May 31 —This morning Jackson’s forces were moving up the Valley, as the Yankees under the command of General Shields are advancing from east Virginia; through Chester’s Gap near Front Royal. We marched toward Front Royal, and when we arrived within a few miles of town we saw a new set of Yanks posted on Guard Hill, which is an excellent and commanding position just about a mile from the town. They had one regiment of infantry, some cavalry, and two pieces of artillery.
We opened fire on them with two rifled guns. They did not return our fire, but left their position and disappeared in an adjacent ravine.
We left them and moved across the country and struck the Valley pike at Newtown. When we arrived there the pike, as far as I could see, was crowded with Jackson’s wagon train moving up the Valley. We joined the great caravan and moved with it to within one mile of Cedar Creek, where we camped for the night.
