June 2, 1862

June 2, 1862:  Shenandoah Campaign - On the night of June 1, Jackson starts his troops on the road, heading south at a quick pace, heading up the Shenandoah Valley in order to escape the Federal dragnet trying to scoop him up.  Fremont’s men finally kick into motion, nipping at the Rebels’ heels.  Gen. Steuart’s two cavalry regiments do poorly at holding back the Yankee attacks at the Rebel rearguard, so Jackson relieves Steuart of command and transfers the troops to Gen. Ashby’s command.  Ashby fights a skillful delaying battle as the troops of both armies slog on through the ankle-deep mud of the Valley Pike.  On a parallel road, Gen. Shields and his Union division push south along the Luray Valley, hoping to cut off Jackson at New Market, but finds that the bridges across the Shenandoah River have been destroyed by Rebel cavalry. 

Gen. Turner Ashby, CSA

---Judith White McGuire of Richmond writes in her journal of the mass of wounded flooding in to Richmond after the Battle of Seven Pines:

2d.—The battle continued yesterday near the field of the day before. We gained the day! For this victory we are most thankful. The enemy were repulsed with fearful loss; but our loss was great. The wounded were brought until a late hour last night, and to-day the hospitals have been crowded with ladies, offering their services to nurse, and the streets are filled with servants darting about, with waiters covered with snowy napkins, carrying refreshments of all kinds to the wounded. Many of the sick, wounded, and weary are in private houses. The roar of the cannon has ceased. Can we hope that the enemy will now retire? General Pettigrew is missing—it is thought captured. So many others “missing,” never, never to be found! Oh, Lord, how long! How long are we to be a prey to the most heartless of foes? Thousands are slain, and yet we seem no nearer the end than when we began!!

---Oliver Willcox Norton, a Union private in the 83^rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, writes in a letter home an interesting vignette of soldier life as he and his comrades, after a battle, forage items left by Rebels on the fields in the aftermath of battle:

Secesh knapsacks were scattered everywhere, and our boys, if they could have carried away the things, would have got a good many comforts, but we could not. We got a good many love letters, etc., bowie knives and pistols, and I got a great bowie but I threw it away, I couldn’t carry it. I send you a letter that I got in a knapsack, and a secesh stamp. The letter is an excellent specimen of secesh literature and love. I almost wish I had as fond a sweetheart.

Union troops clean up the battlefield in the aftermath of Seven Pines