History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1862 POPE'S CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA. 959
ley tents. The morning report of the 1st of March showed its effective strength
to be one hundred and nineteen officers and men, with one hundred and five
horses. On the same day, the battery moved to Williamsport, where it crossed
the river with Banks' advance, and moved on up the Shenandoah Valley. Near
Bunker Hill a sharp skirmish ensued, in which the entire battery was brought
into position, and the rebels were scattered with considerable loss. As the column approached Winchester, the enemy, eight thousand strong, retreated, and
a detachment, consisting of cavalry, infantry and two sections of the battery,
was sent out on a reconnoissance towards Strasburg. At Newtown the enemy
under Ashby was encountered and soon routed, the artillery proving particularly effective. On the 21st of March, it was ordered to join Abercrombie's
Brigade, and move towards Centreville, and finally encamped at Warrenton
Junction. On the 7th of April, Lieutenant Ricketts was ordered on a reconnoissance to Rappahannock Station, in connection with a, portion of M'Dowell's
Corps. Ten days later another reconnoissance was made by a force of cavalry
and infantry and Godbald's and Brockway's sections of artillery, all under command of Colonel Bryan, of the Twelfth Massachusetts. A spirited engagement with the artillery ensued, the enemy sustaining considerable loss, several
of his pieces being silenced and disabled. His force consisted of five to seven
thousand infantry, a regiment of cavalry, three full batteries and two siege
guns, the whole force well posted and entrenched. Finding that he could not
bring his infantry into action without great exposure, Colonel Bryan withdrew,
having attained the object of the expedition.
On the 1st of May, General Abercrombie was relieved by General Hartsuff,
and the brigade moved to Falmouth, where M'Dowell's Corps was concentrated
in expectation of moving to the Peninsula. The sudden appearance of Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley caused a change of plan, and the battery was ordered to make a forced march across the country to Front Royal,
with the design of cutting off'the retreat of Jackson. The roads were very
heavy, and the weather bad; but in six days the guns were taken through, and
on the evening of the 31st, after a day's march of twenty-five miles, arrived at
Front Royal. The whole corps was here concentrated, but failing to connect
with Fremont in time, Jackson escaped without material harm, and it moved
back to Warrenton. ~
On the 8th of August, Jackson, who had returned from the discomfiture of
M'Clellan in the seven days' fight on the Peninsula, again made his appearance
on the Rapidan. On the 9th, he advanced to Cedar Mountain, where, with
greatly superior numbers and with great advantage of position, he engaged
and defeated Banks. On the following day M'Dowell's Corps was pushed forward and was early engaged, the battery being posted on a commanding knoll.
Jackson's guns were silenced, and during the following night he withdrew.
Waiting until he was assured that iMClellan would evacuate the Peninsula, the
enemy again appeared in force, and began to assume the offensive. Pope withdrew his forces across the Rappahannock, and at the crossing Hartsuffs Brigade, with Battery F, was posted upon a wooded knoll upon the south bank,
where it completely covered the crossing, and the entire plain beyond. Here
a severe engagement between the artillery ensued; but the enemy was successfully held at bay until our forces were secure from attack, and the covering
party was ordered to retire. The battery had two guns disabled, and several
horses were killed, but the guns were brought off. Lieutenant Godbald, in com