Meanwhile, west of the great mountain, the tide of war, which had swept with such violence to the Potomac, came surging back.  Fremont, by the rapidity of his pursuit, made full amends for his lack of vigour at Cedar Creek.  A cloud of horsemen filled the space between the hostile columns.  Day after day the quiet farms and sleepy villages on the Valley turnpike heard the thunder of Ashby’s guns.  Every stream that crossed the road was the scene of a fierce skirmish; and the ripening corn was trampled under the hoofs of the charging squadrons.  On June 2, the first day of the pursuit, between Strasburg and Woodstock the Federals, boldly led by Bayard, gained a distinct advantage.  A dashing attack drove in the Confederate rear-guard, swept away the horse artillery, and sent Ashby’s and Steuart’s regiments, exhausted by hunger and loss of sleep, flying up the Valley.  Many prisoners were taken, and the pursuit was only checked by a party of infantry stragglers, whom Ashby had succeeded in rallying across the road.

Next day, June 3, the skirmishing was continued; and the Confederates, burning the bridges across the roads, retreated to Mount Jackson.

June 4.

On the 4th the bridge over the North Fork was given to the flames, Ashby, whose horse was shot under him, remaining to the last; and the deep and turbulent river placed an impassable obstacle between the armies.  Under a deluge of rain the Federals attempted to launch their pontoons; but the boats were swept away by the rising flood, and it was not till the next morning that the bridge was made.

June 5.

The Confederates had thus gained twenty-four hours’ respite, and contact was not resumed until the 6th.  Jackson, meanwhile, constructing a ferry at Mount Crawford, had sent his sick and wounded to Staunton, thus saving them the long detour by Port Republic; and dispatching his stores and prisoners by the more circuitous route, had passed through Harrisonburg to Cross Keys, a clump of buildings on Mill Creek, where, on the night of the 5th, his infantry and artillery, with the exception of a brigade supporting the cavalry, went into bivouac.

June 6.

On the afternoon of the 6th the Federal cavalry followed Ashby.  Some three miles from Harrisonburg is a tract of forest, crowning a long ridge; and within the timber the Confederate squadrons occupied a strong position.  The enemy, 800 strong, pursued without precaution, charged up a gentle hill, and were repulsed by a heavy fire.  Then Ashby let loose his mounted men on the broken ranks, and the Federals were driven back to within half a mile of Harrisonburg, losing 4 officers and 30 men.

Smarting under this defeat, Fremont threw forward a still stronger force of cavalry, strengthened by two battalions of infantry.  Ashby had already called up a portion of the brigade which supported him, and met the attack in a clearing of the forest.  The fight was fierce.  The Confederates were roughly handled by the Northern riflemen, and the ranks began to waver.  Riding to the front, where the opposing lines were already at close range, Ashby called upon his infantry to charge.