Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-04-10
Rebel Account Of the Battle at
Wiuchcstcr.
BALrINnnE. Marrh q

DAls NVttt hdlil % Cbl.
The following is the rebel account Of
the engagement near Winchester, on
Sunday last, as related by the most intel
ligent Of the prisoners now in this city /:
From the time that he left Winchester
and Strausburg, and moved with the main
body Of his forces, General jackson was
kept accuratel J informed Of all the move
nents of Gems. Banks and Shields. The
greater majority Of the inhabitants Of
Frederick County, and all the people in
Warren and Shenandoah Counties, are
Seccssionisis, and they kept him well
posted as to all that transpired. lie did
not, Of course, depend upon these sources
alone for Information, but kept scouts and
couriers in constant motion between him
self and Winchester His rear guard
was at no time below Strausburg, and the
picketS Of this guard were thrown for.
ward to a point quite near Winchester.
1t would seem hat Gen. Johnston ex-
pected nothing more from him than that
he should cover the retreat Of that part
Of the army Of the Potomac which, sent
from Centreville to Strausburg AMI then
to Harrisburg, was destined to operate
finally near StauntOn but that, having
done that by the 18th inst, he was left
to the exercise Of large discretion as 70
his subsequent movements. Learning on
the Doth that Gen. Banks was moving
part Of his forces along the Winchester
and Battletown turnpike toward the lat
ter place, Gen. Johnston was led TO sup
pose that Cen Banks was endeavoring
to effect a junction of his whole force
with that Of General Mcclellan at Cen
treville, by way of Allie, there being n
good turnpike road the entire distance
But it seems that this was only General
Williams brigade, hich afterwards re-
traced their steps and returned to Win
chester after the action on Sunday. Gen.
Jackson, however, deeming it Of vital
importance to prevent junction at Cen
treville Of the forces Of Gen. Banks with
those of Gen. Mcclellan. determined to
attack Gen. Banks at Winchester, with
such a show Of force as would compel
him to remain there, at least. it seems
that he had no idea that he would be able
to compel Gen. Banks to abandon Win
chester and return to Harper's Ferry, but
he was determined that he should not adj
vance toward Centreyille. Accordingly,
he caused four regiments Of infantry 10
make forced march from Mount Jack.
son to Strausburg, and from the latter
place to the scene Of the engagement on
Saturday.
The rebel account Of the battle itsel
does not materially differ from that pub.
li,hei on the 9th, except in the follow.
ing particulars First as to the mum,
bers engaged, it is stated that jackson 5
whole force, after lie was reinforced by
Gen. Garnett on Sunday, did not exceed
5000 men, and Of them not more than
5000 were actually engaged. Second,
that the reason why the rebels were oblic-
ed to abandon the contest was that their
ammunition became entirely exhausted.
This appears to be true, from the fact
that no cartridges were found in the car
tridge-boxes Of those taken prisoners, or
Of those found dead on the field but
why'there was such q deficiency of am,
munition among them is not explained.
Third, they state that our loss in killed
is much greater than theirs, and that hey
took more prisoners than we did. Time
will settle this last point.