Frémont’s strength at Cross Keys.
The return of May 31 gives:—13,520 officers and men.
Frémont, in his report of the battle, says that on May 29 he had over 11,000 men, which, deducting guards, garrisons, working parties and stragglers, were reduced to 10,500 combatants at Cross Keys.
But he does not include in this last estimate Bayard’s cavalry, which joined him at Strasburg.
On May 31 Bayard had 1,844 officers and men; he had suffered some loss in fighting Ashby, and his strength at the battle may be put down as 1,750.
All garrisons, guards and working parties are included in the Confederate numbers, so they should be added to the Federal estimate. We may fairly say, then, that at Cross Keys the following troops were available:—
| Frémont Bayard | 11,000 1,750 ——— |
| Total | 12,750 |
NOTE
Strength of the Federals, May 17–25.
On April 30 Banks’ “effective” numbers were as follows:—
|
Donnelly’s Brigade Gordon’s Brigade Artillery (26 guns) Cavalry (General Hatch) Body-guard |
2,747 3,005 492 2,834 70 ——— 9,148 ——— |