The New York herald., 1862-03-27
THE BATTLE IN THE VIRGINIA VALLEY.
Additional Details Of General
Shields Victory.
Description Of the Battle by Our
Correspondent.
Instances of Gallantry During
the Combat.
THE STRENGTH OF THE OPPOSING FORCES.
Terrible Effect Of the Artillery on the
Retreating Rebels.
CONDITION OF GEN. SHIELDS.
.->->~~~-~~o~~~-1--~1-
HIS GOODNESS WHEN WOUNDED,
Sc., &C., Sc.
THE STRENGTH OF THE OPPOSING FORCES.
Terrible Effect Of the Artillery on the
Retreating Rebels.
CONDITION OF GEN. SHIELDS.
HIS GOODNESS WHEN WOUNDED,
&C., &C., Sc.
Our Special Army Correspondence.

Our Special Army Correspondence.
WINCHESTER, March %, 1902
The ball Of the campaign the Potomac at length
brilliantly opened at Winchester Sunday last, and
the rebels have suffered dreadful in the rst
encounter Of the season in this department.
The object Of the reconnaissance made by General
Shields to Strasburg may now be stated. II to
throw the enemy into the trap which has fatally
sprung upon the rebellion Discovering tho number and
position Of the rebels General Shields retired hastily,
posted his men about two miles north of Winchester, in
few tepts though the force Unable to attempt
pursuing Jacksons forces, and there, after the WITH
drawal Of General Williams division, awaited the
effect OF his movement upon the enemy. The result
showed that the scheme entirely succeeded As
the rebel General Jackson heard tet the division of
General Williams had moved towards Ccatreye, he
medately took up his march to Winchester. In the
moan time no had received renorcomSnts and Generals
Longstrect and Smith, Of the rebel army had their COM
mands united TO that Of the boasted Stone Wall Jackson
So prompt and unexpected the attack Of the enemy
that took generals entirely by SURPRISE every
thing was ready for the emergency
On Saturday afternoon, at about quarter past two
O'Clock advanced pickcts the Strasburg road dis
covered the rebel cavalry under tho madap shby
half mile beyond them, reconnoitering the
both sides Of the turnpike and steadily advancing Our
pckets consisted Of few Of the Fourteenth Indiana
afantry at that point and they fell back half milo to
the hamlet OF Kernstovn, four miles from Winchester.
The rebels, observing plckes fall back, were
confirmed in the belief that forces here did not
exceed i've thousand They then gave chase
Coming up with men, Ashby cried at the
top Of his voice, There they are boys give them
hell" Steadily did the troopers advance as our men
wheeled 70 aim and fire. That fire many Of them
fr1 nd fhrouv into.
confusion that boforo thoy could again be rallied for
charge gallant little band OF infantry was beyond tho
reach OF their power. without having lost killed
or wounded Meanwhile skin mshirg prog essed other
points along our advanced line, and pckets wore
everywhere raliying reserves General Shields
hearing of the advance of the rebel cavalry supposed
II 70 be manGuvre Of Ashby alone for the purpose Of
watching our movements As they were approaching SO
boldly and SO closely however lie ordered four advanced
companies Of infantry engaged in protecting the supply
train, TO rally to the support Of the advanced
pckcts and try 10 hold the rcbos in check till he could
move down the division. Thesc four companies wore
made up Of one from tho Mar yand First from the
Twenty egth Pennsylvania, from tho Forty sixth
Pennsy lvania, and one from the Twenty eighth New
York. Their regiments had already marched undcr
General Williams. battery OF artillery also
dered forward and General Shields, after ordering out
the dvsep. rode to the front, accompanied by his stan
While engaged directing the hr9 OF the artillery and
the defence generally shell from tho rebel battery
cf four guns, which now began 10 play us, burst
him, and splinter from struck him in the left
just above the elbow rracturing the bone creat
ing Tainful wound. His Adjutant General, Major
Armstrong, who standing near remarked General,
you wounded in the arm' eyes," replied tho gal.
liant Shields, bIt say nothing abont it," He then gaze
fresh order to the artillery, and continued field Till
he sed himself that all was right belonging to
Captain Robinsons company Of Ohio rtilery horse
wore killed on this day by the enemys guns but these
all the casualties that occurred our side till tho
skirmsh Of the first day ended The wound OF Gen.
Shields caused pang throughout the entire division and
IL is remarkable thai he should have been the first
struck on our side. our division began to arrive in
force on the field towards dark, and the rebels per.
ceving this did not push their advance, but halted
about three miles from Winchester for the night lighted
their camp fires and biyouacied while our army lay be-
tween them and the town. II generally believed
that general engagement would talo place the
cay (Sunday) and the cxpectans disappointed
That night OF terrible suspense on both sides
No knew what The rebels delayed their advance for
while it was policy 10 postpone BATTLE in view Of
the prcpondcrating force Of tho enemy order TO al
low reintorccmcnts TO arrive tho div Sion OF Gene
raj Williams, the rear guard Of which had already ad.
vanced ten miles towards the Shenandoah.
Morning explained the of the enemy's halt
About ten o'clock renforcemcn,s OF fve ;er;mcns
Of infantry and two batteries OF artillery were annopcci
arrived from srasburg under Gen. Garnst by the
ciferous and prolonged cheers which proceeded from
their lines. The attack Was not long delayed Tho
enemy advanced his army, which consist ed OF six.
teen regiments OF infantry, numbering III 900 men Two
bate les of artillery with total OF twenty eight field
pieces and three bstiaons Of horse under Ashby
Stewart. His line Of battle extended about mile on the
riuh of will anil Eapn
quarters the left Of and The village lay on the road
between the rebel right and centre There is mud road
branching from the turnpike mile or 50 from
Winchester to the right Of the road a. Won
goto strasbJrg This road passed through the lett Of
the enemys centre and OF their points of de-
fence Beyond that there grove OF trees and far
,bcr ridge OF hills with stone wall running along lis
summit about breast high. This was the rebel line Of
OF offence and defence the right OF line. Our
mostadvanced regiment the Eighth Ohio Of General
Tycrs brigade, aud on it the rebels made furious on
slsugf about balf-past O'Clock A. H. on Thursday
with the intention of turning right flank The Ohio
Eighth met them gsAsntly, withsring them like
autumn leaves before tho breath Of winter by
their deadly fre OF rifles. Five several times did
the enemy emerge frop the woods and from behind
Their stono parar' with vastly superior numbers and
try vainy 10 accom- ish their object Our leE wing.
consisting OF The Thirteenth Indiana Seventh Ohio and
battery OF the Fourth regular artillery undor Cag,sn
,lcDks, had fent made II while the reaI at,ct Of
the enemy was being directed against our right wing
Tho fent on the left hoavy nre Of artillery posed
both sides Of the village and the turnpike which
however, did trning damage Our battery replied si
lencng those of the onsrny, though The firing was well
maintained for long time both Sides Our centre
consisted OF the rourieeslh Indiana, the Eiob,h
and Sixty yseysnih Ohio and The Fighty.forr,h
rcnnsyyppa, ard two aylilcry batterics bccps.