On March 22, Gen. Banks heads east to Washington leaving Gen. Shields behind with his division. Banks had been ordered to Washington, but only left when he felt they were only facing a small force. At 4:00pm that afternoon, Col. Ashby’s artillery fired on Shields’ outposts and attacked with his cavalry. Shields hearing the guns sent reinforcements back to the front returning the artillery fire. Along with the musket fire, Ashby’s cavalry were forced to retreat. During the engagement, Shields was injured by shrapnel, breaking his arm above the elbow, bruised his shoulders and injured his side.

          After hearing Ashby’s assessment of the Union’s forces, Gen. Jackson decided to attack as Ashby felt it was a small Union force. This was against Jackson’s nature to battle on Sundays as Sundays are sacred. But he wanted to take out the small force before reinforcements could arrive.

          The next day, following Shields’ orders, Col. Kimball moved his troops against what was thought to be just an observation force of Ashby’s cavalry. Later in the morning Kimball informs Shields a battery on the Confederate right flank had opened against their position with some indications of a large force of infantry in the woods. With this information, Col. Sullivan’s brigade was pushed forward to oppose the enemy’s right flank.

          In the meantime, Jackson got his troops in position forcing Kimball to stop and rest his troops. Kimball observed Jackson’s position and upon receiving orders from Shields, proceeded forward. However, Kimball felt Shields did not have a view of the current situation on the field and sent a note to Shields. Shields response was to move reinforcements up, to include a battery and cavalry unit.

          With Jackson moving troops to Kimball’s right flank, Kimball ordered Col. Tyler to the right flank. He also ordered what cavalry he had available to the right flank. This was done in time as Tyler’s forces were emerging from the tree line, and met by Jackson’s advancing skirmishers. Tyler’s advance checked the Confederate advance.

          As Jackson’s troops held a stone wall in the battle, Tyler advanced to take the wall, but was repulsed several times. Kimball needed to strengthen his right flank and moved units from the left flank to strengthen the center. He ordered his center to move at a right-half wheel against Jackson. This forced Jackson to retreat and the stone wall soon belonged to the Union forces.

          Col. Harmon was ordered by Jackson to the left flank where he was to engage the enemy. However, he encountered Gen. Garnett along the way and was ordered to occupy and hold the woods

          Tyler attacked with an energetic charge which caused Garnett’s center to waver slightly. Garnett ordered his troops to retreat without Jackson’s knowledge. As it was getting dark, Garnett’s troops fled past Jackson. Jackson met the 5th Virginia and ordered them to hold position at the edge of the woods. From there they repulsed two Union charges. Kimball, by extending his lines, was finally able to defeat Jackson’s army.

          Jackson firmly believed it was Garnett’s retreat that caused the army’s defeat. To teach a lesson, Jackson placed Garnett under arrest to await court martial. He was released after the Seven Days Battle with no action taken.

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