Description: |
On January 1, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson marched north in bitter cold from Winchester
to Bath with the objective of disrupting traffic on the B&O Railroad and C&O Canal. On January 5, after
skirmishing with the retiring Federals, Jackson’s force reached the Potomac River opposite the garrisoned town of
Hancock, Maryland. His artillery fired on the town from Orrick’s Hill but did little damage. Union garrison
commander Brig. Gen. F.W. Lander refused Jackson’s demands for surrender. Jackson continued the
bombardment for two days while unsuccessfully searching for a safe river crossing. The Confederates withdrew and
marched on Romney, in western Virginia, on January 7. |