The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-03-25


Engineers. taken prisoner by the rebels We have
captured more than thousand small arms
WINCHESTER, March 24-11 P. NJ.
n consequence OF the forward Of forces, the
reports Of killed. wounded and missing could not be
Ascertained but loss is from eighty 10 hundred
killed, among whom were one colonel, and fourteen
captains and eutsnants. Two hundred were wounded.
among whom are ten officers. The enemy had nearly
I'VE hundred killed wounded and lost three hundred
prisoners.
Sketch OF Winchester and Vicinity.
Winchester at one time thriving town, in Frede
rick county, Virginia. Of which county II b the capital
II Is located at point hundred and fifty miles dis
sant from Richmond north northwestery direction,
and seventy miles west by north Of Washington.
II ID about twenty miles north Of the Manassas Cap and
shrtytwo miles from Harpers Ferry by railroad 1t is
distant from Gordonsvile about eighty miles In an air
line leading due SOUTH and about hundred miles by
the turnpike road via Front Royal and Of the gaps In
ths Blue Ridge Mountains 1t Is eighteen miles northeast
q strasburg, which, BY rail, is sixtyone miles from
Manassas Junction There 10 no railroad connection
ouhwArd between Winchester and any Of the rebel
headquarters The town IL pleasantly situated in beau
tfu and fertile country, which forms part Of the great
W
= the largest town Of the State Of the Blue Ridge
Il quite regularly planned, the houses built in
compact and substantial manner, mostly Of brick and
stone, and supplied with excellent water, which Is
brought in iron pipes from spring half mile distant
Winchester at time contained about twelve churches
academy banks (Which had aggregate CAPITAL
Of hundred and eighty thousand doars), two
paper Officer and alyceum. The place il the terminus
the Winchester and Potomac Railroad BY which it was,
previous to the rebellion with tho Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Harper's Ferry thence united
with all the prominent cities and towns Of the Great
West and the ports Of the East It has a number Of
turnpike roads radiatns from it in every direction,
which attract large amount Of trade and travel to
. common centre. had population in 1850 Of about
four thousand Ave hundred souls The county which
IL situated has Of three hundred and seventy
eight square miles The Opequan, Sleepy and Black
creeks, auents Of the Potomac rise within and flow
in northeastery direction. The surface is beautifully
diversified by mountain scenery, and the principal ee
vation the North Mountains, extends along the north
western border. The county, before seized upon
point Of occupation by the rebels repued Of
the most wealthy and highly cultivated in the stato
Alas how greatly has 1t changed Blue limestone rock
underies large portion Of the surface. The
furnish abundant motive power for mills and factories.
The turnpike roads through very good all leading
70 Winchester before stated The county formed
In 1873. The population at last returns nearly six
teen thousand Of whom about two thousand three hun
drcl were slaves The whole county has suffered
ly curing the rebellion having, with Jefferson county
been the Of between the con-
tending forces The rebels have passed through il ON
than occasion. each time leaving disastrous
marks Of their progress. they be prevented from
ever again entering il, trade and prosperity may
more, and that quickly, mako their appearance among
the residents Of the place.
Sketch OF General Shields.
Acting Major General James Shields is q native of the
county of Tyrone in Ireland whore he born In the
year 1910. Ho consequently about nfty-two years Of
age He first came TO this country In the year 1926
being then only sixteen yes Of age In 1882 he went
West and settled In Kaskaska Of the Oldest villages
ofIllinois where he devoted his energies the study
and practice OF the law He after elected to the
State legislature and in 1889 was made State Auditor
Four years later he appointed Judge Of Supreme
Court and in 1s45 having received from President Polk
the appointment Of Commissioner Of the General Land
Office heremoved 10 Washington. Upon the breaking out
Of the Mexican during the following year the same
President, with rare discrimination and appreciation
Of character, appointed Mr.. Shields Brgadier General
of United States Volunteers His commission was dated
July 1896. He present the Siege of Vera Cruz
and there particularly noted At the battle of
Cerro Gordo he distinguished himself greatly and was
the second time naturazed citizen Of the United States
by shedding his blood defence OF his adopted counrys
honor recital Of General Shields doeds that battle
seems more like the details Of the great Of some
famed hero Of romance than the plain narrative Of the
conduct Of "one Of Folks raw generals" the oppos
tion styled him when appointed Severely wounded he
continued on the field, urging his men, until ball
pas sing through his lungs struck him down. He was car
red from the battle field and reported 30 near dead
that obituary notices appeared Of the gallant General in
nearly all the papers Of the country. Even in the
neghborhood Of tho battle ground his life was for weeks
des paired and the anecdos Of his cure 10
a. IL would appear improbable did the man not live
among at the present time 70 verify the statement Il
appears that he entirely given BY the army
surgeons when Mexican doctor said ne would live II
he would let him the coaguatsd blood from the
wound. Shields as kill or remedy, told him 10
try, and fine silk handkerchief worked and finally
drawn through the wound, removing the sxravasated
blood, when daylight could DO seen through the hole
And yet Shields to-day 10 hale and hearty MAJ, free
from disease or any nconven,encs from his wound,
which considered at the time mortal having been
made by large copper ball. and going directly through
his body and lungs. For his gallant and meritorious
conduct on this occasion he in August 1s4s brevet
Cd Major General Of Volunteers still suffering from
his wounds We find him commanding q brigade IN the
valley Of Mexico consisting Of battalion Of marines aud
regiments composed Of New York and South Carolina
volunteers He was also the battle Of Chepultepec,
where, being endorsed he on foot and
In bis shirt sleeves leading his brigade sword ia hand
with bravery that has made his name
remarkable in American history He WINS ara,n
wounded and that dangerously, but with caro-
and o good constitution he recovered. Lis brieade,