the canister crashed through the laurels, the supporting infantry rushed forward, and the Southerners were driven back.  Again, as reinforcements crowded over the ravine, they returned to the charge, and with bayonet and rammer the fight surged to and fro within the battery.  For the second time the Federals cleared their front; but some of the Louisiana companies, clambering up the mountain to the right, appeared upon their flank, and once more the stormers, rallying in the hollow, rushed forward with the bayonet.  The battery was carried, one gun alone escaping, and the Federal commander saw the key of his position abandoned to the enemy.  Not a moment was to be lost.  The bank was nearly a mile in rear of his right and centre, and commanded his line of retreat at effective range.  Sending his reserves to retake the battery, he directed his attacking line, already pressing heavily on Winder, to fall back at once.  But it was even then too late.  The rest of Ewell’s division had reached the field.  One of his brigades had been ordered to sustain the Lousianians; and across the plain a long column of infantry and artillery was hurrying northwards from Port Republic.

The Stonewall Brigade, relieved of the pressure in front, had already rallied; and when Tyler’s reserves, with their backs to the river, advanced to retake the battery, Jackson’s artillery was once more moving forward.  The guns captured by Taylor were turned against the Federals—­Ewell, it is said, indulging to the full his passion for hot work, serving as a gunner—­and within a short space of time Tyler was in full retreat, and the Confederate cavalry were thundering on his traces.

It was half-past ten.  For nearly five hours the Federals had held their ground, and two of Jackson’s best brigades had been severely handled.  Even if Trimble and Patton had been successful in holding Fremont back, the Valley soldiers were in no condition for a rapid march and a vigorous attack, and their commander had long since recognised that he must rest content with a single victory.

(Map of the Battle of Cross Keys and Port Republic, June 8th and 9th, 1862.)

Before nine o’clock, about the time of Winder’s repulse, finding the resistance of the enemy more formidable than be had anticipated, he had recalled his brigades from the opposite bank of the Shenandoah, and had ordered them to burn the bridge.  Trimble and Patton abandoned the battle-field of the previous day, and fell back to Port Republic.  Hardly a shot was fired during their retreat, and when they took up their march only a single Federal battery had been seen.  Fremont’s advance was cautious in the extreme.  He was actually aware that Shields had two brigades beyond the river, for a scout had reached him, and from the ground about Mill Creek the sound of Tyler’s battle could be plainly heard.  But he could get no direct information of what was passing.  The crest of the Massanuttons,