. A history of the Laurel brigade, originally the Ashby cavalry of the Army of northern Virginia and Chew's battery . Hunted to their homes, they were shotdown, and their houses burnt in many instances. Such brutality only deepened the feeling of hostility inthe hearts of the people and pvoked reprisals, and the crackof the deadly rifle from wooded cover often saluted theFederal scouting parties. Sentinels were cut ofif, picketscaptured and whole companies sometimes ambuscaded. Theunconquerable mountaineers left no ground undisputedexcept that upon which the Federal forces camped. Now that, af
. A history of the Laurel brigade, originally the Ashby cavalry of the Army of northern Virginia and Chew's battery . Hunted to their homes, they were shotdown, and their houses burnt in many instances. Such brutality only deepened the feeling of hostility inthe hearts of the people and pvoked reprisals, and the crackof the deadly rifle from wooded cover often saluted theFederal scouting parties. Sentinels were cut ofif, picketscaptured and whole companies sometimes ambuscaded. Theunconquerable mountaineers left no ground undisputedexcept that upon which the Federal forces camped. Now that, after a march of nearly 100 miles through iceand snow, the South Branch Valley was occupied, thetrouble of holding it began to appear. There was nodanger of immediate attack. To few besides the intrepidJackson would campaigning be thought of in the dead ofwinter; but spring was coming and the Federals weregathering at different points on the border. Winchesterwas far in the rear and a days march nearer HarpersFerry than Romney. Jackson therefore determined toleave General Loring with the bulk of the command at ^. DR. NELSON G. WEST A History of the Laurel Brigade 37 Romney and Moorefield and return with the StonewallBrigade to Winchester. Ashby was sent with the larger part of his cavalry towatch the Potomac border. He established a cordon ofpickets from Harpers Ferry to Hampshire. CaptainSheetz, with his company stationed near Blues Gap, havingcharge of the left of the line. On the 25th of January, the Secretary of War, learningthat Lorings force was threatened with capture, orderedJackson to recall him to Winchester. This was done onthe 31st of January, and thus, after a respite of a few weeks,Romney and the South Branch Valley again fell underFederal sway. General Loring, with his brigades, was transferred to adistant command, and Jackson was left with about 6,000men to hold the Shenandoah Valley. General McClellan, with a formidable army, was nowthreatening Richmond, and the
Size: 1318px × 1896px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidhistoryoflaurelb00mcdo
