Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-01
THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER
GENERAL SHIELDS, ACCOUNT.

''NS''t'SNSt', SANihS SHS SChtl al llllOlIudl az
count OF the battle of Winchester
HEADQUARTERS GEN. SHIELDS DIVISION,
Winchester. Va, March 26 1862.
will give you brief account of our late
operations. My reconnaissance beyond Stras.
burg, on the 18th and 18Th inst, discovered
jackson rein creed, in strong position, near
Newmarket, within supporting distance of the
man booy OF the rebels under Johnston. 1t
was necessary to decoy him from that position
Therefore fell back rapidly to Winchester
on the 10Th, as il in retreat, marching my
whole command nearly thirty miles in one
day. My force was placed at night in a Sc
Guided position, two miles from Winchester
on the Martinsburg road. On the Dist. tue
rebel cavalry, under Ashby, showed uhem
selves 10 our pickets, within sight OF Winches
ter.
On the 22d, all of Gen. Banks command,
with the exception of my division, evacuated
Winchester, en- route for Centeryiilc. This
movement and the masked position OF my
division made an impression upon the inhabit.
ants, some of whom were in secret commuRi-
cation with the enemy that our army bad lett
and that nothing remained but few regi-
Tnents to garrison this place. jackson was
slgnaiized to this effect. 1 saw their signals
and OWNED their meaning. About five o'clock
in the afternoon Of the 22d, Ashby, believing
that the town was almost evacuated, attacked
our plckets and drove them in. This success
increased his delusion. 1t became neces
sary, however, to rcpulse them for the
time being. ! therefore ordered forward
brigade, and placed il in front between Win
chester and the enemy. | only let them see,
however, two regiments OF infantry, two bat.
terles OF artillery, and Il small force of caval.
ry, which lie mistO0k as the whole force lett TO
garrison and protect the place.
In little skirInish tltat avopin1 ,rb;Ia
placing the artillery in position, was struck
by fragment OF a shell, which broke my arm
above the elbow, injured my shoulder, and
damaged me otherwise to such an extent that
have lain PROSTATE ever since. | com-
menced making preparations for any emer.
gency that might occur that night or next
morning. Under cover OF the night | ordered
an entire brigade (Kimball'sl 10 take up a
strong position in advance. pushed forward
four batteries, having them placed ina strong
position to support the infantry. | placed
Sulllvan's brigade on both fanls to prevent
surprise, and TO keep my TANKS from being
turned, and held Tyler's brigade in reserve,
to operate against any point that might be as
sailed in front. In this position Iawaited and
expected the enemy's attack next morning
My advance brigade was two miles from the
town, its plckets extending perhaps a mile
further along The turnpike leading to Sras.
burg.
About s o'clock in the morning, | sent for.
ward two experienced officers 10 reconnoiter
the front and report indications OF The enemy
They returned in an hour, reporting no enemy
III sight except Ashby's force OF cavalry in
fantry and artillery, which by this time had
become familiar and contemplate 10 us Gen
Ban4s, who was yet here in person, upon
hearing this report concluded that Jackson
could not be IN front possibly, or be decoyed
away so tar from the main body OF the rebel
army. In this opinion |, 100, began 10 con
cur, concluding that jackson was too saga-
cious TO be caught in such trap. Gen.
Banks therefore left tor Washington. His
staff officers were directed to follow the same
day, by way OF Centreville. Knowing the
crafty enemy, however, l had to deal with l
omitted no precaution. My whole force was
concentrated, and prepared to support kim
balls brigade, winch was in advance.
About half past len o'clock it became evil
dent we had considerable force before us !;
out the enemy still concealed himself so adroit-
ly IN the woods that it was impossible TO esli-
mate it. l ordered portion of the artillery
forward, 10 open fire aud unmask them BY
degrees they began to show themselves They
| plahtea battery after battery in strong position
on the center aud on both TANKS Our artillery
| responded, and this continued until about half
| past three O'Clock in the afternoon when di.
| iecteu column OF infantry TO carry a battery
on Their left flank and to assail that flank
winch was done promptly and splendidly by
| lyier brigade, aided by some other regi.
ments from the other brigades The fire of
our infantry was 50 close and destructive that
II made havoc i'll their ranks. The result was
Inc capture OF their guns on the left, and the
forcing back of their wing on their center, thus
placing them IN Il position To be routed by n
general attack, which was made about five
p'nlnrlE Inv oil 81,
driving them in flight from the field
Night fell upon us at this stage leaving us
in possession Of the field OF battle two guns
and four caissOns, three hundred prisoners,
and about one thousand stand OF small arms
Our Killed IN this engagement cannot exceed
one hundred men, wounded two hundred and
thirty three. The enemy's killed and wound
ed exceed one thousand The inhabitants of
the adjacent villages carried them to their
houses as they were removed from the field
OF battle. Houses between the battle field and
Strasburg. and even far beyond, have since
been found filled with the dead aud dy ing of
the enemy. Graves have been discovered far
removed from the road, where tile inhabitants
of the country buried them as they died.
Gen. Banks, in his pursuit Of the enemy be
yond Strasburg atterward, found houses on the
road twenty two miles from the battle field
hlled IN this manner, and presenting the most
CHASTITY spectacle
The havoc made in the ranks of the rebels
has struck this whole region of country with
terror. Such blow had never fallen on then,
before, and 1t is more crushing because wholly
unexpected. jackson ard his stone wall brip
AIDE, and all the other bligades accompanying
him, will never meet this division again in
battle During the night they. managed to
carry OIL their artillery IN the darkness We
opened upon them by early light next morn