, 1862-06-07
THE RETREAT OF GEN. BANKS.
Official Report OF Ertgadicr-Genera1
Gordon.
HEADQUARTERS THIEp BRIGADE, +
CANT NEAR WILLIAMSBURG. Nd,


CAN'T NEAR W1LL1AMsFoRT, Md.
Capt Vim: D. Wilkins, Asst. Adjt-General, Gen
era1 Williams Division, Fifth Army Co1ps:
CAPTAIN: Agreeably to instructions re-
ce1yed from headquarters Of the division,
have the honor to report the movements Of
the brigade in an engagement with the enemy
on the 25th inst, in front Of and less than
third Of q mile from tic town Of Winchester,
Va. At dawn in the morning I received in
formation through the officer commanding
the pickets that the enemy in large numbers
were driving them in and approaching the
town.
Immediately formed my brigade in line Of
battle, the right resting upon the command
ing ridge, the left extending into the valley.
The ridge surrounds the town, which it holds
as in basin. It is less than one-third Of q
mile distant, and presents many key-points
for positions. I placed my artillery, battery
NJ. Of 1st New T ork, composed Of six 6-pound
Pa11ott guns, under Lieutenant Peabody, upon
the ridge, and thus awaited further develop
ments. About five q. III. skirmisherB from the
Cd Massachusetts, on the right and crest Of
the hill, became sharply engaged Al about
the same time I directed the battery to open
: on the columns Of the enemy, evidently NOV
ing into position just to the right and front
of my center. This was done with admirable
effect, the columns Disappearing over the
crest. For more than an hour fire of shell
and canister from several rebel batteries was
, directed upon my position.
/: Ny brigade, being5 somewhat protected by .
raE1ne, suffered but little loss. The fire Of
+; our skirnushers, and the spirited replies of
.slhc battery, w. III ileary mnsketry and artil-
lcry fIing on our left in Donnelly,5 hrirade
were the only marked features Of the cnItest
i until after 6 L. N. At about $50, perhaps
j nearer q. n, large bodies Of infantry could
| be seen making their way in line Of battle to-
wards nv riaht They moved un3nr cover
+; of Of the dense woods. thus eonceal;nv snmc.
what their Numbers. I directed the 20th
! Penn. regiment, Col. Murphy, and the eth
Indiana regiment, Col, Colgroye. to change
position from the left To the ripht of nv line
! holding the ol MASSACHUSETTS, rer;rent + ;ant
Col. Andrews. 17rst m the r;rhf in tIc canter
The I'd Wisconsin rer;1nent EoI Rnrer forn,,,
;nr fhe 1eft Tb;s morannent G IA hardi,
cn7,niat ID 5.en;ta -,a- hnt+n- x4t;a+ ~ 'a.
- 1non nv IN 1aar .raa 1aoa Im
u1o4 ~ 1lnS, ~Asn su,ec latES val'a1ione
" 80 tHIsot1S taeEs ~ oios' " oat'.-, ea'uc
oul from Inelr cover ana ar1roacnec my
t;n ni1gaae. !hey we're reeelyed With destrdc'
i've nfe o1 musKetrs, poured IN from Ill parts
u NY o5lsaoe t,at coulo reacn tncn.
1onnuent ~ tnell nuHsoers ana rei5lns upon
HuEe SuStalnlng I .oomes, suspicious oi which
nl1@ pcnlno tne governing tlmocr N our front, were
eu415 Igiailneu' i:..1 l tue cnelny unes moved
ts, on, ou! ntllc saahsn y our hIe. Al the same
time, IN our front, . long iue Of infantry
showed themselves rising TO the crest Of the
hills just beyond our position. My little bri-
gade, numbering in all just 2, ,102, in another
moment would have been overwhelmed. Or
its right, left and centre, immensely superior
columns were preseing-not another man was
available, not a support to be found in the
remnant OF his army corps, left Gen, Banks
To withdraw Was now possible; in anothcl
moment it would have tecn too late. At this
moment should have assumed the response
bility Of requesting permission to withdraw,
but the right fell back under great pressure
which compelled The line 10 yitld.
!: fell back slowly, but generally In gooi
order. the Second Massachnsntfs IN rojnmr
Of companies moyiDc bg fank. tho Tniri
; Wisconsin in Inc Of battle moyine to tht
! rear, On every side above tie SURROUNDING
! crest surged The rebel forces. A sl,srn AM
withering fire Of musketry vas opened by th,
; enemy from the crest uson the center i.f
and right. The yclls of !: victorious and rae7
! nilpna foa xrorn nhex, +ho H., -