New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-15

pike road eadinp 70 Ss-asburg IL the CENTER and the
Front Royai road on the east. There IL little vi
lsge called kerns.own, on the valley roa1, hoou.
81 miles iron Winchester. On the vest slde Oh tniS
road, shout half mile north of kerhstown, ~
ridge OF ground which commands the approsch oy
The turnpike an1 portion Of the surrounding couh-
Try. This ridge waf the key point OF our pcst,on.
Here Col Kimball, the senior officer in command on
The field took his station. Along This ridge Leui.-
Col. Dauln, chief OF artillery, posted three OF his
batteries keeping one OF his batteries n reserve
some distance in the rear. Part of infantry was
ist placed III portion in the rear and within sup-
porting distance Of these batteries, well sheltered
IN the wlndIlgs and sinuosities Of the ridge. The
main body OF the enemy on the ridge was
posted In order Of battle about half a nile be-
yond kernstown, hs line extending from the Cedar
Creek road to little rsyine, the Front Royal
road, distance Of about two miles. Tins ground
bad been so skilliuily selected that while II afforded
facilities for maneuyering, If completely masked
by hlgli and wooded ground in front. Ibese woods
he filed with skirpiisilers supported by battery
each flank, and so adrotly had this movement been
conducted and go sklllfGlly had be concealed him.
self, that at o'clock o. m. on the I'D nothing was
visible bat tho sane force under Ashby which bad
been repulsed the previous evening. Not beng able
10 reconnoiier the front in rerson, dispatched
experie need officer, Col. John r. Mason of the tth
Ohio Volunteers, about oclock u. H. TO the front,
10 perform that duty and 10 report TO promptly
as possible every circumstance that might indicate
the presence OF the enciny. About au hour ailer
Col Mason returned and reported to me that he had
carefully reconnoered The country in front and on
both lsnks, and found Indications Of any hostile
force exsep, that OF shbys.
i communicated this information 70 Saior-Gen.
Banks, who was 'hoB with me, and after consulting
together VIC both concluded that Jackson could not
DC tempted 10 hazard himself so Tar away from bis
main support. Having both cone to this conclusion
Gen. Banks took his departure for Washington,
being alrea6y under orders 10 that effect. The oi-
GERS OF his Staf, however, remained behind, intend
ing 10 leave for Cen;reylle IN the afternoon. Al
though l began TO conclude that Jackson wac no
whcre in the vicinity, knowing the crafty enemy we
have 10 deal with, l took not to omit angle
pTecsuticn. Between II and ~ u. m, uessngc
from Col. Eimball informed me that another battery
on the enemy night had opened on rosiiion and
That there Indications OF "A considerable
force Of infantry in tho woods in that quarter. On
| receiving 'hls information, pushed forward Sulli-
vans Brigade, which was placed, by order of Col
kimball III petition TO oppose ths advance of the
eneny right wing. The action opened with Ere
of artillery both sidea but ~ too great distance
10 be very elective. The initiative was t. ken by
/ the enemy. lie pushed forward iew gun, to
bis right, supported by considerable force Of inian-
Iiry snd cayeiry, with tho apparent intention Of
IerllAding our position and turning left flank.
An active body Of skiruishers consisting OF the o;h
! Ohio Col. Carol, and three companies Of the 9th
Ohio was immediately throwp forward on both
sides OF the valley road 10 resist the enemys ad'
vance. These skiunshers were admirably support
ed by four pieces Of artillery, under Capt Jenss,
and Suiiyau's gallant brigade. This united force
r-pul.ed the enemy ~ ali Iouts, and gave In snch
check that no further demonstration was madt
upon that Hank during The remainder OF the day
The attempt sgainst lett flank having thus laiied
lie enemy Withdrew the greater part Of bis force e
the right and formed ii into reFcrNc 20 support IN.
/ l.ft Anpl in "A forward movement. lie then added
biz orginsi reserve and two baiienes to hls ni.in
/ body, and then advancing with thi- combined col
unin under shelter u the bridge on his lcit, OF
which other batteries had been previously posted
seemed evidently determined TO Turn our ngh' hank
Z or overthrow II. Our batteries TIE opposite
ridge. though adm rsbly MANAGED by their oxPe
ficrced chief, Lieu..-Col. Danm, were soon found
insufficient 20 check, even retard, the gdYaIce o
such a formidable body. Az This stage Of the COM
bat q messenger arrived frouo Cot hlnbal, MORN
mo me Of The state of The field, and requ .tng
Gifecion a. TO the employment Of The Inlintry
/ raw there was not moment 20 lose, and
gaye pOsiiyc oritrs that ali the dispos.ble iniaii-
try ,houid lie Immediately thrown forwfrd on
onr ght 60 carry the en.my's batteries, and TO a
sail end fnfn hs leis Hank and furl pack on tie
center. Col kimball carried out these ordef- with
7 Ir1mIfiinde and ability. He ntus5.d this
movement % 1ylcTs splendid brigade, which, under
~ fearless leader Col Iyler, marched forward win
slaoriy and enthusiastic Joy TO The performance oi
tho most Ieious duty Of she day. The enemy
skrushrs were driven before II and fell beck upon
ths inain BODY, strongly po,ted behind a hiSh and
.olid ffcns wall siluaied on elevated gr-n Dc llofo
the .fsagglc became desperate, aud for snort time
doubtful put Iyler's br gado being soon joined on
Tie icE by'tho 5th OHIO, lth Indann ard b2d Ohio
Of SulliVans brigade, and the Itih Indiana, oiti
pennsy lvrnir seven companies Of Tho tth ono and
three companies Of tho sth Ohio of kimball brigade
his united force dashed uIon the enemy with cheer
and yoll that rose hph up above tie roar Of batic
aud hou Oh the Rebels fought desperately as their
plea OF dead affect they were forced back through
the woods by lire rs destructive ever fell upon
rctrentng fO. Jackson with bis supposed invncinlc
sione-wGl bulHde and the accompanying brgades,
mucn TO their mortilcaiion and discontinue, were
compelled 10 fall back IN disorder upon their reserve.
Here thev took up new position for q final stand,
and made attempt FOR few minutes 10 retrieve
the fortunes Of the day; but again ained down upon
hem the close and destructive IRE. Agn cheer
upon cheer rang IN their ears. \ few mlnute1 only
dii they stand up eRsinet IL, when they turned dis
i.aycd and led disorder, leaving ns in possession
of Tho field the killed and wounded. 200 pris0ners,
two guns, four oes0rs and thousind stand OF small
arins Night alone saved hlm fT0m total destruction.
The enemy retrcaied above i've miles and, JudgiDg
from hi camp fires, took ny new position for tho
night. Our troops, woaried and exhausted with tie
faigues OF the day, threw themselves down 10 rest
on tne field
Though the tat,le had been won, still could not
! have believed that jackson would have halarded q
| decirive engagement at such distance from the
main body without expecting TeeniOgcemens. SO, TO
! be- prepared FOR such contingency, set 10 Worh
during the night 10 bring together ali the troops with
! in nv reach. l sent az express after W amh d.
yision, requesting the brigade, about twenty miles
distant to march all night, ard Join me in the morn
ing. | swept the posts and rouie IN my rear OF
slno,t all tleir guarCs, huuylng them forward Dy
forced marches 10 be with me a. dayhght. gave
pos,iye orders also TO the forces in the field 20 open
Inc on the enemy as soou ~ the lign Of day would
enable them 10 point their guns, and 10 pursue him
wit out respite and compel him 70 abandon his guns
and baggage or cut him TO peces. ihese orders
were implicitly obeyed az far as possible. ~ now
anteafp That had rigidly OWNED tho intentions Of
our crafty antagonist. Ga the morning OF the "a a