Stonewall Battles of Cross Keys & Port Republic

My great great grandfather was wounded there. Took either a bullet or shrapnel to the head. 31st Va Co. G. The historical society back home said he actually had a silver dollar placed in his head to cover the piece of skull where he was hit and sewn under his scalp. He continued to fight till the end of the war.
 
The Battle of Cross Keys, Virginia occurred on this day in 1862. This battle was part of Confederate Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Together, the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic the following day were the decisive victories in Jackson's Valley Campaign. This forced the Federal army to retreat and leaving Jackson free to reinforce General Robert E. Lee for the Seven Days Battles outside Richmond, Virginia.

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The fence line to the right is where Trimble was waiting for Stahle's troops pop up over the ridge on the left of the pic. The distance is about 50 yards.

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Visited Cross Keys last week. The second photograph shows where the 15th Alabama ascended the bluff.
 

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Visited Cross Keys last week. The second photograph shows where the 15th Alabama ascended the bluff.

In the bluff shown in the right picture, there is a creek at the bottom which caused a huge problem for the Union boys. And still had to get up that bluff. The top of that bluff is a flat area where the cannons were lined up.
While heading from your car to the bluff there is a open field to the right of you. The center of that area is where the 52nd Virginia was located in reserve.
 
The Battle of Port Republic, Virginia was fought on this day in 1862. This battle was the final conflict of Confederate Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Port Republic was a fierce contest between two equally determined foes and was the most costly battle fought by Jackson's Army of the Valley during its campaign. Together, the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic were the decisive victories in Jackson's Valley Campaign, forcing the Federal armies to retreat and leaving Jackson free to reinforce General Robert E. Lee for the Seven Days Battles outside Richmond, Virginia.

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The Coaling hill was the worst fighting of that battle. General Taylor and the Louisiana Suaves made a flanking move to attack Shields cannon!
In hand to hand combat they killed men and horses and captured the 4 cannon.
 
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