The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-11
THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.
HOW TINE REBEL ARMY WAS
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
A GRAPHIC LETTER FROM GEN. sHIELDs
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE BATTLE.
General Shields has written the following
letter to friend in Washington, giving an
informal account of the battle:

covered jackson reinforced, 10 strong DO,
sition, near New Market, within support
ing distance OF the main body of the rebels
under Johnston. 1t was necessary to decoy
him from that position. Therefore l fell
back rapidly to Winchester on the Goth, as
if in retreat, marching my whole command
nearly thirty miles in one day. My force
was placed at night in secluded position,
two miles from Winchester, on the Martins.
burg road. On the 2lst the rebel cavalry
under Ashby, showed themselves to our
pickets, within sight of Winchester. On
the 22d all of General Banks command,
with the exception Of my division, evac-
uated Winchester, en- route for Centreville.
This movement and the masked position OF
my division made an impression upon the
Inhabitants, some of whom were in secret
communication with the enemy, that our
army bad left, and that nothing remained
but few regiments to garrison the place.
jackson was signalized to this effect. | saw
their signals and OWNED their meaning.
About five o'clock on the afternoon of
the 22d, Ashby, believing that the town
was almost evacuated, at acked our pickets
and drove them in. This success increased
his delusion. 1t became necessary, howev-
er, to repulse them for the time being.
therefore ordered forward a brigade, and
placed it in front, between Winchester and
the enemy. l only let them see, however,
two regiments of infantry, two batteries OF
artillery, and small force of cavalry, which
he mistook as the whole force left TO garri-
son and protect the place. In little skir-
mish that evening" while placing the artille-
ry in position, l was struck by the frag
ment of shell, which broke my arm above
the elbow, injured my shoulder, and DANA
gad me otherwise to such an extent that
have lain PROSTATE ever since.
l commenced making preparations for
any emergency that might occur that night
or the next morning. Under cover of the
night | ordered an entire brigade kim,
baIl's) to take up strong position 10 ad-
vance. pushed forward four batteries,
having them placed in strong position to
support the infantry. 1 placed Sullivan's
Brigade on both TANKS to prevent surprise
and to keep my flank from being turned,
and held Tyler's Brigade in reserve to
operate against any point that might be as
sailed in front. 10 this position l awaited
and expected the enemy's attack next morn
ing. My advance brigade was two miles
from the town, its pickets extending per-
haps mile further along the turnpike lead
ing to Strasburg.
About eight O'clock in the morning,
sent forward two officers to reconnoitre the
front and report indications of the enemy
They returned in an hour reporting no eDe-
my in sight except Ashby's force of cavalry,
infantry and artillery, which by this time
had become familiar and contemplate to
US. General Banks, who was here in per.
SOD, upon hearing the report, concluded
that Jackson could not be in front possibly
or be decoyed so far away from the main
body of the rebel army. In this opinion l,
too, began to concur, concluding that jack
son was too sagaciOus to be caught ia such
trap. General Banks therefore lett for
Washington. His staff officers were direct
ed to follow the same day by way of Cen.
treviIe.
Knowing the crafty enemy, however, l
had to deal with, 1 omitted no precantion.
My whole force was concentrated to support
Kimball's Brigade, which was in advance
About halipast ten o'clock it became evil
dent we had a considerable force before US;
but the enemy still concealed bimselt SO
adroitly in the WOODS that it was impos
sible to estimate it. I ordered portion of
the artillery forward to open fire and un-
mask them. By degrees they began to
show themselves. They planted battery af
ter battery in strong position on the centre
and or both TANKS. Our artillery respond
ed, ard this continued until ABOUT halipast
three o'clock in the afternoon, when l di
rected column OF infantry to carry batN
terry on their lett flank and to assail that
flank, which was done promptly and splen>
didy by Tyer's Brigade, aided by some
regiments from the other brigades. The
fire of our infantry was so close and destruc,
tive that it made havoc in their ranks. The
result was the capture of their guns on the
lett and the forcing back of their wing on
the centre, thus placing them 10 a position
to be routed by general attack, which was
made about five o'clock by all the infantry,
and succeeded in driving them 10 flight from
the field
Night fell upon US at this stage, leaving
US 10 possession OF the teid OF battle, two
guns and four caissons three hundred pris
oners and about one thousand stand OF arms
Our killed in this engagement cam
not exceed one hundred men; wound
ed two hundred and thrty~three The
enemy's killed and wounded exceed one
Thousand. Tue inhabitants of the adjacent
villages carried them to their houses as
they were removed from the field of battle.
Houses between the field Of battle and
Strashurg, and even far beyond, have since
been found filed with the dead and dying
of the enemy Graves have been discovered
far removed freq, the road, where the in-
habitants OF the country buried them as
they died. Gen. Banks in his pursuit of
the enemy beyond Strasburg afterwards
found houses Gu the road twenty-five miles
FROM the battle field filled 10 this manner,
and presenting the most CHASTITY spec acle.
The havoc made n the ranks of the rebels
has struck this whole region OF country with
L.