Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-30
SUNDAYS FIGHTING,

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After long and anxious days march
retired to rest in the town of Winchester.
By dsybresk upon the following morning,
the voices Of cannon and the rattle Of
musketry coming in through my open win
dow, brought me suddenly to the con-
sciousness that another day must be broken
of its peaceful quiet by the fierce and un-
natural pursuits Of war. I listened to the
sounds and saw the smoke which rose from
the hills, but three miles distant. During
/ breakfast heard the tramping of horses
upon the road, and the heavy rolling of
artillery over the pavement. Certainly,
/ thought, there can be no haste; we shall
not be compelled to leave Winchester.
/ Presently there was commotion, a sob
/ bing among the women, and running to
/ and fro, which brought me to my feet in
time to find our forces were started on
I hasty retreat, and, as ! saw flames rising
from the burning buildings not far of, and
heavy volumes Of smoke roll upward from
them, began 10 realize that we were to
abandon Winchester. The enemy were in
] the other end Of the town, as the rattle and
echo of musketry up the streets and be-
tween the houses most plainly Indicated
| All the streets were in eommotion. Cay
airy were rushing disorderly away, and
infantry, frightened by the rapidity of
their mounted companions were in con-
sternation. All were trying to escape fast
er than their neighbors, dreading most Of
all to be the last.
Presently the enemy's cannon doomed in
the resr, and small cloud Of smoke in the
sky suddenly appearing, and then dissolv-
ing, showed where the shell had exploded.
Some shells fell among our men, and the
panic was quite general for short time.
Guns, knapsacks, cartridge-boxes, bayOn-
cts and bayonet-cases lay scattered upon
the ground in great confusion, thrown
away BY the panic stricken soldiers. But
this confusion and disorder were not of
long duration. IA aH.t y1AF
Gen. Banks, riding continually among
the men, addressing them kindly and firm
! u, shamed them to consideration Of their
unbeftting CONSERVATION. At length, sta
tioning himself and staff, with several
others, across a field through which the
soldiers were rapidly fleeing, the men were
ordered to stop their flight, were formed
! into line, and made t9march on in soldier
like manner.
What occurred in the extreme rear of the
column l am unable to state with conf
dence. Col Donnelly, acting BEgadier-
General, the fate Of one of whose regiments
the First Maryland-has been already
stated with two Of his regiments-the
Twenty-eighth New York and Fifth Con-
necticut-is reported and on good author
ity, as captured. During the fight which
continued for two hours before the retreat
from Winchester, the brigade behaved ad
]
/ outhanked by superior numbers, was COM
PEELED TO withdraw. Our forees-Donnel-
ly's brigade on the left, and Gordon upon
the right-were in position along gorge
between two hills.
The Second Massachusetts was firing
upon the enemy from behind stone wall,
when being opened upon by an enflading
fire from the enemy who had come upon
our flank, they had to escape from them,
coming as they were in vastly superior
numbers.
AT one point the enemy came up in a
large hollow square, single file upon the
front and back, and double file upon either
side. Marching up thus to within GER
tain distance, they we're ordered to halt to
fix bayOnets and charge, which they did in
good order.
Col. Gordon and Staff are safe; also
Gen. Williams and staff. While retreating
through Winchester, women from the
houses opened fire Of pistols upon our sol
diers and killed great many Of them.
8Lieut Col Brown, Twenty-eighth New
York, is said to have been killed; Col.
Knipe, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, wound
ed and taken prisoner; Col. Murphy,
Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, killed, and
many others. Fr.frN
The column retreated, after the slight
panic to which I have alluded, in good
order, pursued by the enemy beyond Mar
tinsburgh. The baggage-train proceeded
as far as the Potomac, and many Of the
teams had been conveyed across upon
ferry-boats this morning.