Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-31
IETTER FRoaI yv1NoHRsFER.

The !S.L day -, sF ter ths batt1e-TerElble
pitfalls. lf5p aETF = -. =
WINCHESTER, March 90.
Reporters, like all others, sometimes
suffer from lack of foresight; and if gen.
erals had no expectation or prescience of a
battle, certainly the public will not think
1t strange that the writer of this letter was
taken by surprise when he learned that a
great fight was going on near Winchester.
Aud a great conflict it was-tar greater
than we had at first realized and AFTER a
careful knowledge of all the circumstances
OF the battle, We cannot be credulous of
the assertions of men who have seen Bull
Run and Crimean battles, and who affirm
that the battle of Kearnstown, in the des-
perateness of fighting, was equal to any of
them. Estimates attirst made of the losses
were very far diminished and not exaRger-
aztec, and facts recently received leave no
DOUBT that the rebel loss was 500 killed
500 or 700 wounded, besides the prison
ers, about 800 of whom have been sent
forward TO Baltimore. Instances of indi-
yidual bravery come in continually which
are full of the most thrilling interest. and
charges toward the deadly Dire Of artillery.
led by brave and often unfortunate officers
inspire the greatest confidence in the value
of our Union armies. The enemy fought
well, and It is useless and untrue to sneak
lightly of their bravery. They fought well
aud held out long against the superior fir
ing and daring of our forces, as their i'm
mense loss makes very evident.
No wonder Stone-wall Jackson thinks Il
was a, desperate fight. am informed. nv
one OF the staff of Gen. Shields, who has
just returned from the track Of their re.
treat, that, as ar as he moved, the ene-
my's dead were found streWn along the
turnpike. For twenty -four hours from the
beginning of the fight, the enemy were
ourying their. dead. In one barn along the
road there had been left 6tty, all but eight
OF whom We're buried. The estimate of
their loss is carefully made, aud is yery
nearly accurate, without doubt. Our own
loss, as ascertained, is rs or 100 killed.
and $50 wounded. These will not receive
much alteration. I shall send, by to.mor.
rows mail, complete list of the killed
aud wounded Of onr own men, and some
other accurate details.
The scene of the conflict is terrible.
Civilians are generally prevented from Wis.
lung It for the present. Il is impossible
70 describe the scene so as to give a reali.
Lation OF its ghastliness and terror. which
any one ought 10 blush not to perceive
while walking amid the remnants of hu-
mRnity which are scattered about. Bodies
~, all the frightful attitudes which 4
violent and unnatural death could pro.
dqce, stained with blood, mangled and
ieeeEated perhaps, often begrimed and
black, lay scattered here aud there, some
times almost in heapsl
Some had craWled away when wounded
20 comfortable place 70 die. Two men
lay almost covered with straw into which
leased them. In the woods throuqb which
our troops had 70 pass 70 charge the rebels |
lie the largest number of dead, and -. |
yond, on the other side Of the wall from
behind which they poured their volleys Of |
balls at our men, large numbers of the reb-
els lie, pierced ir the forehead or face as |
taey rose above their hiding place to shoot
illness in the appearance Of the enemys
dead. Did not their dress tiistinuish them