Left at 5 this
morning, went through Front Royal—seventeen miles to-day. Waded the south and
north prongs of the Shenandoah River. We then took the road to Mananas Gap,
marched three miles, when we met the enemy and had brisk firing until dark.
Their line is very strong. They advanced in two lines in very fine order. When
they got within range of our guns we opened on them, and they scattered like
bluebirds. We had a beautiful view of this fight, as we are on the mountain.
Neither of the armies can move without being seen by the other. Our corps of
sharpshooters has been formed again since a few days ago. We were sent to the
support of the other corps. We were within twenty yards of the enemy's line
until midnight, when we fell back in good order.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 42
