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Battle of Port Republic

 

 
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Battle of Port Republic
 
 
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The Battle of Port Republic was fought on June 9, 1862, in Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County, Virginia

Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 67,725. Its county seat is Harrisonburg, Virginia....
, as part of Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was a military organization whose primary mission was to provide the necessary forces and capabilities to support the National Security and defense of the Confederate States of America during its brief existence from 1861 to 1865....
 Major General
Major General

Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General....
 Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Stonewall Jackson

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, and probably the most well-known Confederate commander after General Robert E....
's Campaign
Valley Campaign

The Valley Campaign was Confederate States Army Major General Stonewall Jackson brilliant spring 1862 campaign through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia during the American Civil War....
 through the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bound to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River and to the south by the James River ....
 during the American Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
. Port Republic was a fierce contest between two equally determined foes and was the most costly battle fought by Jackson's Army of the Valley
Army of the Valley

The Army of the Valley was the name given to the army of Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early's independent command during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the summer and autumn of 1864....
 during its campaign.

ng the night of June 8 to June 9, 1862, Charles S. Winder
Charles Sidney Winder

Charles Sidney Winder , was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate States Army general officer in the American Civil War. He was killed in action during the Battle of Cedar Mountain....
's Stonewall Brigade
Stonewall Brigade

The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was one of the most famous combat units in United States history. It was trained and first led by General Thomas J....
 was withdrawn from its forward position near Bogota (a large house owned by Gabriel Jones) and rejoined Jackson's division at Port Republic.






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The Battle of Port Republic was fought on June 9, 1862, in Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County, Virginia

Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 67,725. Its county seat is Harrisonburg, Virginia....
, as part of Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was a military organization whose primary mission was to provide the necessary forces and capabilities to support the National Security and defense of the Confederate States of America during its brief existence from 1861 to 1865....
 Major General
Major General

Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General....
 Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Stonewall Jackson

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, and probably the most well-known Confederate commander after General Robert E....
's Campaign
Valley Campaign

The Valley Campaign was Confederate States Army Major General Stonewall Jackson brilliant spring 1862 campaign through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia during the American Civil War....
 through the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bound to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River and to the south by the James River ....
 during the American Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
. Port Republic was a fierce contest between two equally determined foes and was the most costly battle fought by Jackson's Army of the Valley
Army of the Valley

The Army of the Valley was the name given to the army of Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early's independent command during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the summer and autumn of 1864....
 during its campaign.

Background

During the night of June 8 to June 9, 1862, Charles S. Winder
Charles Sidney Winder

Charles Sidney Winder , was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate States Army general officer in the American Civil War. He was killed in action during the Battle of Cedar Mountain....
's Stonewall Brigade
Stonewall Brigade

The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was one of the most famous combat units in United States history. It was trained and first led by General Thomas J....
 was withdrawn from its forward position near Bogota (a large house owned by Gabriel Jones) and rejoined Jackson's division at Port Republic. Confederate
Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was a military organization whose primary mission was to provide the necessary forces and capabilities to support the National Security and defense of the Confederate States of America during its brief existence from 1861 to 1865....
 pioneers built a bridge of wagons across the South Fork of the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River

File:Shenandoah watershed.pngThe Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, approximately 150 mi long, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia....
 at Port Republic. Winder's brigade was assigned the task of spearheading the assault against Union
Union Army

The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S....
 forces east of the river. Isaac R. Trimble
Isaac R. Trimble

Isaac Ridgeway Trimble was a United States Army officer, a civil engineer, a prominent railroad construction superintendent and executive, and a Confederate States Army General officer in the American Civil War, most famous for his leadership role in the assault known as Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg....
's brigade and elements of Col. John M. Patton's were left to delay John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont

John Charles Fr?mont , was an United States military Commissioned officer, List of explorers, the first candidate of the History of United States Republican Party for the office of President of the United States, and the first presidential candidate of a major party to run on a platform in opposition to slavery....
's forces at Cross Keys, while the rest of Richard S. Ewell
Richard S. Ewell

Richard Stoddert Ewell was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate States Army General officer during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E....
's division marched to Port Republic to be in position to support Winder's attack.

Brig. Gen. Erastus B. Tyler
Erastus B. Tyler

Erastus Bernard Tyler was an United States businessman, merchant, and soldier. He was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and fought in many of the early battles in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War before being assigned command of the defenses of Baltimore, Maryland....
's brigade joined Col. Samuel Carroll's brigade north of Lewiston on the Luray Road. The rest of James Shields
James Shields

James Shields was an United States politician and United States Army officer who was born in Altmore, County Tyrone, Ireland. Shields, a United States Democratic Party, is the only person in History of the United States to serve as a United States Senate for three different U.S....
's division was strung out along the muddy roads back to Luray. General Tyler, in command on the field, advanced at dawn of June 9 to the vicinity of Lewiston. He anchored the left of his line on a battery positioned on the Lewiston Coaling, extending his infantry west along Lewiston Lane to the South Fork near the site of Lewis' Mill. The right and center were supported by artillery (16 guns in all).

Battle

Winder's brigade crossed the river by 5 a.m. and deployed to attack east across the bottomland. Winder sent two regiments (2nd Virginia and 4th Virginia) into the woods to flank the Union line and assault the Coaling. When the main Confederate battle line advanced, it came under heavy fire from the Union artillery and was soon pinned down. Confederate batteries were brought forward onto the plain but were outgunned and forced to seek safer positions. Ewell's brigades were hurried forward to cross the river. Seeing the strength of the Union artillery at the Coaling, Jackson sent Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor (general)

Richard Taylor was a Confederate States of America General officer in the American Civil War. He was the son of United States President of the United States Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret Taylor....
's brigade to the right into the woods to support the flanking column that was attempting to advance through the thick underbrush.

Winder's brigade renewed its assault on the Union right and center, taking heavy casualties. General Tyler moved two regiments from the Coaling to his right and launched a counterattack, driving Confederate forces back nearly half a mile. While this was occurring, the first Confederate regiments probed the defenses of the Coaling, but were repulsed.

Finding resistance more fierce than anticipated, Jackson ordered the last of Ewell's forces still north of Port Republic to cross the rivers and burn the North Fork bridge. These reinforcements began to reach Winder, strengthening his line and stopping the Union counterattack. Taylor's brigade reached a position in the woods across from the Coaling and launched a fierce attack, which carried the hill, capturing five guns. Tyler immediately responded with a counterattack, using his reserves. These regiments, in hand-to-hand fighting, retook the position. Taylor shifted a regiment to the far right to outflank the Union battle line. The Confederate attack again surged forward to capture the Coaling. Five captured guns were turned against the rest of the Union line. With the loss of the Coaling, the Union position along Lewiston Lane became untenable, and Tyler ordered a withdrawal about 10:30 a.m. Jackson ordered a general advance.

William B. Taliaferro
William B. Taliaferro

William Booth Taliaferro , was a United States Army officer, a lawyer, legislator, and Confederate States Army General officer in the American Civil War....
's fresh Confederate brigade arrived from Port Republic and pressed the retreating Federals for several miles north along the Luray Road, taking several hundred prisoners. The Confederate army was left in possession of the field. Shortly after noon, Frémont's army began to deploy on the west bank of the South Fork, too late to aid Tyler's defeated command, and watched helplessly from across the rain-swollen river. Frémont deployed artillery on the high bluffs to harass the Confederate forces. Jackson gradually withdrew along a narrow road through the woods and concentrated his army in the vicinity of Mt. Vernon Furnace. Jackson expected Frémont to cross the river and attack him on the following day, but during the night Frémont withdrew toward Harrisonburg.

Aftermath

After the dual defeats at Cross Keys and Port Republic, the Union armies retreated, leaving Jackson in control of the upper and middle Shenandoah Valley and freeing his army to reinforce Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee

Robert Edward Lee , was a career United States United States Army officer , an engineer, and among the most celebrated generals in American history....
 before Richmond
Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. Like all Virginia municipalities incorporated as cities, it is an independent city and not part of any county....
 in the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles

The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War....
.

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