ed with orders to halt. In half an hour, during which the sound of
battle at Cross Keys thickened, Jackson came. As before stated, he had
passed the night in the village, with his staff and escort. Up as usual
at dawn, he started alone to recross the bridge, leaving his people to
follow. The bridge was a few yards below the last house in the village,
and some mist overhung the river. Under cover of this a small body of
horse, with one gun, from Shields's forces, had reached the east end of
the bridge and trained the gun on it. Jackson was within an ace of
capture. As he spurred across, the gun was fired on him, but without
effect, and the sound brought up staff and escort, when the horse
retired north. This incident occasioned the order to me. After relating
it (all save his own danger), Jackson passed on to Ewell. Thither I
followed, to remain in reserve until the general forward movement in the
afternoon, by which Fremont was driven back with loss of prisoners. We
did not persist far, as Shields's force was near upon us. From Ewell I
learned that there had been some pretty fighting in the morning, though
less than might have been expected from Fremont's numbers. I know not if
the presence of this commander had a benumbing influence on his troops,
but certainly his advanced cavalry and infantry had proved bold and
enterprising.

In the evening we moved to the river and camped. Winder's and other
brigades crossed the bridge, and during the night Ewell, with most of
the army, drew near, leaving Trimble's brigade and the horse at Cross
Keys. No one apprehended another advance by Fremont. The following
morning, Sunday, June 9, my command passed the bridge, moved several
hundred yards down the road, and halted. Our trains had gone east over
the Blue Ridge. The sun appeared above the mountain while the men were
quietly breakfasting. Suddenly, from below, was heard the din of
battle, loud and sustained, artillery and small arms. The men sprang
into ranks, formed column, and marched, and I galloped forward a short
mile to see the following scene:

From the mountain, clothed to its base with undergrowth and timber, a
level--clear, open, and smooth--extended to the river. This plain was
some thousand yards in width. Half a mile north, a gorge, through which
flowed a small stream, cut the mountain at a right angle. The northern
shoulder of this gorge projected farther into the plain than the
southern, and on an elevated plateau