Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-06-04
srRAusBuRe AND w1NcHEsrER

mac. OD frldey, COl. henley was attackeO
at Front Royal, twelve miles southeast OF
Strasburg. He had about one thousand men
with him, who were driven back over the
after fighting nearly all day or
both sides Of the river, and what escaped
made their way to Strasbufg or Winchester
or joined Banks's troops on the road the next
day. The news of the disaster at Front Royal.
aud OF the rapid approach Of the enemy, reach
ed Banks on Friday night. The writer then
proceeds Of follows
fiB RETREAT rBoM sfRAsBUHai
At o'elOek Saturday morning. was awaka
ed to make preparations for immediate TO-
treat THE remnant saved from the battle at
Front Royal bad retfeated upon The road
which connects stfssbufe with Front Royal,
aud the enemy were known TO be In close
pursuit
Their movement, too, seemed evidently ihs
tended 20 cut off our connection with Win
chester, and we saw, veiY naturally, before
10 the prospect Of ah enemy (Ewe) Ia our
front while Jaehsen, whom Wa had known 10
be behind us near iariisenbufg, seemed more
than probably intending 10 push upon ua IN
our rear, placing Us between two fires, each
doubtless larger than tho little command
which remained to Gen, Banks, after the
withdrawal of 80 large portion Of IL to rein,
fpfee other less eaPosed divisions Of the army
We soon learned that the forces of Ewel
were on the road upon which We were retreat
ing, aud IN front of us. but we moved on,
and had proceeded three miess beyond Stras-
burg, had crossed Cedar Greek Bridge aud
assembled the hill beyond. A CONSERVATION
seemed to have been created ahead OF us, in
dioated by the return OF suffers, teamsters,
aud servants, frightened themselves, and CIV
ing warning 10 others to look out Tor the shells
1T.
our heads. There was Tor a few moments
rush of men, mounted, and dsmounted, back
upon the road and through the fields, as ii
they had already seen large numbers of the
enemy. Everything seemed to indicate an
immediate battle. The soldiers received the
intelligence with shout and with animated
faces.
Orders to halt, right face, were immed late
ly shouted from the head OF the column, and
repeated all the way down to tho other end.
In a moment all were ordered to take off their
knapsacks, which were Immediately stacked
up by the roadside. and guards were appoint.
over them. All were ordered forward at
once, and the men, though ordered to march,
moved aim ost at the speed OF double quick.
Presently Gen. Williams, who had not yet
left Strasburg, came riding rapidly with his
staff to the head of the column, and the sol
diers raised a hearty cheer as he passed, which
continued up the column as he advanced to
the front. Gen. Banks soon followed, and
was greeted with similar manifestations of
pleasure and confidence in their commander
We followed closely, and the road was filed
with wagons, some broken down, others with
the mules cut suddenly away, and all desert
ed by their drivers, who had taken fright on
the appearance of few of the cnemy's caval-
ry, and fed in a miniature Bull Run stampede.
The infantry were kept somewhat in the
rear until the General and his body guard had
raI f,,a In, fbA ..f
my, and the space between was filled with the
baggage wagons, which were being repossess.
ed by their timorous possessers, under the
inspiring influence of the Wagon Masters
whip, who, enraged at their cowardly rout,
was driving them back with most unmerciful
lashcs to their deserted charges. Men were
now seen focking back, and the baggage train
was again supplied with teamsters.
On again we moved, into and through Mid
dletowD, and when we reached Newtown, eight
miles from Winchester, numbers Of the enc
my's cavalry were seen, and we dashed into
the village, and into a small grove at the
furthest end OF the town, in which several of
the enemy were seen as soon as we arrived in
sight Forty of our soldiers had been cap
turcd in town only lew houis before our ar
rival, with ssmall quantity of baggage.
Most of the captured were sick.
One of them who was killed-David Dicker-
son was his name, / think-was of Company
b, Sixty Ohio Regiment. l saw lady
who was with him Immediately after he was
shot. He asked for paper, wrote upon it
his name and regiment, and wished that his
family should be informed of his DEATH
Two of the rebel cavalry had been in the
town in the morning, and a man who had
come in from the Front Royal Road stated
that large force of infantry were but a few
miles away. We passed through however,
without meeting them, and on TO Winchester
and encamped.
The other end of our column encountered
the force which was to have been sent to at
tack our rear. First the Zouaves d'Afrique
body guard of Gen. Banks, have been station
ed in the rear 10 burn the bridge across Mead
ow Greek, three miles from Strasburg after
all had passed except the cavalry, under Gen.
Hatch, who was yet to come up, and would
ford the river. While they were besmearing
the bridge with tar, unsuspecting any danger,
the enemy charged dowa upon them from the
mountain, on the left, cutting them up in a
| most unmerciful manner, and capturing all OF
them except five.
The rapid flight of cavalry caused great
panic among the teamsters, who fed from
their wagons. The rebel cavalry came up,
and more than hundred wagons were taken
possession of by the enemy.
The cavalry, which were behind, have su f.
fered much more than am able now definite
y to speak of. They were ordered at day
| light, when the infantry and artillery and bag
gage had started toward Winchester to make
| reconnaissance to Woodstock to see if any
thing could be learned of the anticipated at
tack in the rear. They were cut off by the
cavalry of the enemy, and unable to return.
Major Collins is among the captured, and Mai
Sawyer, whose horse fell under him and injur-
ed his foot, made good his escape with no
further injury.
The loss in the cavalry it is imposs ible to
| state at present with any accuracy. After
wandering through the roads and forests, they