Ewell fought on the right and Taylor on the left. “Jackson,” says a writer, “had his war-look on, and rode about the field, regardless of shot and shell, looking as calm as if nothing were going on.”
At last, after a fierce fight, the Federals gave way, and Jackson entered Winchester at the heels of the panic-stricken army. The people of the town were beside themselves with delight to see their loved general once more.
Jackson was for the first time excited. He waved his faded cap around his head and cheered with a right good will.
But the troops still pressed forward, Jackson leading the way. When one of his officers said, “Don’t you think you are going into too much danger, General?” his reply was, “Tell the troops to press right on to the Potomac.” And they did press onward until the enemy was forced across the Potomac with the loss of many prisoners and valuable stores.
After resting a few days, Jackson advanced towards Harper’s Ferry with the view of attacking the Federal force there, but was stopped by the news that two armies, one under General Shields, from the east; the other under General Fremont, from the west, were to meet at Strasburg and thus cut him off from Richmond and capture him.
He at once hastened back to Winchester, where he collected his prisoners and the stores of ammunition and medicine which he had captured. These he sent up the Valley, and followed rapidly with his whole army.
In the meantime, there was great terror at Washington and in the North. Men wore anxious faces, and were asking each other, “Where is Jackson?” They were afraid that he would turn and capture Washington.
But Jackson had only about fifteen thousand men, and he could not risk the loss of the rich stores which he had gained and the destruction of his noble army, so he put forth all his skill and nerve to save them.
The Confederates now began a race to reach Strasburg before the Federals, the larger part of the army marching from near Harper’s Ferry to Strasburg, nearly fifty miles, in about twenty-four hours. Well might they be called the “foot cavalry.”
As Jackson marched into Strasburg, General Fremont’s advance was almost in sight; and, as the Stonewall Brigade had not yet come up, Jackson sent General Ewell to hold Fremont in check. A fierce battle ensued, but Ewell at last drove back the enemy, and the Stonewall Brigade coming up that evening, the whole army continued to retreat up the Valley.