The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-04-02
13wp OF THE WEEK.

The new Cabinet of President Davis has been
ormed:
For Secretary Of State, J. p. Benjamin, Of
Louisiana; for Secretary of War. Geo. W. Ran
lolph, Of Virginia for Secretary of the Navy,
). r. Mallory, Of Florida; for Secretary Of the
Treasury, C. G. Asmnimger. Of South Carolina; |
Tor Attorney General, Thomas Watts; for Pees
Master General, NJ. Reagan, Of Texas.
The Merrimac il said to be in readiness for
another fight. The Monitor il On hand to re-
ceive her.
Winchester, March Is.
On Saturday, at two o'clock in the afternoon,
the enemy showed themselves . mile and half
from Winchester. The enemy consisted Of 500
of Asbby's cavaly and two guns. They drove
in our pickets and then skirmished with the
Michigan Cavalry and a portion Of the Maryland
First. General Shields brought up bis forces
and fred rounds of shell, drove them back and
took several prisoners. General Shields vas
wounded in the arm by the first FIRE Of the enc.
ny. jackson had been informed by the inhabi.
tants that the town was deserted by the Union
troops, and be advanced to retake it. General
Shields force slept on their arms Saturday night,
and Sunday morning, at sunrise, General Jack.
con being reinforced, attacked General Shields
near Kearnstown, three miles distant. The en-.
emy's force consisted of 500 of Ashby's cavalry,
5000 infantry, and . pieces of artillery, with .
reserve of Is pieces of artillery. The fight was
kept up till noon, when a charge made by the
Ohio infantry, First Michigan and First Virginia
Cavalry their right drove them back half .
mile, whom the enemy got their guns in position
again in dense woods, Hsnked BY infantry and
drove us back. A short artillery engagement
ensued, when General Shields ordered Colonel
Tyler to turn their left flank which was executed
by our troops, bW with considerable loss, the
enemy being protected by q stone ledge. The
Eighty Fourth Pennsylvania and Thirteenth H.
diana charged their centre. and the fight became
general. Colonel Murray, of the S4th Pennsyl
vanis was killed. The enemy retired slowly,
bringing their guns 10 bear at every opportunity.
Our men rushed forward with yels, when pan.
ic ensaed among the enemy. Our troops follow.
ed and drove them until dark, capturing three
guns, three caissons, muskets, equipments, &c.
innumerabls. Our troops bivouacked on the
field. General Williams first brigade, and Col.
Donnely, of the 2sth New York commanding,
reinforced Gen. Shields.
Gen. Banks, who was on the way to Washing
ton, Sunday, returned, and assumed command.
In the mean time, General Shields division pur-
sued the enemy beyond Newton, Smelling them
the whole way. Jacksons men we're perfectly
demoralized, and beyond control. They threw
overheard the dead and wounded to tighten the
wagons. 1t 10 noticeable that nearly all the
Confederates wounded we're shot in the head and
breast, testifying the superiority Of our marks
men. The loss on our side was chiefly Pennsyl.
vanis, Ohio, and Indiana troops.
On Sunday morning the rebels received rein.
forcsments uLder Gen. Garrett, amounting to
5000 men. The Union forces did not exceed
10000 men, and with the exception of about
500 men, of Gen. Shields division exclusively.
At half past tsa the enemy made feint on our
left, commanded by acting Brigadier General
Sullivan, opening heavy Ere of artillery, while
the real attack was directed against our right,
with the object Of aanking it. General Kinble
commanded on the right, where the heaviest
sighting was done. The enemy were strongly
posted in the woods and behind . stone wall, and
the rebel artillery was posted on eminences OIL
both sides of their left wing Our whole ar,is-
~ force was engaged, and consisted of bate
ries of - pieces in all. The contest ragged furi.
ously till P. NJ, the fighting being done chiefly
BY the artillery and musketry, at . range of not
more than 800 or 400 yards, and often much less.
The rebel infantry opposite our right new EN-.
erged from the woods and attempted to capture
Deans battery by charge. The first effort was
nearly successful, but the heavy discharge of
grape compelled them to retire in confusion. A
second and weaker attempt likewise failed, and
the enemy fell back with heavy loss behind the
stone parapet. General Tyler now ordered his
brigade to charge the enemy's batteries on the
left, and a most deadly encounter followed.
Twice our men reeled under the storm, but in
the third effort they routed the rebels with tire.
meuous slaughter. Our loss in these struggles
was heavy; out Of 800 men 10 the s4th PENNY.
vania &c we're killed aud 81 wounded. Many
officers were killed and wounded The Fifth
and Eighth Ohio shared the glory and the losses
with the saith Pennsylvania. The enemy's kill.
ed and wounded strewed the ground now in pro-
fusion, and their LETT wing Was utterly broken,
and their centre wavering In their side the
Fourth and Fifth Virginia. regiments suffered
most The former was terribly decinated. Sew.
eral attempts to rally the right wing failed, and
to add to the confusion, the Irish Battalion Of
l so men were brought forward and ordered 70
Ere upon the Union troops, refused, and q rebel
regiment Immediately drove this gallant little
band forward. but could not compel them to fire
upon Us. Forty corpses of the $50 Afterwards
strewed the field. Meanwhile the rebels gave
way on their left and centre, with loss of 700
killed and wounded, and $50 taken prisoners;
besides these, about fifteen hundred muskets
we're taken, and many other valuable trophies.
Our less does NOT exceed 100 killed and 800
wounded.
Washington, March 26.
The following dispatch from Gen. Shields to
Senator Rice, dated to-day at Winchester, vas
read in the Senate this P. NJ:
"On the morning Of the Esd. my command,
1000 to 5000 strong, was attacked near this
place BY Jackson, with II regiments of infantry
md An Irish battalion, about 500 cavalry, xs
pieces Of artillery. After . severe fight the en-.
INV wa nut tn complete route LEAVING behind