing were dealt with in like manner, and met a similar fate. The third,
after a show of resistance and determination to maintain the ground, fell back
some distance and lay upon the ground to avoid the havoc our artillery and
small arms were making in their ranks. The enemy had two batteries of
artillery, which were not used. One was so planted that it could not be brought
to bear on our men with any effect; the other was in a position on which we had
an enfilading fire. If they had more it was not observed, but they fired not a
single shot with artillery during the fight.
We had several pieces,
which were served with admirable precision and great effect, as could plainly
be seen at every discharge, which extorted loud cries of pain from the wounded
Yankees, to which our men responded with cheers. The ground was literally blue
with the killed and wounded. Our loss is estimated at one hundred and fifty
killed and wounded.
The division of Gen. Edward Johnston, which
followed that of Gen. Rodes, was moved up within supporting distance during the
fight, and, it is said, left the rations they were preparing on the fire. The
division of Gen. Early was at the time encamped about three miles from
Winchester. Night coming on space and putting an end to the conflict, the
Yankees withdrew from the field. Gens. Rodes and Johnston, accompanied by
Wright's brigade, then marched beyond Front Royal, encamped for the night, and next
morning proceeded on the march up Luray Valley.
I have been unable to procure a list of killed
and wounded, which loss fell chiefly on Wright's brigade, readily accounted for
by the vastly superior odds against which they had to contend before reinforcements
came up. Col. Edward Walker, of the 3d Georgia, was severely wounded in the
thigh, and is doing well.
The Yankees finding no opposition to obstruct
them, took possession of Front Royal Friday morning, Gen. Early being a day's
march in the rear, and thus prevented from crossing the river at that point,
deemed it prudent to turn to the right at Cedarville, about three miles from
Front Royal, and marched down the Valley, striking the Winchester and Staunton
turnpike again at Middletown. The whole corps which the enemy confidently
believed would be effectually cut off from the main body of our army is now
safely out of their clutches.
P. S.--The numerous friends of Gen. Kemper will
be gratified to learn that his family, who reside in this place, are in receipt
of very recent information from the North stating that he had passed the crisis
of his case, and is in a fair way of recovery. His lower extremities were
paralyzed from the effect of his wound — received in the groin — but no doubt
is entertained by the surgeon that he will recover the use of his limbs.
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