May 23, 1862

May 23, 1862: Eastern Theater, Shenandoah Valley Campaign - BATTLE OF FRONT ROYAL, Virginia: Early this morning, Jackson and Ewell put their men on the road in a swift march north to a crossroads town called Front Royal, where the two forks of the Shenandoah River join, and where the Luray Valley opens out into the Shenandoah Valley proper. Union troops there consist of the 1^st Maryland Infantry, supported by detachments from other units, including a battery of artillery—about 975 men, all under command of Col. Kenly of Maryland. Jackson, learning this, sends for the CSA 1^st Maryland Regiment, under Col. Bradley Johnson, to march to the front and engage their rivals from the same state.  At first, the Rebel Marylanders have trouble advancing, since Jackson has provided no supports, and no artillery. 

Jackson maneuvers to trap Union troops at Front Royal

Soon, Jackson sends in Brig. Gen. Richard Taylor’s Louisiana Brigade to support the Marylanders’ attack. Kenly finds himself backed up against the river. Meanwhile, Turner Ashby’s cavalry steals a march around to the west side of the town, cuts communication with Strasburg (where Gen. Banks and the main Federal force are) and bottles up the Yankees in their position. Kenly withdraws across the bridges to the north, and sets them on fire, but the Rebels are able to put the fires out, and cross over as well. Kenly retreats his troops a few miles north to Cedarville. Jackson orders Maj. Flournoy and the 6^th Virginia Cavalry Regiment (only 250 strong) to harass and pursue, and he rides with them. As the Rebel infantry moves up the road to the still-forming Federal line, Flournoy comes riding in at a full charge, shattering the Yankee formation and inciting panic. Col. Kenly is wounded, and all 700 remaining Federal soldiers throw down their weapons and surrender. Confederate Victory.

Battle of Front Royal

Losses:   Killed & Wounded     Captured
U.S.           83                                      691
C.S.            36
   
During the battle, Captain William Goldsborough of the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA, captures his brother Charles Goldsborough of the 1st Maryland Infantry, USA, and takes him prisoner.

Banks, in nearby Strasburg, hesitates and then takes his 6,000 remaining troops on a forced march north toward Winchester, since he sees that Jackson has a larger force, and now flanks him. The Federals cancel their plans to reinforce McClellan, and begin shifting troops eastward toward the Valley again.


The Federal retreat to Winchester and Jackson's pursuit

—Battle of Lewisburg, Virginia: Gen. Jacob Cox, having advanced one of his brigades under Col. George Crook toward Princeton in the mountains of western Virginia, awaits further orders from Gen. Fremont. A Confederate brigade under Col. Henry Heth, 2,200 strong, attacks Crook, who is greatly outnumbered. Yet Crook fights off the Rebel attack, inflicting over 200 killed, wounded, and captured on the Rebels, while only losing 13 men. Union Victory.

—John Beauchamp Jones, a clerk in the Confederate War Department in Richmond, bemoans the rising costs of living, and its attendant evils, in his journal:

MAY 23D.—Oh, the extortioners! Meats of all kinds are selling at 50 cts. per pound ; butter, 75 cts.; coffee, $1.50; tea, $10; boots, $30 per pair; shoes, $18; ladies’ shoes, $15; shirts, $6 each. Houses that rented for $500 last year, are $1000 now. Boarding, from $30 to $40 per month. Gen. Winder has issued an order fixing the maximum prices of certain articles of marketing, which has only the effect of keeping a great many things out of market. The farmers have to pay the merchants and Jews their extortionate prices, and complain very justly of the partiality of the general. It does more harm than good.