New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-29


A few only escaped fleeing across the fields TO the
mountains.
| All he time the Rebels kept mp yell, and xii ed
many with their sahers and bayonete VINO Ety
wounded upon the ground.
Tbs fatal catastrophe is said to have teen The r.
sui of an Unauthorized order TO charge, given by
Major Cous, the third officer in command, who
was taken prisoner by the Rebels.
| If So lie has much TO answer for, and We hope
he may be able 10 show himself innocent OF so re-
rieus an accusation.
There were still in the rear OF this iil-laied de-
iachDent quite large force OF cavalry " consisted
OF Eve coupa,iies OF the Vermont Cavalry, under
Col. Tompkins and Sven COMPANIES OF Ira Harms
Guard, under Cot. De Forrest, left behind TO form
tue rear quad.
| The Vermont Cavalry were ordered 10 make a
re,onn oissance 10 Woodstock 10 ascertain whether
jackson was in The rear.
Our squadron charged through the town, ana the
whole forenoon was occupied in this movement TO
ascertain the position Of the enemy behind ns. IL
had no resuli in sccomp ishng the object which was
intended and they Immediately commenced Their
retreat toward Winchester. When IA mile beyond
Cedar Creek they net stampede among the bag
gage wagons.
After the affair previously described, in which the
Maine and Vermont Ceyalry Suffered so severely,
the enemy turned back upon tie baggage tram
which war between them at StrasbuTg and caused
the greatest confusion Which can b. Imagined. The
wagOua, some Of them were tGrBCd about, aud run
ming a.ainst others. trose down, filing up the roads,
while the mules and horses and cattle, remaining III
the greatest fright, produced an indeserilabe state
of confusion.
The cavalry finding the road to Winchester thus
| barrcadeG both by wagons and an enemy, had no
olber alternative than 70 turn their horses toward
StrasbuTg. -,
They had crosred Cedar Creek and taken with
them the Zousvts dAirique, whom they found upon
the bridge. line of battle Was lien formed, the
Xouaves forming in the rear.
lut'srv also there which thew were sut-
porting. This was placed in position, and shells
were thrown into the woods beyond. As soon ~
the battery commenced firing the Rebel skirmishefa
commenced to advance with yells OF defiance, pour
lug voleys Of musketry upon us, ard very coon Il
battery responded TO ours.
| Two companies of cavalry were now drawn up
on each side of the battery and in the rear, with
the intention of making charge. II soon brcame
obvious that the enemy were there IN strong i'i'e'
and they knew that we had no infantry. .
Major Sawyer of Vermont cavalry SPOKE to ms
! Colonel of q mountain road. -
Had they now commenced the charge they wond
d0ubles have beer all cut TO pieces Ike The others,
and been forced 10 surrender.
| Col. Tomson, not knowing the road himself, or
Gered the major If lie were acquainted with II, to
lead them through.
The major undertook the task. The cavalry was
led baca toward Strasbnrg, reorossing CEDAR creek,
and there 20 closely they pursued that another
line Of battle formed The enemy Obtained Inc
range very accurately, aud the she Is fell round them
so rapidly that they ag.no retreaied
! Col De Forrest with the Newly ork Cavalry was
soon met who inquired Of Col. Johnson ms ih'eh-
tons who said he was going 10 retreat by the noun
tain road, aud they a!terward projected together.
taking a course through the forest md hels which
seemed TO l,ad in The direction OF the ROAD Tor winch
they were seeking. Soon they reached u.
Col. Toni kiDs remained some Tine IN Strasbnrg TO
direct the pantng of battery near the for'lhcatons
erected there but soon left and took the woods for
the road along tie mountains.
The whole force Of cavalry were soon up tie
mountain road and were proceeding finely, recross-
ing Cedar Creek again, and moving rapidly toward
| Wnchester.
At II or y O'Clock at night they arrived in town,
relieving The anxiety which bad been ie, for them,
who II wac sup, Deed had been cui oH and captured.
An hour later and the eneniys lines extended as
far az the mountain.
E.rly upon the following morning the enemy at
tackled our Two bTisades-teven regiments, contain
ing 1900 men.
there il RIDGE extending along the west Of the
| town. ana aioi Z tie tide OF this infantry WA
Ilaced-Gordon brigade upon The night, aud Dom
nelly = upon the left. TIE enemy occupied Fosi-
lion where there were woods III the rear, Win me
nile and batteries Ia front of Gordons brigade, not
| more than half Il mile distant.
! Wien Gen Banks came out The center was felt 10
be too much weakened; sill 1t was feared That The
enemy would attempt to faux our right, which was
in oonsequerce strengthened by the removal Of n
regiment from The lett
/ lie enemy advanced. firing along the coursc OF
the hill aud soou from directions poured IN vO
lev after ,oley upon us with shot and shell from
their batteries.
Tie whole air Of the plain to the southwark WA
cari ned, aid everything obscured by heavy, dense
imoke.
Tie Generals horse took fright, and he was
obliged to change HIM for another.
! Willie this going on on the right, Col. Don-
nelly was severely pressed The left but orders
were given for the extreme left ,osuppor tie center
Orders also given tor cavaliy 10 move out
and explore upon each flank.
! Inm diaiely thereafter the fro Of the enemy =
batteries on the night ceacd, before the cavalry had
tine 70 90 out and obey the order.
| Two regiments were seen advancing along the
courte Of The hill TO The night, cheering and hrlng
and beyond them five other regiments besde. The
9TH Indiana wa. ut this time in a column of FOUR
aud withou, giving time 10 form IN line, they were
ordered TO fire. and then immediately 10 charge bay
ones
bayoneis and heads down, aud tie 9th Indiana did
not withstand the shock, but broke in "A confused
rout, exposing tie flank Of the I'd Massaclusetts
About Tins tine batteries in trout Of the town.
which held position raking the course Of tie lii,
along which tie Rebels were advancing against Tie
~ Masfa -huzetts ceased firing, lmbered up, and re-
treated.
Tie battery il rear of Gordon's Brigade numbered
up also, and paloped oil at fu'l speed.
The gum were taken out at jurt tie proper time
A short time later and they would have been cap
blurred.
The infantry Of Gorlons brigede rc,rea,ed through
the town, their drums beating in good order.
Col. Murphy, ooh Pennsylvania, was Obliged to
dsmount from biz horse, who bad become unman.
ngeabe, and the old man. unable to retreat, shouted
10 his men 10 run with the colors for he could not
Donuellys brigade retreated 10 the east OF the
i town. and we're reported AZ cut oil. Intelligence
has recently received, however, that he elected
his escape and crossing the Potomac ut all
ling Wnters Dam No. 4. Fuller particulars IN re-
,rard to the igltiug Ia DOnnelly'p Brigade will he