Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-03
lFor the Cleveland Morning Leader

The following extract from private let
ter to his mother and sisters, by Corporal
A. s, Jones, Co. E., Ord Wisconsin Volun-
teers, daied Williamsport, Nd, May 26th.
1862, giving some additional particulars Of
the retreat Of Gen. Banks and his division
Of the Federal army, lately, is thought to
be Of sufficient general interest to your
readers and especially to. those of them
who knew the writer, who was resident in
Euclid Township for many years prior to
1860, to claim an insertion.
Yesterday morning at daylight the
rebels attacked us about 25,0OO strong !;
we had about 5000 effective men. had re-
treated the distance Of % miles the day be
fore: they attacked US at Winchester we
fought like brave men--fOught till the dead
we're falling thick and fast on every side !,
finally, the General gave orders to fall back.
Every regiment except ours ran and the
rebels came on to us fast Our Colonel. .
(God bless him, he saw the need OF bring
ing the rebels to a check, or our whole di-
vision would have been cut to pieces; see
ing this he ordered us to rally ON stone
wall in the limits Of the town; we did So,
and then we made desperate stand till
the division had nearly all got through
town, when We were obliged to leave on
a double quick time; we ran through the
whole length Of Maih street, with the reb-
els behind US pouring into us with mus
kerry, grape, canister shot and shells. How
it could have been do not know, but di-
rectly in front Of me, while we were run
ming through town, there were upwards of
a dozen men fell wounded and dead: how
the balls got past me to hit them, do not
know.t The division was in very bad order
the first four miles, but through the good
conduct Of Gen. Banks and Capt O'Brien
Of the 3rd Wisconsin, Go. |, the men were
got in order, and the division retreated in
good order to this place. The rebels follow
ed us to Martinsburgh in force, at which
place our artillery brought them to q halt,
and we took supper at the houses of the
clever and hOspitable people. This town
Is Union, but just the reverse Of Wincltes-
ter. After supper we thanked the people
very kindly, and told them We would be
back in a few days in better condition and
We then started off for
WilliamspOrt. We arrived At the river at
II o'clock at night. This morning We
crossed the Potomac and are now at Will
Transport, Md. The army is pretty we'll
worn out. We shall be ready for them IN
a few days. 0 we shall pay them off for
this The rebels carried black flag. 1
shot five rounds at the black-Aag after we
started on the retreat. came near being
killed 3 . shell struck my cartridge box and
knocked it intes494ens Of pieces, broke my
belt and knocked ne about ten feet RIGHT
forward on my face. Two Michigan Cav
alrymen picked me up, wanted to kn0Wri If
was killed; l said "nO, L am all right"
and started on the run. My Captaint is a
prisoner with 20 Of the company j III
Col: R.qger tCapt. Hammer.
. 7 Ihis seems to illustrate the report Of
the rebel women Of Winchester shooting
the Union soldiers from the windows.
.E1f1 ilH3 IA subscriber, r-
u WM. BFGG,
3 RgoEID sEATrogl June ID, 1852.