, 1862-04-03
THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.
Official Report of Capt. r. G. Shri-
ber, Of Gen. Shieids's staff.

Official Report of Capt. r. G. Shri-
ber, Of Gen. ShieMs's staff.
WmcuzsrEE, March 26, 1864
To Brig. ten. Jaa.<s -ShieEde, Commanding 2a4
Dirtsitn, 9Th 4Tmy Corps:
GENERAL: beg respectfully to report to
you that atter having received, on Saturday
last, the 29d Of March, at o'clock 4. a., an
order to report for duty as aid-de-camp on
your staff, LEFT headquarters for Kernstewn
to assist Colonies Ktmball, Tyler and sulli-
van, in their efforts as commanders OF bri-
gades, fighting the enemy under Generat Jack
son, and to insure !. unity OF action OF
thet three respective. commands. re-
ported at ha1-pa*t nine 4. u. to Col. Kim.
bal, acting brigadier and snior officer On the
field, who Was statioued upon hill about one
half mile west Of Ka1nstown, which latter
place is interEected By the turapike leading TO
events which had transpired previous to my
arrival, and understood that the enemy who,
in endeayoriDg to drive in our pickets the day
before, had been repu15ed, had opened with
Ills artillery about : O'Clock l. H. upon our
forces again, and that, since that time we were
guns which be then hsd ia play, and endeavor-
ing to Iepe1 his small but haI7ssing attacks
Of cavalry upon our Chain Of sentinels.
Recopnolte1fng tho ground surrounding me,
found that between the hill upon which
stood with Col. Kihball, aud the hill oppo-
site Us, upon which the c1emy's battery was
posted, about half a mile distant, 4 rayine was
lying, 1nnning from east to west, which is eu-
tiIely free from wood. When about half 4
mile to the east forest connected both hills.
through the centre ofwhich passes amud road,
and is bounded Oh its tx:r me right by anoth-
er mud road Leading to Cedar Greek. The
country to the left (wes) Of the turnpike is
fiat anf n0n1raraf trafU 7;ft1a Ern01pA
We placed In position 4 siS-gun battery, COM
manded By Capt. jerks, 1st Virginia artillery,
to oppose the enemy's four guns, which latter
were soon reinforced by whole battery,
whereupon Capt. Clark's Regular battery was
put in prolongation of the former named.
chief Of artillery Of GeR. shielis's division, IN
person. Our fire from tile two batteries be-
came too hot for the enemy, and tAcy brought
third battery in the direction Of their right
wing, in Euch position upon our two batter
les On the Lii, that they enfl1aded thcm, but
With this mancuyer exposed their battery to
q raking FIRE Of one Of the Ohio batteries,
placed near KerDstown to defend the pike, and
they were necessitated to timber to the rear
with all their batteries, but continued their
fire.
In the meantime, the infantry regiments
aud formed into line Of battle about thou.
sand yards to the rear Of our batteries, when
at once the enemy's heavier battery moved to
the front, and threw, in rapid succession,
number Of well aimed shells into our batter
les and the cavalry and infantry stationed
upon the interior slope Of the battery hill, and
tile necessity to storm aud take their guns be-
came apparent.
In conjunction with Co1onels Kimba1l and
1yler, the folio wing infantry regiments were
drawn up in mass, parallel with each other.
The right resting upon the mud road passing
through the forest, was he'd by the I'll Ohio,
the 9th and 5th following; and the 18th Indi.
ana, S4th Pennsylvania, and 18th Ohio, little
to the real, thus leaving the 10th Pennsylvania
and the 18th Indiana, and three companies Of
the 6th Ohio in reserve. During the time
these arrangements we're made, q messenger
was sent to you, General, to have your appro-
Eal as to this flank movement, and person
ally apprised all the commanders in the rear
and flank OF our Intentions, sosas to keep them
on the alert.
Col. Daum was enjoined to keep his artillery
entirely free, so as not to direct the attention
Of the enemy entirely from him, and when the
order came to move on, every thing was ready
to respond. Gcn. Tyler moved his column by
the right flank as far as Cedar Greek road,
rested his right upon the same, and the left
upon the before mentioned mud road, pushing
forward upon both roads some cavalry, chang
cd direction to the lett, right in front, and
moved silently but steadily upon the enemy's
4En
when, coming upon more eparSely wooded
ground, he made half wheel to the LETT and
came to the face Of the extreme flank Of the
enemy, who received him, posted behind a
stone wall, at about 200 yards distance, with a
terrific yollcy from rit1ed arms; but still on
weut the regiments without return fire, and
then threw themselves with immense cheer
irg and ali une:rthly yell, upon the enemy.
who, receiving at fifteen yards our first fire.
feu back across the field, thus unmasking two
6.pound iron guns, which hurled, on being
cleared in trout, death and destruction iuto
our ranks with their canister But still on
ward we went, taking one gun and two cais-
sons, and making there shOrt stand Again
the enemy unmarked two brass pieces, which
at last drove Us by their vigorous fire back,
but caused the captured gun to be tipped
over, so that the enemy, in regaining the
ground, could not drag it away. The 9TH
Ohio and Saith Pennsylvania threw themselves
once more, with fixed bayonets, forward, the
former losing four times, in few minutes.
their standard-bearer. Capt. Whitcomc, at
last, took tue co1ors up again, and cheering on
LIS men, fell also. So too Col Mnrry, whilst
gallantly leading On his soil, regiment. In
fact, that ground was strewn with dead and
wounded. Gen. Tyler lost there his aid,
Lieut. Williamson, Of the Goth Ohio.
t hurried back, to bring up the 10th Penn
sylYana and 14tl Indiana, by right obIiauc
movement through the woods, and the enemy.
tired and left us in possession Of our dearly
bought gun and caiseons.
United, onward We pressed-again, the cue
my IS two brass pieces and musketry pouring
in their fire. Three companies of the Sth Ohio
reinforcing us, We gained one brass piece and
its caisson, and compelled the enemy to fall
back.
This was at r P. n. I moved to the right
flank, and caused the cannon to go forward on
the now FIST retreatiDg enemy, when met
with six Of Ashby's cavalry, who shot down
my orderly and killed his horse, one Of their
bullets piercing my cap. I was compelled to
use my sword to kill one of them.
The cavalry captured two hundred and thirty
prisoners and met only with little resistance
from the enemy's cavalry.
AtS P. NJ. the musketry ceased. Afew more
cannon shots from their extreme left battery
were fired, so Us to withdraw our attention
from the retreating foe, and all was over. Our
Rien remained on the field Of battle, picking
up tue wounded, and slept upon their arms to
awake for the pursuit Of the enemy on the
morning Of the 24th, who fell rapidly back be-
yond Newtown, when. at nine o'clock Of the
morning Of THAT day, Major General Banks
took command, and reported back to you.
General, have the honor to be, ever ready
to serve in so g1oriousa body Of soldiers under
your able leading,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
r. c. SHRIBER.