Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-04
The Iletrent Of Gen. Kinks

and on Saturday, when the division started, it
had before it a train of eight miles in length.
We left camp about nine A. NJ, and toiled
along mixed up with our baggage train until
about P. NJ. The distance from Strasburg to
Winchester is about eighteen miles. At the
distance of eight miles from Winchester. is a
town called Newton, Our train reached from
Newton to Winchester We were about mid
way OF the train when news was brought that
the rear had been attacked, and several wag-
ons captured. We were ordered back with
two other regiments, to defend the rest of it.
Marching back we found everything in confu
sion. The wagons were overturned and de-
serted men frightened, mules and horses cast
loose, and every thing in trouble generally.
We drew up in line of battle Just before New
ton. After little diminishing, we prepared
to enter the town. We were met at the en-
trance by some wel-directed shells. These
burst around us and over us, but wounded
only one man. We spent the rest of the af-
ternoon until dark, in artillery firing.
But here we are, at sunset, eight miles from
the main body, and to it we must retreat, with
large force 1--WE did not then know how
large) before us. We did it-with our single
regiment unaided, and for the most part alone
| -retreated in perfect order to Winchester
We had the enemy close upon us all the time
and while we probably inflicted upon them Sc
we're loss, our own was from thirty to forty
| We had no adequate idea of their strength,
though we knew that there were cavalry and
infantry many times our own regiment. Their
artillery was now useless, as it was dark.
! They did indeed throw one shell at
us, and it went far beyond us Some
of the wagons had been overturned and some
| left without mules at the sides of the road
from Newton for a mile or two on our way.
These the 27th Indiana set fire to and then
went ahead towards Winchester. Our regi-
ment formed in the street by platoons, having
one company deployed as skirmishers on each
flank, and one behind us in the rear as rear
guard. This last was company |, Capt. I'm
derwood, which fought splendidly and suffered
the most of any.
When all was ready we marched off in 81
lence, the second platoon of company E be-
ing the rearmost platoon of the column and
under my command. 1t was now quite dark,
and the light from the burning wagons threw
lurid glare over the whole scene We
marched through the double line of fire at an
ordinary quick pace and drew up about a
quarter Of a mile from the last burning cart
By this time we could hear the cheers of the
rebels as they once more entered the town.
and their howls as they came to the burning
wagons. There was also an occasional shot
from our Skirmishers. Our regiment was or
dered to halt The skirmishers | noticed raj
| lying by platoons. Soon could be heard the
heavy laundering tramp of cavalry as they
came down on lis at the clear jump. Not a
word or movement from our men yet Down
| they came until they emerged from the line
| of burning wagons. Then we had a splendid
chance. We were entirely in the dark, while
the enemy showed with startling distinctness
| against the glare behind them. Now they are
within about fifty yards of our foremost pla-
! toon Our platoon was on the left of the
road, one in the center and one on the right.
All three platoons opened fire at once, thus
exposing the enemy to cross fire. 1t must
have been tremendously calling to them.
| They wheeled at once and went galoping off.
while their officers tried in vain to rally them,
calling them towards, &c. But it did no
| good; the cavalry did not trouble us again
that night. They had got lesson which they
etfectually took to heart
Early in the afternoon we had left our khan
sacks by the side of the road. so as to Tighten
the men. Having arrived at this place or our
return, we halted, and one company at time
got their knapsacks and took up their position
IN the road. Our company had just got theirs
and were holding the road while another COM
pany secured theirs. My men were standing
and sitting in their places. l had called NV
servant to me and taken my roll of blankets
from Illin' and was sitting upon it. Suddenly.
without any warning whatever, we heard the
: crack OF rifles, and volley after volley swept
: over us. At the first volley my servant start
co. leaving my blanket, haversack, and every
t thing else, l had to carry them the rest of
the night. Capt. Underwood's companv TO-
turned the volley, and very raDid fire was
/ kept up for several minutes. until two other
t companies could be deployed to his assistance
i Captain Underwood lost some eight or ten in
killed and wounded, in that short time. The
bullets whistled all about me. Later in the
; evening we had very brisk fight with them.
but only one was killed. though several were
wounded
Thus we fought and retired for the space Of
f SIX hours, until the wagon train was three
miles beyond Winchester Thus the I'd reg
lment in six hours of steady fighting against
, tremendous odds, not only foiled every at
tempt of the enemy to cut us off. but actuallv
: saved the whole of Banks train. We were
, entirely unsupported, and it was glorious
, fight on our part. We arrived at Winchester
, at l A. NJ. and Immediately bivouacked in an
open field. My servant built fire, and at
about half past two | laid down and tried 70
sleep, trembling with cold for it was very
cool night AT three and half in the morn
ing awokc. 1t was just daybreak, and the
enemy had begun to attack our pickets. Shots
were exchanged in pretty rapid succession.
constantly growing nearer as our pickets were
driven in. | ate few mouthfllls of hard broad
and bacon, the first thing of any account
had eaten simon tho mon Loe..a