Battle of Port Republic.
Thus far the Massanutten Mountains had separated Jackson and his immediate pursuers from Shields. This mountain range stops just before reaching Port Republic. The only troops in the town were the four regiments of Carroll's Brigade, 1st Va., 7th Ind., 84th and 110th Pa., about sixteen hundred strong.
"At this point," read the orders to General Shields, "you will intercept Jackson and cut off his retreat."
With the bridge standing, Carroll's force, or even the entire Division, would be a mere handful against the foe now almost at hand.
The effectual cut-off would have been the destruction of the bridge, and had there been but one man there, in place of a brigade, he would have destroyed it.
Did Shields order Carroll to burn the bridge?
And, if so, did Carroll think it would be more soldierly to fight the whole rebel army?
Whatever the answer, the fact remains that the bridge was not burned. When the attempt was made it was too late.
Over the bridge was Jackson's only way of escape from Fremont. When he found Carroll there he moved up his advance, under cover of the night, quietly posted twenty guns where they would command the way over the river, and opened them at daylight. The fire was too much to stand against, and over the bridge came Jackson's cavalry, followed by his columns of infantry, and having forced our small command back the Luray Valley to Conrad's Store, and burned the bridge to avoid further trouble with Fremont, he had a good free road to Richmond, where he met with a cordial welcome from Lee.
The loss of 124 killed and 292 wounded showed the disposition of Carroll's Brigade to fight, as also the character of the rebel fire, and the 514 prisoners testified to the character of the pursuit in getting Carroll out of the way.