. His courage was so brilliant as to elicit applause
from friend and foe, but he was without capacity or disposition to
enforce discipline on his men. I witnessed his deep chagrin at the
conduct of our troopers after the enemy had been driven from Winchester
in May. With proper organization and discipline, his bold riders under
his lead might have accomplished all that the lamented Nolan claimed as
possible for light cavalry. Popular imagination, especially the female,
is much in error as to these matters. Graceful young cavaliers, with
flowing locks, leaping cannon to saber countless foes, make a
captivating picture. In the language of Bosquet, "'Tis beautiful, but
'tis not war"; and grave mishaps have been occasioned by this
misconception. Valor is as necessary now as ever in war, but
disciplined, subordinated valor, admitting the courage and energies of
all to be welded and directed to a common end. It is much to be desired
that the ladies would consent to correct their opinions; for, after all,
their approval stimulates our best fighting.

On the 7th of June we marched to a place within four miles of Port
Republic, called Cross Keys, where several roads met. Near at hand was
the meeting-house of a sect of German Quakers, Tunkers or Dunkards, as
they are indifferently named. Here Jackson determined to await and fight
Fremont, who followed him hard; but as a part of Shields's force was now
unpleasantly near, he pushed on to Port Republic with Winder's and other
infantry, and a battery, which camped on the hither bank of the river.
Jackson himself, with his staff and a mounted escort, crossed the bridge
and passed the night in the village.

Ewell, in immediate charge at Cross Keys, was ready early in the morning
of the 8th, when Fremont attacked. The ground was undulating, with much
wood, and no extended view could be had. In my front the attack, if such
it could be called, was feeble in the extreme--an affair of skirmishers,
in which the enemy yielded to the slightest pressure. A staff officer of
Jackson's, in hot haste, came with orders from his chief to march my
brigade double-quick to Port Republic. Elzey's brigade, in second line
to the rear, was asked to take my place and relieve my skirmishers;
then, advising the staff officer to notify Ewell, whom he had not seen,
we started on the run, for such a message from Jackson meant business.
Two of the intervening miles were quickly passed, when another officer
appear