Skirmish at Port Republic 8 June 1862

At dawn on 8 June, a regiment of Union cavalry led by Colonel Samuel Carroll burst into Port Republic across the Lower Ford. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson and his staff had been relaxing in the meadows of Dr Kemper’s estate at the southern end of the town. They were chased down the main street of Port Republic: three were taken prisoner, Jackson narrowly escaped, riding headlong over the town’s North Bridge. The Union cavalry continued through Port Republic to Dr Kemper’s property, where Confederate pickets had re-formed behind the fence under Colonel Sam Moore, defending the supply train. Meanwhile Jackson hastily assembled a battery under Captain Poague on the north side of the river. Moore unleashed a fusillade against the invading cavalry from the south, holding his ground. Their advantage of surprise now lost, Carroll’s cavalry retreated whence they came.