General Fremont, the Union Commander, marched in early the next morning. General Fremont placed a chain picket from the North Mountain to the Blue Ridge Mountain. General Jackson went directly to Port Republic and selected his position. General Fremont attacked him from the north. It was one of the hottest battles of the war. Fremont's lines extended to the Shenandoah River. General Jackson fought Fremont first. It was a bloody battle. Jackson won the victory. General Siegle came to Fremont's rescue, but they were on the east side of the Shenandoah River and had not gotten to the bridge yet. General Jackson managed to get across the bridge with his troops first, and he crossed over and defeated Siegle, the same as Fremont, both on the same day. I was not in either of these engagements and was informed by an eye witness of the battles. My home was outside the Confederate lines. While our troops were near Harpers Ferry, I got permission to get my horse and equipment and go in Cavalry, as my 60 days had expired in the same branch of service I had served. I got my equipment and horse. When the troops started back to Winchester, Eldridge Barnes and myself were together. We stopped to stay all night at Jordan's Sulphur Springs, a summer resort before the war. General Jackson's army would camp at Winchester.
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