On the 15th the army left the mountains and encamped at Lebanon Springs, on the road to Harrisonburg.  The 16th was spent in camp, the Confederate President having appointed a day of prayer and fasting.  On the 17th a halt was made at Mount Solon, and here Jackson was met by Ewell, who had ridden over from Elk Run Valley.  Banks had fallen back to Strasburg, and he was now completely cut off from Fremont.  On the night of the engagement at M’Dowell Captain Hotchkiss had been ordered back to the Valley, and, accompanied by a squadron of Ashby’s cavalry, had blocked the passes by which Fremont could cross the mountains and support his colleague.  “Bridges and culverts were destroyed, rocks rolled down, and in one instance trees were felled along the road for nearly a mile."* (* Fremont’s Report, O.R. volume 12 part 1 page 11.) Jackson’s object was thus thoroughly achieved.  All combination between the Federal columns, except by long and devious routes, had now been rendered impracticable; and there was little fear that in any operations down the Valley his own communications would be endangered.  The M’Dowell expedition had neutralised, for the time being, Fremont’s 20,000 men; and Banks was now isolated, exposed to the combined attack of Jackson, Ewell, and Edward Johnson.

One incident remains to be mentioned.  During the march to Mount Solon some companies of the 27th Virginia, who had volunteered for twelve months, and whose time had expired, demanded their discharge.  On this being refused, as the Conscription Act was now in force, they threw down their arms, and refused to serve another day.  Colonel Grigsby referred to the General for instructions.  Jackson’s face, when the circumstances were explained, set hard as flint.  “Why,” he said, “does Colonel Grigsby refer to me to learn how to deal with mutineers?  He should shoot them where they stand.”  The rest of the regiment was ordered to parade with loaded muskets; the insubordinate companies were offered the choice of instant death or instant submission.  The men knew their commander, and at once surrendered.  “This,” says Dabney, “was the last attempt at organised disobedience in the Valley army.”

CHAPTER 1.10.  WINCHESTER.

1862.  May.

That week in May when the Army of the Valley marched back to the Shenandoah was almost the darkest in the Confederate annals.  The Northern armies, improving daily in discipline and in efficiency, had attained an ascendency which it seemed impossible to withstand.  In every quarter of the theatre of war success inclined to the Stars and Stripes.  At the end of April New Orleans, the commercial metropolis of the South, had fallen to the Federal navy.  Earlier in the month a great battle had been fought at Shiloh, in Tennessee; one of the most trusted of the Confederate commanders had been killed;* (* General A.S.  Johnston.) his troops, after a gallant struggle, had