REPORT OF COLONEL CRUTCHFIELD. HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the different batteries of the army in the actions of June eighth and ninth, 1862, at Cross-Keys and Port Republic: sued them about eight miles, capturing about one hundred and fifty prisoners, six or seven wagons filled with plunder, and bringing off the field two pieces of artillery abandoned by the enemy, and about eight hundred muskets. Also recaptured one of General Jackson's staff. We encamped about midnight near the top of the mountains, having been without rations for either man or horse for twenty-four hours. June tenth, we were engaged most of the day, picking up strag- On Sunday morning, eighth instant, about lers, and sending off prisoners to Lynchburgh, by nine A.M., the advance of General Shields's divithe dismounted men of my command. June sion approached Port Republic, on the Swift-Run eleventh, we started again for the Valley, crossed Gap road, and while a part of their cavalry dashed the south and middle branches of the Shenan-into the village, they opened fire from a section doah, camped near Mount Crawford, and captured of artillery on the bridge across North River. two of the enemy's pickets. Next morning, June Soon two pieces (a six-pounder and twelvetwelfth, we occupied Harrisonburgh, captured pounder howitzer) were brought across Southabout two hundred prisoners, many of them se- River, and planted in the village. As soon as verely wounded in the Cross-Keys fight. We their firing had disclosed their approach, Captain also captured medicines, wagons, camp equipage, G. W. Wooding brought out his battery on the and about two hundred Belgian guns. Here we bluffs across North-River, and opened on their again had evidence of precipitate retreat by the infantry, which, to the amount of four regiments, enemy. I advanced my picket to New-Market, was then near the town. The enemy's advance was and then to Mount Jackson, and held that posi- soon driven out of Port Republic by the Thirtytion until relieved by Brigadier-General Robert- seventh Virginia infantry, and their six-pounder son. On the thirteenth, a Yankee major and sur- gun captured. About this time, the batteries of geon came up with twenty-eight ambulances, Captains Carpenter and Poague were brought under a flag of truce, asking the privilege of car-out by Brigadier-General Winder, and posted on rying off their wounded. For military reasons, the heights on the west bank of the south fork, it was declined by General Jackson. (They and their fire directed on the retreating cavalry, having enough surgeons within our lines to at- and still advancing infantry, of the enemy. Just tend to them.) Having received orders from then I came up, and, encountering the MajorGeneral Jackson to move back with my regiment General commanding, he directed me to remain to Port Republic, and await further orders, I there in charge of these batteries, and also for there learned that he was en route for Richmond, the purpose of forwarding to him, about Crossand that I was to follow. His command having Keys, any despatch sent to him by Colonel Munhad three days start of me, I did not overtake ford, commanding Second Virginia cavalry. The him until he arrived at Hanover Court-House. fire of our batteries was capital. The enemy's The weather had been extremely hot during infantry soon broke and fled down the river, folour campaign in the Valley, the roads macadam-lowed up by our guns on the opposite bank, for ized, and the cavalry unprovided with horse- nearly a mile, when they disappeared in the shoes, and being compelled to subsist them mostly woods around a bend in the road. I waited till on young grass without salt, I found my command about half-past two P.M., and there being no in a most deplorable condition. Our work had signs of any intention on the enemy's part to been eternal, day and night. We were under return, I rode over toward Cross-Keys, where fire twenty-six days out of thirty; having gone the battle had been raging between the forces of in with more than one hundred men unarmed, Major-General Ewell and Major-General Fremont we returned generally well equipped. History since about ten A.M. I found our batteries posted bears no record of the same amount of service in good positions, on a commanding ridge, to the performed by the same number of cavalry horses left of the road. Their fire had been directed by Brigadier-General Elzey, up to the time he was wounded; and I found them holding their ground well, and delivering their fire with accuracy and spirit. Those engaged were the batteries of Captains Courtnay, Lusk, Brockenbrough, Rice, and Raines, while those of Cutshaw and Caskie were held in reserve. As I got up, I found Captain Courtnay's battery withdrawing from the field, as also a part of Captain Brockenbrough's, having exhausted their ammunition. Upon inquiry, I found the other batteries getting short of ammunition, and as the ordnance train had taken a different road from the one intended, and was a considerable distance away, I slackened their fire to correspond with that of the enemy. in the same time. I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOMAS T. MUNFORD, Colonel Second Va. Cavalry, Commanding Ashby's Brigade. P.S. I have failed to mention any special marks of gallantry exhibited by any of my men, supposing that it has been done by those under whose orders they were acting. I shall omit in the rest of my report our Richmond campaign, and begin at Waterloo Bridge, where I was ordered again to report to General Jackson, in advance of his army, moving on Manassas. THOMAS T. MUNFORD. Some of these batteries suffered a good deal all the limbers, except one. One or two of these from the enemy's fire of small-arms, but all held caissons and limbers were slightly damaged, and their ground. At one time those of Captains one spiked, and the carriage broken and pretty Rice and Raines had to be withdrawn to the much destroyed. They were all reported to the rear for a short distance for this reason. Captain quartermaster, and brought off. The guns were Raines's battery was particularly well and gallant- turned over to Brigadier-General R. Taylor, as ly managed, he having his horses shot and serv-also the unhurt caissons, except one gun, which ing a gun himself when short of cannoneers. was assigned to Captain Wooding, and a travelThe enemy's fire soon ceased, and his guns with-ling forge given to Captain Brockenbrough. drew from the field. None of our guns or caissons were lost or injured in this affair. Your obedient servant, S. CRUTCHFIELD, Colonel and Chief of Artillery Valley District. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MARTIN. Captain R. N. Wilson, A. A.G. : manding Second brigade, Valley District, the following report of the operation of the Forty-second regiment Virginia volunteers, during the recent engagements of the eighth and ninth, near Port Republic. On Monday morning, June ninth, I rode down from Port Republic, on the Swift-Run Gap road, and found the pickets of General Shields's advance being driven in by Brigadier-General C. S. Winder, with skirmishers and Carpenter's battery. The enemy had a battery of six guns (five of them rifled) posted on an old coaling, at Lew-you, for the information of Colonel Patton, comiston, from which they soon opened an accurate fire upon our approaching infantry. Their battery was at once engaged by two rifled guns of Captain Poague's battery, posted in an open field, to the left of the road. Just then the Major-General commanding sent me back to Port Between eight and nine o'clock, on the mornRepublic to hurry up the Eighth brigade of Bri-ing of the eighth instant, the Forty-second regigadier-General R. Taylor. Having done this, I ment received orders from headquarters to load proceeded to order up the rifled guns from our their wagons, form quickly, and proceed from different batteries. Many of them I found short their encampment, which was about one mile of ammunition, from the previous day's engage- and a half from Port Republic, on the Harrisonment and their ignorance of the exact locality of burgh road. The regiment was promptly conour ordnance train. To supply them consumed ducted to the heights near Port Republic, and some time, and they could only go into action in stationed on the left of the road, in an open field, succession. Those ordered up were guns from in rear of our batteries, and in view of the rethe batteries of Captain Chew, Brockenbrough, treating enemy, on the opposite side of the ShenRaines, Courtnay, and Lusk, the latter of whom andoah River. We retained that position until did not get his ammunition in time to engage in about one o'clock, in hearing of heavy cannonadaction. As they came up they were posted nearing and musketry in our rear, when I was orCaptains Poague and Carpenter, on the left of dered by Colonel Patton to move my regiment the road, and fired, advancing, a part on the quickly in that direction. I accordingly promptbattery and a part on the infantry of the enemy.ly put my regiment in motion, and conducted Their fire was good, and they were generally well managed, particularly that of Captain Poague, which was subjected to a heavy infantry fire, and only fell back under orders. At one time the enemy's infantry, observing, perhaps, the smallness of our supporting force of infantry, advanced across the field, somewhat to our left and front, and, by a heavy concentrated musketry fire, forced back our infantry support, in consequence of which our guns had to retire. The enemy's advance was soon checked by an attack on their flank by Major-General Ewell, and our batteries enabled to resume the engagement, but not before the enemy had got one of Captain Poague's six-pounder guns, which they either carried off or managed to conceal. When the enemy were finally routed, the pursuit was continued by parts of the batteries of Captains Wooding and Caskie, with just spirit and serious effect, and the enemy forced to abandon the only gun they were seen to carry from the field. With the exception of the one gun of Captain Poague's battery above referred to, none of our pieces or caissons were lost, and none damaged. There were captured from the enemy six guns and a twelve-pounder howitzer, with caissons and them back along the Harrisonburgh_road_to a church, a distance of three miles, where I was met by Colonel Patton, and received orders to throw my regiment in line of battle, to the right of the road, and march them in quick time in the direction of the firing, which I accordingly did; and, after marching them several hundred yards, I received orders to conduct my regiment to the left of the position occupied by our batteries. I accordingly placed myself at the head of the regiment, and conducted it through an open field, a distance of half a mile, in rear of our batteries, under a heavy fire of shells and Minie balls from the enemy. On reaching the woods, I was met by Captain Nelson, of General Ewell's staff, who conducted us a short distance to General Ewell, by whom I was ordered to place my regiment in position on the brow of the hill to the left of our batteries, which position we occupied about half an hour, many shells and Minie balls passing over us. We were then conducted by Colonel Patton about three hundred yards further to the left, and formed on the left of the First Virginia battalion, when I threw out two companies of skirmishers, commanded by Captain Dobbins. We marched a short distance, road, leading from Harrisonburgh to Port Republic. The enemy were in line of battle near a strip of wood beyond the river, on the SwiftRun Gap and Port Republic road. Our battery fired some well-aimed shots into their lines, causing them to retire in much disorder. I then moved by the left flank some three hundred yards across the road, where my command lay behind the battery until four P.M., when ordered to Port Republic. then changed direction to the right, proceeding to support Poague's battery, on the right of the down quite a steep hill, crossed a small stream, about which place there were traces of repeated and heavy skirmishing on both sides-our skirmishers, as I have been informed by the captain in command, at one time driving back an entire regiment of the enemy-the casualties of which, upon our side, have been given in a report which I have heretofore had the honor of submitting. Shortly after crossing the stream, the Seventh Louisiana regiment passed in our rear, and formed on our left. We continued our march in the| direction of the road, a short time before reaching which a sharp fire from the enemy drove in our skirmishers, and we halted, which was then about dark. We remained in this position until a little before daybreak the next morning, in full view of the enemy's camp fires and hearing of their voices. About eleven o'clock at night, a scouting-party, consisting of a sergeant and four men of the Fifth Connecticut cavalry, rode up to a picket posted on the Harrisonburgh road, and were captured, and were evidently ignorant of the fact that we were in their vicinity. A little before daybreak, on the morning of the ninth instant, Colonel Patton returned to my regiment, and conducted us, with the First Virginia battalion, back to the church, where we were thrown in line of battle on the previous day. We were then placed under the command of General Trimble, and brought up the rear of our column, then crossing the bridge at Port Republic, which bridge was burned about ten o'clock A.M., and we marched down the river two or three miles, and finding the column of General Shields completely routed, we were ordered across the mountain at Brown's Gap, and camped on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge. During the whole of the two days in question, although losing only one man killed and two wounded, as stated in a former report, we were, nevertheless, exposed to the fire of the enemy, both artillery and infantry, for several hours on the eighth instant, and I am pleased to say that the officers and men behaved with remarkable coolness and bravery. I have the honor to be, Captain, your obedient servant, WILLIAM MARTIN, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Forty-Second Regiment Virginia Volunteers. REPORT OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FUNK. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY, June 11, 1862. Captain O'Brien, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: In compliance with an order from headquarters First brigade, I make the following report of my regiment in the engagements of the eighth and ninth instant. Immediately after crossing the bridge, I received orders to return to the position just left, where I remained until ordered to camp, half a mile beyond Port Republic, where my command cooked two days' rations. June ninth.-Early upon this morning, I left camp south of Port Republic, passed through the village, crossed the ravine on a temporary bridge, and marched in direction of Swift-Run Gap. Marching some two miles, we fell upon the enemy, and General Winder ordered me to support Poague's battery, posted in a wheatfield, on the left of the road. The enemy shelled us furiously. Remaining in this position half an hour, I received an order to move by the left flank some four hundred yards to the left, to support a piece of the afore-mentioned battery, moved to this point. Company L, Captain Burke, was deployed as skirmishers, who soon came in contact with a company deployed by the enemy, from the Fifth Ohio. Driving the enemy's skirmishers back, upward of a hundred yards, I was ordered to my skirmishers' support. One Moving off by the left flank to the river bank, I threw my column in line of battle, and marched to within fifty yards of my skirmishers. Colonel Hays, of the Seventh Louisiana volunteers, then came up on my right, and we charged through an orchard and across a wheat-field, the enemy prudently retiring three or four hundred yards. We rushed through a pond of water to the opposite shore, where the enemy opened a terrific fire upon us. We returned it, and were exposed to a murderous cross-fire. regiment of the enemy was in our front, in a lane in the rear of Mr. Fletcher's house; another regiment lay in a wheat-field, and immediately on our left; and some three or four companies lay behind the river banks. I despatched one company to try and dislodge the latter. My men stood firmly, and poured death into their ranks with all the rapidity and good will that the position would admit. A field officer, mounted on a gray steed, rode in front of my regiment, waving his hat and cheering his men, but he was soon picked off by some of my sharp-shooters. Finding that my men's ammunition was nearly June eighth.-The drum beat to arms about exhausted, and that he would soon be compelled nine A.M. Our wagons were unmolested, and to fall back unless relief was sent me, I dethe men cooking. Hurriedly we loaded the wag-spatched Lieutenant McCarny to General Winder ons, and were ready to move. I received orders asking for reënforcements. But before aid reachto move in the direction of the Port Republic ed me many of my men had fired their last bridge, which the enemy were then trying to de- cartridge, but remained in ranks for the word stroy. Arriving near the bridge, I was ordered 'charge upon the ranks of the foe." In the mean time the centre of our line gave way, exposing my regiment. The enemy had already attempted to flank my regiment, and I deemed it prudent to fall back. I had nearly re-formed my regiment at the edge of the orchard, when the Seventh Louisiana, which had partly formed, was scattered by a raking fire and rushed through my line, scattering my men. General Trimble came riding up at a barn, some four hundred yards from our abandoned position, and asked them to go no further. I succeeded in rallying all that were near me, and sent Major Williams to rally the others, which he did. REPORTS OF LIEUT.-COLONEL GARNETT. To Captain R. N. Wilson, Assistant Adjutant- CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of Colonel Patton, commanding the Second brigade, a report of the operations of the Forty-eighth Virginia regiment during the recent engagement of the eighth, near Port Republic. At about eight o'clock, on Sunday morning, I was again ordered to support Poague's bat- the men marched to the hills overlooking Port tery, which had fallen back to their position at Republic, and took up a line of battle, in which the commencement of the engagement. The we remained during a heavy cannonade of some enemy soon gave way. I followed with my two or three hours. Orders were then received command in pursuit for four miles, when or- to march to the rear, in the direction of the firing. dered back, taking a back road, encamped on The Forty-eighth regiment, followed by the other top of the mountain, which I reached at mid- portion of this brigade, moved rapidly to the night. Many of my men fell along the road-scene of action. Colonel Patton then detached side, worn out and exhausted from the hard the Forty-eighth regiment, and ordered me to labor of the day. In the pursuit we secured the move forward to the left of the road to support a colors of the Fifth Ohio, which were left on the battery, strongly threatened with being charged field in their flight. by the enemy. Here General Ewell placed the regiment in position, ordering to the front, as skirmishers, all the men with long-range guns. We remained at this place until about eight o'clock, at night, when we were ordered back to camp. Casualties during the day were three men killed, and one officer and eight men wounded. Very respectfully, I deem it proper here to state that the officers and men, under my command behaved more gallantly than I ever witnessed them before. The coolness displayed by them on the morning of the eighth, was worthy the veterans who have contested with the insolent invaders, every step from the Potomac, up their beautiful valley, and on the ninth, held their position in face of superior numbers, under the murderous fire of Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Forty-eighth Regiment, Virgrape, shell, and musketry, falling back when completely overpowered, and then only to be rallied by the words of their commanders. ginia Volunteers. THOMAS S. GARNETT, HEADQUARTERS FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, VIRGINIA, } Major H. J. Williams assisted me in the command, and acquitted himself honorably, cheering and encouraging the men, by example, to the To Captain R. N. Wilson, Assistant Adjutantwork which was so well executed. Lieutenant General, Second Brigade: A. J. Arnold, commanding company I, fell mor- CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit to you tally wounded, while gallantly leading his com- for the information of Colonel Patton, commandpany. He was a noble young officer, whose lossing the Second brigade, a report of the operations will be seriously felt by all who knew him. of the Forty-eighth Virginia regiment, during the Lieutenant Wright, company D, was wounded recent engagement of the ninth, near Port Repub. lic. and is a prisoner. Adjutant Cornall received a wound early in the action, and was sent to the rear. Robert Fisher, color-sergeant, who bravely bore the colors to the front amid the showers of shell and bullets, was wounded. Corporal Walter Monteiro received and supported our banner manfully through the engagement. The casualties are as follows: Killed, four; wounded, eighty-nine; missing, twenty. Total, one hundred and thirteen. Rank and file, four hundred and forty-seven, (strength of regiment.) With but one regret, that we were unable to do more in repulsing these vandals, who have poluted our fair valley by their presence, mit. Very respectfully, sub J. H. L. FUNK, At daylight on the morning of the ninth, the Forty-eighth regiment was ordered to report to Major-General Jackson at Port Republic. On reaching this point, I found that the General had left for the field of battle, and I immediately marched the regiment there, when I was ordered to take position with General Winder's brigade, and acted in conjunction with his and the Louisiana brigade, until the enemy was routed. The Forty-eighth regiment then joined succeeded in capturing some sixty prisoners. in the pursuit, throwing out skirmishers, and Returning, we reached camp about two o'clock Monday night. Casualties during the day, one man killed and four wounded. Very respectfully, THOMAS S. GARNETT, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Second Brigade REPORT OF CAPTAIN LEIGH. HEADQUARTERS FIRST VIRGINIA BATTALION, P. A. C. S. A., CAMP NEAR PORT REPUBLIC, June 15, 1862. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit to you for the information of the officer commanding the Second brigade, a report of the operations of the First Virginia battalion, Provisional army C. S. A., on the eighth and ninth instant. At about half-past eight o'clock, on the morn-wheat-field in front of them was occupied by a ing of the eighth instant, the battalion, along with the rest of the brigade, was ordered to load the wagons, form quickly, and proceed from their encampment, which was situated on the road from Harrisonburgh to Port Republic, about a mile from the latter place, in the direction of Port Republic. daybreak the next morning. From the side of the road a few yards in front of us, I observed a battery of the enemy about five hundred yards to our left at an angle of forty-five degrees with our line. A short distance in front of the bat tery a line of the enemy's infantry, composed of about two regiments, according to my estimate, were drawn up behind a rail fence. A small number of their skirmishers, and another body of their troops occupied a large piece of woods in front of us. At dark the latter body moved across the wheat-field and joined the troops drawn up behind the fence. They all immediately built fires, and we could see a number of camp fires behind them. We could disOn our reaching the brow of the heights, on tinctly hear the voices of the skirmishers in the the left bank of the Shenandoah, overlooking wheat-field. In the course of the night a scoutPort Republic, the battalion was detached from ing-party, consisting of a sergeant and four men the rest of the brigade, and ordered to support a of the Fifth Connecticut cavalry, rode up to a rifled piece belonging to Cutshaw's battery. The picket which we had put out on the road, and piece moved off to the left and assumed a posi-were captured. They said they were entirely tion on the bank of the river. We followed it, ignorant of the fact that we were in their vicin and laid in a hollow nearly in its rear, until about ity. In the early part of the night, I sent back half-past two o'clock in the evening. During this a detail from each company to cook provisions at time, we saw parties of the enemy retreating in our previous encampment, whither some of our confusion, under the fire of our batteries, down wagons had been ordered to return for that purthe right bank of Shenandoah. They were purpose. sued by our cavalry until they reached the point where the road enters the woods. At that point the enemy made a stand, and their artillery drove our cavalry back. About half-past two o'clock in the evening, the battalion was ordered to rejoin the brigade. In order to do so, it was necessary for us to march back on the Harrisonburgh road to a point near the threemile sign-post from Port Republic. At that point we were met by Captain Nelson, of General Ewell's staff, and conducted to a position occupied by Colonel Letcher's regiment, ( About eight o'clock we heard a cannonade to Virginia,) a short distance to the left of the road, our rear in the direction of Port Republic. about a mile further toward Harrisonburgh. We About half-past eight o'clock we commenced our took our place in line of battle, on the left of that march back toward Port Republic. On the way regiment in prolongation of that line. It was we halted at our old encampment and furnished then about four o'clock in the evening. We re- the men with the provisions which had been mained here about an hour, and during this time cooked for them, as I have already mentioned. a number of shells and Minie balls passed near At ten o'clock we crossed the bridge at Port us. In the mean time, Colonel Patton, who com- Republic. About a quarter past ten the bridge manded our brigade, came up with the Forty- was burned. We crossed the south branch of second regiment of Virginia volunteers and drew the Shenandoah on a temporary bridge, and proit up in line of battle to our left. About a quar-ceeded about two miles down the right bank of ter after five o'clock in the evening, the brigade the river. At about three quarters after eleven moved forward in line of battle through the woods. A line of skirmishers preceded us and drove out a few skirmishers of the enemy, with some loss on each side. After proceeding a short distance, we changed direction to the right, and proceeding down a considerable declivity and across a small stream, approached the road. Shortly before we reached the road the Seventh Louisiana regiment of volunteers joined us, and formed on our left. As we reached the road a sharp fire from the enemy drove in our skirmishers, and we halted. We remained in this posit n about half-past a little before seven o'clock in th A little before daybreak, on the morning of the ninth instant, we marched back through the woods to a point near the three-mile sign-post, which I have mentioned. Here the Forty-second regiment and the battalion were ordered to join General Trimble's brigade. While we were at this point, Major Seddon rejoined the battalion and assumed the command of it; but as that officer is now absent, I shall continue to give an account of the operations of the battalion during that day. o'clock, large bodies of the enemy's infantry, cavalry, and artillery commenced to appear on the heights. About half-past twelve o'clock, our troops filed to the right, and marched along a cross-road to the road from Port Republic to Brown's Gap. On reaching that road we continued our march across the mountain, and, a little before dark, halted a short distance from the summit on the eastern side of the mountain. During the whole of the two days in question, not a single man in the battalion was killed or wounded, nor did the battalion fire a single shot. We were nevertheless exposed to the fire of the enemy, both artillery and infantry, for several |