Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-06-12
Saclsson,s Great Triumnh ~ sns vsu.v.

"
The following letter from member OF Congress to
an officer Of the State, dated at Winchester May 49,
we take from the Richmond Wing of yesterday. 1t
will be found interesting
My Dear Colonel Il got here last night after
hard days ride from Harrsonbur. but soon forgot
not only the dlsc0mOrts of the Journey but all the an
Doyances OF the besides, when found myself here
III this good old town, participating with its people in
their gratitude, wonder and joy at JackSOns glorious
and unparalleled achievement. There more
successful and more decided and overwhelming victory
When our guns opened the enemy at Front ROYAL
they had idea who was hammering at them thinking
that jackson was hundred miles away from them
They were completely surprised and panic stricken by
the suddenneSs OF the attack They surrendered to US by
hundreds, allowing all their stores OF every and 10
the greatest quantities, to be captured without on
effort to defend or destroy them.
Banks was with the main body Of his army at Stras
burg when We took Front Royal, and, alarmed by our
guns, they abandoned their works (which are quite ex
tensive at that pont0 and fell back towards Wnches-
ter But before they rad gotten half way old Stone
wall was upon them and their retreat became rout.
From Middleton to Winchester, and from thence to
Natnsburg, the rush of the rereatng Wretches rep
resented TO have been more redlcutouy terrible than
that at Manassas Our batteries would open upon a.
wagon in roAt OF train knocking it over in the road
and before those behind it culd stop their headway
they would laundering down upon the ruins of the
first wagon, whilst other would be tumbng in
upon them so as to b OK up the road completely then
Ashby's cavalry would charge upon the more forward
OF cavalry or ride down the of dsorganzad IT,
fantry, aud such Of confusion and conflict as
they kept up for many miles you possibly may imagine
but certainly cannot describe.
| Old Banks behaved IN q most cruel and cowardlv
manner on this retreat He was accompanied by
krowd of negroes whom he was running off to Yan-
Gee land, and be preferred to leave bis wounded
| IN our hands than to allow the pegro women and
children to be turned out Of the wagons and have
them used tor the transportation OF the sick and suffer-
| ing white soldiers OF bis army.
At the first salVo of artillery he put spurs to bis horse
and dstanced all competitors in the race from the Id
At Middleton be stopped for drink of water and was
bubberng Ike baby because renforcements had not
been sent him.
10 give you idea of the decentralization of the
ankees On their way from Strasburg, will only men
ton one fact
Ia the ardor OF pursuit. Ashby had separated himself
from biz men and had gotten abreast of the Yankee
column OF cavalry, which rushing down the turn
pike. ALONE he charged fue hundred of them-dash-
ed through their line, firing his pistols right and left
be did so-tben wheeling about, be again charged
through them aud summoned them to surrender. All
who heard bis voice at obeyed threw down their
arms dlsmounted and at the word squatted meekly
as so many mice upon the ground, until some of our
men came up and took charge of them. In one in-
stance, he took thirty in this way. When our men
would charge the Federal cavalry they would tumble
Oh their horses roll over scream and scramble to the
road side in the most amusing manner. But cennot
pretend to jot down hundredth part of the incidents
OF this most remarkable victory.
/ At Winchester the enemy tried to make a stand in
the SUBURBS, but our boys drove them pe nell through
| the streets, and soon beyond to Martinsburg.