The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-04-17

ThN ridge was the key point OF our
position and on this Col. Kimball the sen
ior officer in command Of the field took
his station. Along this ridge Lieut.. Col.
Daum, Chief OF Artillery, posted three
batteries, keeping one battery in reserve
some distances in the rear. Part of the
Federal infantry was posted on this ridge
within supporting distance of the arul,
lery, and sheltered by the ire gularities Of
the hills.
The main body Of the enemy was post
ed in order OF battle. about halt a mile be-
yond Kerustown. his line extending
bout two miles from The Cedar Greek
road on his left,to aravine near the Front
Royal road on his right. The enemy had
so skillfully selected his ground that,
while it afforded facilities for moneuyer-
ling, be was completely masked by high
and wooded grounds. in front, and SO a.
droitly did he conceal himself, tha. at 8
o'clock, A. NJ, Of tho 23i, nothing was
visible but the came force which had
been repulsed the evening previous.
Boiug unable in consequence Of his
wound to racouuoiter the point in person,
Gen, Shields dispatched an officer 10 per-
form that duty, who returned about an
hour after, reporting that there were no
indications of any hostile force, except
that of Ashbys cavalry. Gen. Shields
aud Gen. Banks. after consulting logeth-
er came to the conclusion that Jackson
was nowhere in the vicinity, and there,
fore Gen. Banks took his departure for
Washington. Although the conclusion
had been reached that Jackson was not
before Winchester, yet General Shislds,
knowing the crafty enemy hs had to deal
with, did not neglect single precauIion.
About half past 10 o'clock A. NJ, ano-
lher battery opened against our position,
and Col. Kimball saw in that quarter in.
i dications Of a considerable force in the
i, woods. Informing Gen. Shields of this
act, Sulliyan's brigade vas immediately
pushed forward and placed in a position
to oppose the advance Of The enemy's
right wing. The action opened by FIRE
of al tillerY on both sides, but at too grea
= a distance to be vary effective. The ad
vance was made by the enemy, who push
ed forward few more guns TO his right
: supported by considerable force of in
Iantry and cavalry, with the apparent in
tentiun of inGlading our position and turn
e ing our lef; faux. An active body o
@ skirmishtrs, consisting Of the Eight
e Ohio, Col. Carroll, and three ccmpanie
of the Sixty-sevenlh Ohio updrr Majo
al Bond. was Immediately thrown iolwar
i. on both sides of the valley road to chec
r. The en,my'S advarce, These skirmiNhel
ls were supported by four pieces Of arIlller
in and Sulivan's brigade, aud Ills unite
n. force repulsed the enemy at al points,
A. The attempt against our leit flank hsvin
ID failed, the euemy withdrew the create
ct par, OF lis force OH the right and formr
he it into a reserve to support his left. l.
p. then added his original reserve and tw
de batteries to his main toGy, and und
,n shelter of ill on his left, on which
lie had already posted other batteries, he a.
~ ~ vanced their formidable column, with Il
on evident detcrminat ofturDinB our rig
flank or overwhelming it, Our batteri
,is ON the opposite hill were soon found
on sufficient to check or even retard him.
no message was sent to Gen. Shields inforI
a, ing him of the state Of the field. Not
hv moment was to be lost. "Thlow t, rw0
mr. all your disposstle infantry, carry
batteries, turn his left flank, and hurl
M, back on the CENTER" were his orders, a
N. Col. Kimball executed them with rapid
iii. and vigor. The movement was intrust
thc to Tylet's splendid brigade, and loowi
;s,. their intrepid leader, they pressed i'
ms. ward with enthusiasm to the performar
m. OF this perilous duty. The enemy's sh
tb mishers were as chaff before the wind.
inc Steadily onward it Went until withii
di' lew yards of u high stone wall, behl
bv which the en-, my was securely post
,ear wien it was met by fire SO fierce {
ow deadly that its ranks melted away
one frost before the morning sun. They
him vored but for a moment, then rushed
zero ward to the desperate struggle. At
,.pn iuncture Col. Tyler was re'euforr ed
or. i've companies Of tie Fifth Ohio.
olIv Thirteenth Indiana and Sixty second Ol
non. Of Sulhvau's brigade, aud the Four;ee
~ anr! Indiana, Eighty fourth Pennsylyal
,bsil seven companies Of tho Sixty-sevr
re,y Ohio, and three companies Of the Els
Al. Ohio, Of Kimbal's brigade; and wi
ning cheer and yell that rose high and
rusc above the roar of battle, drove the en-
the from their shelter, and through the wo
,bn, with fire as destructive as ever fell
ce;v. on q retreatiDg foe. The rebels io'
dis desperately, as their piles of dead at
dav and, to their chsgrin and mortiiioa'
n.rd Jackson's 'inyincible stone wall briga
"a on aud the accompanying brigades were
,llery liged tO fall back upon their rcserN
sun. disorder. Here they took up new
vanS. sitiou, and attempted to retrieve tie
Kim. tunes of tho day But again rainod
80 ~ upon them tho same close and des
- ,bo live fIe. Again cheer upon cheer
~ in their ears. But a few minutes did
vslyyy stand against it when they turned
:, onr fed in dismAy, leaving their killed
might TouuIsu r on ,i .nI Is,,n,tinS do,u % TH. a,
being .ne'n ,iy'n t. 'O.' eea e" n,;,oO .nd ,OoL
new position for the night. Our Il
airy Of 'nte~ Inem'vTos '.ora ~ oCT no E Erst ioo5
,f the resi- anu P"'''N0 VI WV
soene early dawn.
raIely Although the battle nSd peenWoh
Win Gen. Shields could not believe mat
,tb by son would have hazarded a decisiv