Gen. Banks was preparing his defenses as rapidly as possible, but his forces were insufficient to meet the

enemy. (Banks OR)

          As was Gen. Jackson's style, he disclosed nothing to his officers. (Davis, 29)

          Marching to Front Royal, Jackson did not know he outmatched the Union army seventeen to one. Jackson's plan was simple. Col. Ashby's cavalry would strike from Spangler's Crossroads to the northwest. They would cross the South Fork of the Shenandoah River to cut telegraph and rail lines. Ashby was to hold his ground to prevent the Union retreat. Gen. Ewell's division, with the 1st Maryland Infantry leading would move northeast along the Luray Road. It would advance to Ashbury Chapel, 4 ½ miles from Front Royal. At this time, it would proceed. (Cozzens, 286)

          Jackson marched towards Front Royal and wanted to take another route other than the main road. He diverged to the right to fall on the Gooney Manor Road. Along this path, he did not encounter any opposition until within 1 ½ miles for Front Royal. (Jackson OR)

          Banks guarded the railway as it was indispensable, since Chester Gap was occupied. Banks line was greatly extended in the positions and property were of vital importance. (Banks OR)

          Around 2pm on May 23rd, Confederate forces pushed in the Union pickets. The 1st Maryland Regiment supported by Wheaton's Battalion of Louisiana Volunteers with Gen. Taylor's Brigade pushed forward in gallant style as they charged the Union forces. They drove the enemy through the town taking prisoners. The main force of the Union army were a short distance beyond Front Royal. They took position on the heights to the right of the turnpike. The Union artillery used rifled guns to fire upon the enemy. (Jackson OR)

The enemy appeared to have a large force to the front and right of town. Lieut. Atwell directed both pieces of rifled artillery on the enemy. (Atwell OR)

          Capt. Brown of Ewell's staff wrote after the war: “All of the sudden Henry K. Douglas called to my attention to a woman running like mad down the hill to our right, keeping a fence between her and the town and gesticulating wildly to us. Douglas rode up and showed her to Jackson, who sent him to speak to her. She talked excitedly for a minute; Douglas came up with great excitement. It was Belle Boyd and she told him there was only one regiment in town – the Federal 1st Maryland and 2 companies of Pennsylvania regiment. He got Gen. J. to ride to her. She repeated to him her news, begged him to push on and take them all and then ran back to town.” (Robertson, 395)

          Col. Kenly's entire force consisted of two 10-Pounder Parrott guns with 38 men of Knap's Pennsylvania battery with 9 companies. There was an absent company, E, which was on detached service at London on the Manassas Gap Railroad. Two companies of the 29th Pennsylvania Regiment were posted beyond the main branch of the Shenandoah River to cover the railroad bridge. This particular unit was not under Kenly's command, but the knowledge of their strength and position did have an influence upon his orders of battle. (Kenly OR)

          Two battalions of enemy infantry pushed forward rapidly on both sides of the road leading from town towards Kenly's camp. At the same time, a heavy column of Confederate infantry and cavalry crossed the railway moving to Kenly's left flank. A battery of enemy artillery able to get into position to open up on Union troops. (Kenly OR)

          Kenly's position was critical and he maneuvered his men to present the appearance of a larger force. Lt. Col. Dushane proceeded with two companies to protect the right flank. Maj. Wilson was to advance with a company to cover the road leading to the bridges. Lt. Saville used his company, along with the camp guard, to prevent the enemy's advance by the railroad toward the bridge. Orders were promptly and fearlessly executed orders under a sharp fire from the Confederate skirmishers (Kenly OR)

          The 5th New York Cavalry showed up about an hour after the battle started with two companies. With its arrival, it brought cheers from the men and may have let the enemy think the Union troops were receiving reinforcements. With the movement of the troops, it gave Kenly additional incentive to gain time by continuing the resistance. Although Kenly wanted to continue the resistance, it soon became apparent to Kenly he was surrounded. His infantry and artillery kept up a continuous fire on the Confederate troops. (Kenly OR)

          About 4:30pm, Kenly received word a regiment of cavalry was approaching his rear. At the same time, he noticed the 29th Pennsylvania was in retreat. Asking whose orders they were following, Capt. Lane responded it was Col. Edwards. Kenly ordered the men back to their position, which was received with cheers. (Kenly OR)

          In full view of the enemy, Kenly posted Atwell, with his two guns on a rise commanding the bridges and the infantry of an adjacent height. In retreating, Kenly crossed the bridges ordering them to be burned. The job was not done efficiently, although the heat from one bridge prevented the enemy from crossing immediately. As the Confederates started to cross the bridge, Kenly ordered Capt. Keigler of Company A, to hold the enemy simultaneously, he ordered the artillery and infantry to pull back hoping to make a stand on the cross roads leading to Middleton. With the sudden appearance of the Confederate cavalry, Kenly's hope of saving his command was lost. (Kenly OR)

          Kenly ordered Atwell to fall back while covering his infantry. Atwell covered the retreat for about a mile. At which time, Kenly ordered Atwell's artillery to the front with the cavalry bringing up the rear. (Atwell OR)

Col. Crutchfield, Chief of Artillery, used his rifled artillery to dislodge the Union artillery. Meanwhile, the 6th Louisiana Regiment moved to the left through the woods to outflank Atwell's artillery. The 1st Maryland Regiment along with Wheat's Battalion more directly, driving the Union skirmishers as they retreated across the branches of the Shenandoah River. As they were attempting to retreat, the Union troops tried to burn the bridges by piling hay on them. However, due to recent rains, the bridges did not burn. The Confederate soldiers were able to extinguish the flames by throwing the hay over the side of the bridge. (Robertson, 396)

          The Confederate forces crossed the bridges forcing the enemy into full retreat towards Manchester. Ashby's and Col. Flournoy's cavalry crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah at McCoy's Ford shows the enemy position. They destroyed the railroad and telegraph communications between Front Royal and Strasburg. This action checked any Union reinforcements from Strasburg. (Jackson OR)

          As the Confederates advanced on the Union flanks, they succeeded in surrounding Atwell's guns. As the cannoneers didn't have side arms, they were cut to pieces by the Confederate cavalry. (Atwell OR)

          Large numbers of Rebels, turning into the fields, charged the men there, who continued fighting desperately until nearly all were captured. Only about 5 or 6 officers with about 100 men escaped. (Kenly OR)

 

 

 

 

 

Atwell, Charles. The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

          Washington: Government Printing Office, 1885. p 581-582

Cozzens, Peter. Shenandoah 1862 Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. Chapel Hill, NC.: University of North Carolina, 2008. p

          292-293

Crutchfield, S. Official Records. P 740-745

​Clark, Champ. Ed. The Civil War Decoying the Yanks Jackson's Valley Campaign. Alexandria, VA: Time Life Books, 1988.

Davis, Burke. The Called Him Stonewall A Life of Lieutenant General T. J. Jackson, CSA. New York: Burford Books, 1954. p 29-39

Flournoy, Thomas S. Official Records, p 750-751

Foote, Shelby. The Civil War A Narrative Fort Sumter to Perryville. New York: Vintage, 1958. p 435- 438

Jackson, Thomas J. Official Records. p 717-733

Johnson, Robert Underworld & Clarence Clough Buell. Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. Grant- Lee Edition. Vol II Part I. New

          York: The Century Co. 1884-1887. rpt National Historical Society, 2005.

Kenly, John R. Official Records. p571-574

Robertson, James I. Jr. Stonewall Jackson. The Man, The Soldier, The Legend. New York: MacMillan, 1997. p 393-395, 411-412

Smith, George. Official Records. P 574-575

Tanner, Robert G. Stonewall in the Valley Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Spring 1862.

          Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1996. p 256-265