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American Civil WarSoldiers
20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
PORT REPUBLIC, VA
Sept. 26-28, 1864
Cavalry of the Army of the Shenandoah
On the 26th, while the main body of the Union army was near
Harrisonburg, Sheridan sent Gen. Torbert, with Wilson's
division and Lowell's brigade of Merritt's, to destroy the
Virginia Central railroad bridge at Waynesboro, and, as a
diversion to cover this movement, directed Merritt to move with
the rest of his division to Port Republic.
When within 2 miles of Port Republic Devin's brigade, which was
in advance, encountered some of McCausland's cavalry, drove
them across the river to Weyer's cave, not far from Brown's
gap, when a division of Confederate infantry attacked Devin on
his right and rear forcing him to fall back toward the river
and take a position where he had an open field in his front.
Here he was joined by the other brigade, Taylor's battery was
thrown into position and opened a vigorous fire on the
Confederates, forcing them to fall back to the woods. Merritt
then sent word to Gen. Powell at Piedmont to bring up his
division, with a view to capturing Early's train. The 6th and
7th Mich., commanded by Col. Deane and Maj. Darling, had made
one attempt to capture the train, but had been compelled to
give up the undertaking by the superior strength of the guard.
When Powell came up he quickly drove back a body of the enemy's
cavalry, but in doing so developed a large force of infantry
and artillery and was forced to retire across the South river,
where he went into camp for the night. The next morning he
again advanced, leaving the 2nd W. Va. and two squadrons to
guard the camp and train. About the same time Fitzhugh Lee
crossed the river 2 miles above and suddenly attacked Powell's
camp, driving back the small force in charge.
Powell changed front, recalled that portion of his division
that had already crossed the river, and attacked Lee with such
vigor that he was forced to retreat somewhat precipitately.
Powell started to pursuer but a heavy column of infantry
cavalry and artillery was discovered moving out from Brown's
gap, evidently in cutting off the division, but Powell
prevented the success of the maneuver by slowly falling back to
Cross Keys, where he joined Merritt's command and formed in
line of battle.
Instead of attacking the Federal cavalry at Cross Keys the
Confederates moved off to Port Republic, which place they
evacuated on the morning of the 28th, the rear-guard being
attacked by Kidd's and Schoonmaker's brigades and driven in the
direction of Waynesboro.
No report of casualties during these engagements.
[Source: The Union Army, vol. 5]
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