The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-04-11
The Battle of Kernstown.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch


| Correspondence of the Richmond Dspatch.1
Mt. JACKSON, Va, March g. 1862.
On Saturday, the 22d instant, General
jackson rapidly moved his little army
from camp, near this place, back to Ce-
dar Creek, twenty-six miles, in one day,
and camped there that night, making his
headquarters in Strasburg, which was
| evacuated by the enemy the day before.
Early the next morning, (Sunday,) he
| again moved forward, and the artillery
opened on the enemy near kernstown
about 10 o'clock. The fight was made by
the Yankees. as they fought at Manassas,
first making demonstration on our
right and then throwing their whole
force rapidly to our left. An ARTILLERY
duel" was kept up until about four
o'clock, our forces moving gradually to
the left, when the enemy's infantry adj
vanced in force. They were met by the
9th and DIST Virginia regiments, and
repulsed three times. Three times the
Stars and Stripes fell, and three times did
our gallant troops drive them headlong
down the hill. The 1st brigade, the
"Stonewall," then come up, and again a
fresh column of the enemy was driven
pt'Ns leaving VIC Hittc VI buc I'LL DluCh
with their dead and wounded.
Our artillery was now retiring from the
field, firing as it left. Another column
OF the enemy came up to attack our
wearied troops, and, overpowered by
numbers, they were forced to leave the
field. The 9th Virginia, Colonel w. II.
Hartman, which had been held in reserve,
now came up, repulsed three regiments
of the enemy three times, and with the
aid of the 42d Virginia, Colonel Burks,
saved the artillery and gave our scatter
ing troops time to rally on the next range
OF hills. By this time night was approach
ing, and the enemy, tired of trying to
conquer our little band of heroes, ceas-
ed firing, and the battle ended.
No battle has been fought during the
war against such odds and under the
same trying circumstances. With o force
not exceeding $500 men--men who had
been on forced marches for weeks-the
ranks Timed by the process of reorgani-
cation in front of the enemy, we attack
10000 fresh troops, repulsed them again
and again. until overpowered by num-
bers; and so crippled the enemy that
he dared not follow us on our retreat
hO histoiy WI tllS WAT ITO COLI
trast to the gallantry of our troops and
the desperation with which they fought
on Sunday, March 23d-the Yankees
fought better than at Manassas, but their
officers could be seen riding behind their
columns sabreing the men on to the work.
While the battle lasted the firing was
sharper and more rapid than on the glo-
rious DIST Of July. 1t was equally as bard
a fought battle and against greater odds,
and if not so successful on our side, the
result leaves no blush of shame behind,
and adds new laurels to the desperate
bravery of both officers and men of our
little army.
Our loss is estimated at about 800 kill
ed, wounded and missing. Letters re-
ceived from Winchester last night, from
reliable persons, state that one hundred
and forty-siX of our men were prisoners,
forty.siX being wounded. The Yankees
admit loss of 800 killed, and from |, 900
tie 1900 wounded and missing. The
same letters state that there is "no eXul-
tation among the Yankees and that they
look upon Jackson's army as band of
heroes" Our ladies in Winchester gave
every attention to our wounded and
prisoners. For the first time since Yam
KEGS entered the town they crowded the
streets, and the march of our men to the
railroad depot was as one expressed it,
"a march of triumph rather than Of de-
feat" The Yankees did not interfere
with this patriotic demonstration, or the
shouts of our brave boys for jeff Davis
and the Confederacy." The same letters
represent the Yankees as looking upon
Jackson's army, particularly Colonel
Ashby's cavalry, with fear and trembling.
The men claim no victory over us though
the usual noise will be made in their pa
pers. Our people on the border look
upon our gallant fight on Sunday in the
light of q victory, and seem cheerful and
hopeful.