Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-06-04
w a II nj = w S i,
THE RETREAT FROM STRAsBURG.
The Pennsylvania 46th.

The Pennsylvania 46th.
The account published in relation to the re-
treat from Strasburg. by the column under
command of Gen. Banks, and of the battle at
Winchester, all agree in according to the 4otn
Pennsylvania egiment, Col. Joseph hnipe,
the warmest and the fullest praise. A cores
pondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer gives
very full account q the stirring events of that
retreat, from which we make such extracts as
will be Of interest TO our readers.
The actions of this regiment are spoken of
in the highest terms. Information having
been received of the attack at Front Royal,
an order was given to the regiment, at three
o'clock on Saturday morning. to march imme-
diatelY for Winchester. The regiment was
then encamped on the banks of a small stream
called Toms Brook, about six miles south
west of Strasburg. The order was immediate.
ly obeyed. Tents were struck, and without
breakfast the men started on their march
The Forty sixth, being the right of Acting
Brigader General Donnelly's brigade, moved
in Advance. followed by the Twenty eighth
New York, LieutenantColonel Brown, (Col.
Donnelly acting as brigadier,) and the Fifth
Connecticut, Lieut.. Col. Chapman. (The
colonel of this regiment Col Ferrey, is acting
as brgadier general of Gen. Shields com,
mandy The brigade and regimental trains,
in number about one hundred and fifty wag
Ons, had been sent on Immediately in ad-
vance.
About seven o'clock the brigade arrived at
Strasburg, where it was Joined by Brigadier
General G0rdun's brigade, Donnelly's brigade
taking the advance. An hour afterwards the
entire force, under command of Major Gener-
al Banks took up the line of March for Win
Oh Tho C+I,o
Michigan and parts of the Fifth New
York and 1st Vermont under Gen. Hatch,
and Hampton's Pennsylvania Battery, in the
meantime remained at point about four
miles south of Sfrasburg, for the purpose of
protecting the removal of a large quantity of
commssary's stores. Finding it impossible
to remove ALL the soldiers were Supplied, and
the balance prudently set FIRE to and destroy
ed. When the command reached Middletown
six miles this side of straSburg, the rebel
cavalry came out from the woods on the side
Of the road and attacked the train in front.
A stampede took place among the teamsters,
and while many wagons were upset in turn
ing short, others were set fire to and burned.
Among the wagons were several belonging to
suffers and refugees.
The Forty sixth Immediately, by compan-
les placed their knapsacks, blankets, and
everything that would interfere with their
movements, upon the roadside, loaded at will,
ard forwarded at double quick up the turn
pike as far as NewtOwn, about four miles dis
tant, driving the rebel cavalry ahead until
they reached the village, where the rebels
took to the woods to the right. One section
of New York battery, under Lieutenant
Woodbury., followed and taking position,
opened fire, driving them back At the same
time two companies of the Forty sixth, A and
X, acting as skiru ishers, fred killing two
and wounding one. which they left on the
field. The Forty-sixth and the battery then
returned te the pike and moved on in front of
the train, which was protected in the rear by
the rest of the command. No rebel interfer
ence was experienced after that, and the COM
mand reached Winchester about o'clock p
N. Donnelly's brigade bivouacked that night
without food or blankets, on the Front Royal
road, about mile south Of the town, Gordon's
brigade resting on the left of the Strasburg
road. On Sunday morning before aybreak,
TereltLe was sounded, and the troops were
called to arms. During the night there had
been constant and heavy firing between the
pickets.
During the night, anticipating an attack
early in the morning. an order was given by
General Banks that Gordon's brigade should
form the right wing of the defence and Don
nelly's the left. About half past four fire
was opened upon the left by the rebel batter
les, about two miles distant, and almost i'm
mediately afterwards an attack was also made
on the right. Our batteries then returned
the fire and general engagement ensued.-
A North Carolina regiment, several of the
officers of which were in citizens dress-One
captain having on a black silk hat, and who
was subsequently shot in the head-made an
attack ON the Forty sixth, taking them by
surprise but most gallantly was the assault
met, for scarcely had they made their appear
ance above the hill top and fred their murde-
rous volley, before the rifed MINES of the
Forty sixth, had played havoc with their ranks.
Bayonets were then fixed, and charge be-
ing made, the traitors were driven from be
hind a stone wall, where they had taken
shelter. Severe lighting continued for half
an hour-the firing on both sides being des-
perate and the loss severe. Severe firing all
so continued by the other two regiments of
the two brigades.
Towards seven o'clock, heavy mist eau
sed the firing to be suspended on both sides
During this time the forty sixth changed
their pickets to rising ground, and when the
mist disappeared, which was in about twenty
minutes, firing again began. regiment Of
Rebel infantry now appeared in hollow
near, but failed to advance against the skir
mishers. About eight o'clock a combined
attack ofinfantry and artillery was made by
the Rebels upon Gordon's brigade-the right
wing of the defence-and in such manner
that stand was impossible. About an hour
before this attack, regiment Of Rebel cayal
ry, (Stuarts, charged down the turnpike in
to the town, thereby getting into our rear,
and giving them an opportunity to cut off
supply trains.
The batteries of the rebels are said to have
been well manned, and shot and shell were
thrown with the greatest accuracy. Their