June 8 — The war fruit ripened last night, and this morning the cannons commenced booming in front and rear. We were ordered to the Shenandoah River near Port Republic, as the advance guard of Shields’s army — which is advancing up the Luray Valley — was there hammering at and threatening Jackson’s rear — that is, if he has anything at present that can be properly designated a rear, as Old Stonewall showed two bold fronts to-day with very little rear to them. When we arrived at the river Jackson had already ordered a Yankee battery to change its position, and also had dodged a shell or two that were aimed at him personally, and his troops had driven back Shields’s heavy advance guard on the east side of the river.
We remained in battery on the highlands west of the river, together with some four or five of Jackson’s batteries and infantry, to hold back Shields’s forces, which lay below on the other side of the river, checkmated.
We remained in position a few hours, then moved up the river two miles to Vernon Forge, to guard a ford. We remained there until four o’clock, then moved up the river a mile farther to guard another ford, and remained there until two hours after dark, when we moved to Middle River, and camped. From about nine o’clock this morning until three this afternoon we heard the incessant thundering of booming cannon in the direction of Cross Keys, where a fierce battle has been raging nearly all day between General Ewell’s and Fremont’s forces. It is reported to-night that Ewell defeated Fremont.
