After the return of that General from McDowell, the whole array advanced upon Kenly’s forces at Front Royal, and in the sharp fight which ensued the battery took a prominent part.
Early on the 25th of May, Jackson’s army stood in battle array before Winchester, and the engagement soon began. The Baltimore Light Artillery was stationed on the right, and throughout the fight played with much effect upon the enemy’s columns.
A few days after, at Bolivar Heights, they were engaged for some hours, and finally drove the Federal infantry and artillery from their strong position.
In Jackson’s memorable retreat down the Valley from the overwhelming forces of Fremont and Shields, the battery was detailed to support the cavalry under Ashby and Steuart, which was bringing up the rear of the army. Here it was daily engaged with the enemy. At Fisher’s Hill a section under Griffin was entirely surrounded and cut off owing to the bad behavior of Steuart’s cavalry, which was supporting it, but the gallant fellow drove his pieces through the ranks of the enemy, and reached the main body in safety.
At the battle of Harrisonburg it supported Ashby in his fight with the Pennsylvania Bucktails, and did good service.
On the 8th of June the division of Ewell was drawn up in line of battle at Cross Keys to dispute the enemy’s advance, whilst Jackson crossed his prisoners and wagon trains over the Shenandoah at Port Republic. The ground for the battle had been selected by General Elzey, by order of General Ewell, and a most judicious selection it was, as the result of the fight proved, and for which General Elzey received the thanks of Ewell in an official order, which the author regrets he is unable to give the reader.
The Baltimore Light Artillery held the extreme left supported by the First Maryland Infantry. Theirs was a most exposed position, and upon which was concentrated the fire of several of the enemy’s batteries. All day long the battle lasted, and all day long the little battery continued to hurl its shot and shell into the ranks of the enemy. It was a most unequal contest, but stubbornly they held their ground. Generals Elzey and Steuart, who had remained by and watched the battery with painful interest, were both borne wounded from the field. Upon the behavior of that battery perhaps hung the fate of the day, for we were but a handful holding at bay a mighty army. But calmly the officers and men stood to their guns, and although the enemy essayed more than once to drive them from the position, there they remained until night closed upon the combatants, and Jackson’s army was saved from the destruction that seemed so imminent.
As a reward for the gallantry displayed in this fight, General Dick Taylor presented the battery with two of the splendid brass Napoleons, which his brigade captured next day at Port Republic. “I want you to have them,” he said, “for from what I saw of you yesterday, I know they will be in good hands.”
After the battle of Port Republic, which closed Jackson’s great Valley campaign, the army moved up the mountain, where, upon its summit, it remained two or three days, when it returned and went into camp near Weir’s Cave, about five miles from Port Republic. Here the Baltimore Light Artillery was supplied with new harness and fresh horses, and was in a splendid condition for the dreadful fighting about to commence around Richmond, but of which we had not then the slightest conception.
On the 19th of June, 1862, Jackson put his troops in motion for Richmond, and on the afternoon of the 26th the First Maryland Infantry, which had the advance, encountered the enemy in force about ten miles from Gaines’ Mills, and a sharp fight ensued, which lasted some time, when Brockenborough was ordered to open fire, which he did with effect, and the enemy retired.