Friday, March 19, 2010

From Banks’s Division

CAMP NEAR SPARTA, Va., April 25.

Several deserters and refugees corroborate previous reports, that Jackson, after flying from our advancing column on Friday last, pushed forward to a point once mile north of Harrisonburg, where a turnpike branches to the left passing Magaughneystown, on the south fork of the Shenandoah, and running thence to Gordonsville. Jackson’s wagon train had been pushed towards Stanton, but hearing that the town was in possession of the Union troops he remanded it to Harrisonburg.

At an early hour Saturday morning Jackson, with his whole force and train, took the Gordonsville pike, and at latest accounts had reached Magaugheytown.

On Saturday night a squadron of the 1st Vt. Cavalry, while scouting on the Surrey road, beyond Massamittin Mountain, fell in with a body of the enemy’s cavalry. A skirmish ensued which resulted in the capture of seven of the enemy and eleven of their horses. None of our men were hurt, but a Lieutenant had his horse shot under him.

Jackson’s retreat from this valley had a beneficial effect on the volunteers and disaffected men from Rockingham and the surrounding counties. Large numbers of them are daily coming into our lines and delivering themselves up. It is stated that hundreds of the are now in the mountains hiding from Ashby’s scouts, awaiting an opportunity to escape and claim protection from Gen. Banks. One who came in yesterday reported that he found a barn some miles hence, where were concealed sixteen rebels and deserters, who will probably come into town to-day.

A portion of Ashby’s cavalry are scouting both sides of the mountains, near Harrisonburg.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 28, 1862, p. 1

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