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Description:
Moving south in the Valley in
pursuit of Gen. Jackson's army, Federal Gen. Frémont's army
of 11,500 men encountered Gen. Ewell's division at Cross Keys on
June 8. Ewell’s orders were to strike Frémont to block
his movement toward Port Republic. Following a two-hour artillery
duel, Gen. Julius Stahel's Federal brigade advanced from the left,
but was initially stunned and thrown back by a surprise volley from
Gen. Isaac Trimble's Confederate brigade. The 8th New York infantry,
548 strong, sustained 258 casualties in less than ten minutes. Frémont
ordered probes of the Confederate line, but failed to take advantage
of his numerical superiority and withdrew to the Keezletown Road
under protection of his batteries. The next day, two Confederate
brigades held Frémont at bay, while the rest of Ewell's force
crossed the river to assist in the defeat of Federal Gen. Erastus
B. Tyler's command at Port Republic.
Significance:
Confederate successes on the field kept two Federal armies from
uniting. Cross Keys saw one of the most effective uses of Confederate
artillery during the war. Large numbers of Germans and other foreign-born
troops were among the Federal forces.
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