Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-04-04
LETTER FROM WINCHESTER,
Correspondence Of The Baltimore Repabficoa.
WINCHESTER, March 26, 1862

Correspondence Of The Baltimore Repabficoa
WINCHESTER, March 26, 1862
MEssRs. EDiToRs: Itmay interest your
readers to have some account of the Sc
we're battle of Sunday last near this town.
You have already the main facts as sta
ted in the dispatches of the telegraph
agents, and it is therefore needless to
repeat them. The plain story Of the
fight, as ascertained and believed by the
substantial people Of this place ig sucs
cinctly thus: 4
Late on Saturday afternoon some twp
or three hundred Of Col. Ashby's cavark
unexpectedly to all parties, military d 4
citizens, male-theis appeeraEsa " tslis
high ridge Of hills south Of the town,
and signalized their presence with the
discharge of few shells, but not in the
direction of any of the houses of the
citizens. This, of course, produced great
commotion among the Federal military,
who Immediately commenced moving in
all directions; cavalry, infontry, and ar
tillcry went laundering and plunging
through the town all night, giving our
citizens very impressive idea of the
dread connections and fierce energies Of
/ war.
AT sunrise in the morning, the Fede-
rails, to the number of from ten to twelve
thousand, infantry and cavalry, with nu-
merous batteries of artillery, were drawn
up opposite the Confederate position,
who under the command of Gen jack
son, had been posted about two miles
from the town, numbering in all, as is
believed here, about forty five hundred
to five thousand men. The infantry were
generally posted behind stone wall or
parapet, while the artillery, consisting of
some eighteen pieces some rifed, occu-
pied very advantageous positions on the
surrounding eminences, while Ashby's
cavalry could be seen man0uvering in
various directions. The conflict began
shortly after sunrise between the artille-
~, which kept up an incessant roar, the
shells flying and exploding among the
hostile ranks, carrying death and wounds
upon their iron wings The contest
reached its height about 2 clock when
the rattle of muskctry and the roar Of
artillery was most terrible The safe
distance at which your correspondent was
compelled to stand, enabled him to sec
IN the midst Of the clouds Of smoke, only
the movements Of the masses of troops as
they depIoyed or rushed forward Or back
ward in the charges
The battle ragged iiercely all day, when
the Confederates. exhausted aud over
powered by the numbers of the foe, slow
ly fell back on the Strasburg road stop
ping at every advantageous point to dis
charge their artillery into the ranks Of
the advancing enemy, who soon gave up
the pursuit and retired for the night
The Confedcrates lost but two pieces Of
artillery, which have been brought into
town. | can learn of no capture Of small
arms Of any description
A committee Of citizens, with the
Mayor at their head, next day proceeded
to the battle ground, where they found
aud buried eighty-fve Confederate dead
Fifteen of their wounded wero captured
and brought to town, whore they are re :
ceiving every possible attention. Two
hundred and tbirty-six other prisoners
we're taken who had by some means ad-
vanced too far beyond their lines. No
further losses in dead, wounded or pris-
oners can be ascertained here, as if there
we're any they were carried OF by their
friends. In regard to the casualties Of
the Fedcrals, | can only say they are
very great
The sights at many Of the largest'pub-
lie buildings in the place arc truly awful
They arc filled with poor dead, dying
creatures, the shrieks and means Of the
latter chilling our blood to hear them
The large Union hotel, the Methodist
/ Church, the Seminary, and other build
ings, are crowded with them, the living
receiving all the assistance they need
and tho dead being buried as fast as con-
yenient. The general opinion here is,
that the entire Federal loss will not fall
short Of three hundred killed, and from
five 10 six hundred wounded. Certainly
the numerous wagons, ambulances, and
other conyeyances which we're seen con-
tinually bringing loads oe the unfortu-
nate creatures, seemed sufficient to have
conveyed these numbers. The sights /
have seen we're my FIRST experience Of the
horrors Of war, and sincerely hope they
may be my last.
/ BeauFegard's Address to the Army.
Previous to leaving Manassas, TO take
the command Of the troops further South
/ Gen. Beaurogard issued the following
address:
HEADQUARTERS,
First Corps, Army Of the Potomac,
Near Centrovile, Jan 30, go
Soldiers Of the First Corps, Army Of
the Potomac: My duty calls me away,
and to temporary separation from you.
hope, however, TO be with you again,
to share your labors and your perils, and
in defense Of our homes and our rights.
"a iead vot, 10 uouy hafttou IA ha nrotyncd