Some of the men, to avoid the delay attending the slow navigation of the ancient ferry, adopted the alternative of wading the stream, trusting to the artillery fire of the enemy to warm them up by the time they reached the other side.
In the crossing, one man was lost to the Regiment—whether to the world is to this hour a question.
As an addendum to the story of the muskets, it may be stated that the Regiment crossed the river without belts, cartridge boxes or cap pouches, carrying the cartridges in one pocket and the caps in the other. This omission was for want of time to adjust the belts.
It seems incredible that less than a thousand men were thus successful in holding so many thousand in check for an entire day, and without death, wound or capture of a man. However, the good service was in fact done, and history is no more remiss as to this event than it is as to the deprivation, toil and fighting of all the campaign in the Valley to July of '62.
On the night of the 4th, General Lander arrived at Hancock and assumed command of all the troops.
Joined by the 110th.
The regiment that was to go side by side with the 84th for the coming eighteen months, now composed a part of the force at Hancock, the 110th Pa.
The enemy kept up the artillery fire from the bluffs opposite until midnight.
On the morning of the 5th, under cover of a flag of truce, Ashby came over the river and was met at the bank by Colonel Murray. Ashby was blindfolded and conducted to the quarters of "B" company, into a room occupied by the Captain, 1st Lieutenant, and 1st Sergeant. The bandage being removed, Ashby put the question: "Who did you say is in command here?" Murray replied: "I do not think I said who is in command." Ashby's expert question not bringing the expected reply, he then delivered to Murray the message he had from Jackson, a demand of the commanding officer of the troops for the surrender of the town within two hours, or he would shell it. Murray turned Ashby over to the care of Sergeant Mather, while he went to General Lander to repeat Jackson's demand.