-- from: "The War Story of a Confederate Soldier Boy", Bristol Times Herald Courier, serialized article, by George C. Piles, January 23, 1921 to February 27, 1921.

"Milroy was now pressing Johnston back towards Staunton, and had reached McDowell, thirty miles northwest of that city. Jackson had now left Ewell to watch Banks and moved with his own division of about 6,000 through the Swift Run Gap to the east side of the Blue Ridge. His army thought this to be an abandonment of the valley, and the impression became general that Joseph E. Johnston needed reinforcements to save Richmond and that this was our destination; but when we reached the railroad, instead of going east to Richmond we went by rail west to Staunton, thence by forced march to McDowell. On the afternoon of May 8th the attack on Mildroy, whose army was estimated at 8,000, was opened by Johnson's brigade. The federals occupied a position on the west and at the base of Shenandoah Mountain (Bullpasture Mountain-editors note). A deep and difficult ravine intervened between this position and a low ridge occupied by the Confederates. The use of artillery was almost impossible, owing to the hills and rugged ground; hence the battle was fought entirely with small arms and was different from subsequent battles in this, that there was no bayonet charge, but simply each side from its position kept up an incessant fire and roar of musketry at comparitively close range until the end.

The whole scene is yet vivid in my mind as I saw it. Our brigade was well down the mountain when the battle began and the roar of musketry and shouts of the contending forces came up the mountain side to us as we hurried on. There was a kind of horrible grandeur about it all that allured and inspired some, and struck others with trepidation. There were but few, if any, who would not prefer to escape the perils of battle, but a sense of duty made the man of moral courage a good soldier however mindful he might be of pending danger or of death itself. It is soldiers like this, and not of the physical courage type that win battles. We moved on; louder and still fiercer the battle grows. Reinforcements are entering on the Federal side with battle shouts and huzzas, which are answered in grim defiance by the Confederates. Our brigade has now reached the base of the ridge, where we find Jackson who quickly points our position. Here too, we found the field hospital, the ground strewed with the wounded and the dead, the dying, and still others came down the ridge from the front, wounded and red with blood, assisted or carried on litters. Surgeons and assistant surgeons are doing what they can to save suffering and life, but the scene is too sickening to pause and consider.

On we go up the ridge, take our position in line and open fire on the enemy. The battle now rages fiercer than before, men fall on every side, some never to rise again...nightfall came and the battle went on in unabated fury. At this time a Confederate force that had been making its way on the mountainside through the hils and rugged grounds on our right, descended upon the enemy's left and routed it completely from the field. Then came jubilation over the victory and each over gis own escape from injury."

--from: The War: Stonewall Jackson, his Campaigns, and Battles, the Regiment as I Saw Them by James H. Wood, Co.D, 37th VA Inftry. Regiment, 1910.