Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-06-26

field, supported by the 2S,h New York and ~ tn
 Indiana, aud ordered to drive the en my from
 the town; and the battery was. at the same
 time, so placed as to silence the guns ot the enrmY.
 B In these objects were quickly accomplish
 ed. They found it impossible tn reach Middle
 town SD as to enable the cavalry under Gen. Hatch to join the column, or to cover entirely
 ne rear ,i the Irain. Large bnllrs ot the enc
 ny's cavalry passed upon onr 9ht aud left anc
 he increased vigor of his movements demon
 strated the rapid advance of the main body 1 I cavalry charge made upon our troops was re- i 'eived in squares on the right and on the road
 md in the line of -tde left which rrpeled hs
 assault aud gained time 10 reform inc tram, to
 cover its rear and burn the disabled wagons 1 I'his affair occupied several hours, the regiments
 having been moved to the rear about o'clock,
 tnd not reaching the town until after l2.
 4 full report by Col. Gordon, wh" command 1 cd in person, is incn,e herewith. The prnc>
 'al lnss of the I'd Massachusetts occurred H. this action.
 THE FIGHT AT WINCHESTER. l The strength and purpose of the enemy were ! to Us unknown when we reached Winchester, l except upon surmise and vague rumors from 1 Front Royal. Th+se rumors were strengthened l ny the vigor with which the enemy had pressed our main column, and defeated every point the efforts of detachnents to effect junction with the main column.
 1 At Winchester, however, all suspicion was 1 relieved on that subject. All casses-seces- sionists uuionists, refugees, fugitives and priso ners-argued that the enemy's force at or near Winchester was overwhelming ranging from ktha ioti Wbn "a tn our camp with entire uuconcern, supposing that their own troops occe pied the town as a matter of course. and were captured, confirmed these statements. and added that an attack would be made upon us at daybreak. 1 determined to test the substance aud strength O. the enemy by actual collision, and measures were promptly i taken to prepare our troops to meet them. They had tsken up their position on entering the town after dark, without expectations of battle, and were at disadvantage as compared with the enemy
 The rattling of musketry was heard during the latter part of the night and before the break of day sharp engagement occurred at the out posts Soon after f o'clock the artillery opened it's fire which was continued without cessation Jill the close of the engagement.
 The right of our line was occupied by the 3d brigade, Col George H. Gordon commanding
 
 phe center covered by stone walls from the fire of the enemy.
 Their infantry opened on the right, and soon both lIres were under feavy fire. The left was occupied by the 3l brigade, Col. Dudley Donnelly commanding. The line weak compared with that of the erem'; but the troops were posted, and patient lv awaited. a they nobly improved. their coming opportunity. The earliest movements of the enemy were on our left, two regiments being seen to move with the purpose of occupying position in flank rear. Gen. Hatch sent de- t.Ghment of cavalry to intercept this movement, when it was apparently abandoned. The enc my suffered very serious loss from the fire of our infantry on the left. One regiment is rep resented by persons present during the acton, and after the field was evacuated, as nearly de- strOyed.
 The main body of tue enemy was hidden dur> ine the early part of the action by the crest of the hill, and the woods in the rear. Ther forces were mas~ed apparently upon our right and their maneuvrrs indicated purpose u turn us upon the Berryvillc road, where, it appeared subsequently, they had placed con- siderable iorce, with view or preventing reIr- torcements fr)u Harper's Ferry. But tie steady fire of our line, held them in check until a small portion Of the troops on the right of our
 .nt made movement ID the Fear. It Is but
 ust to add fiat this vas duue under the errone- ] o!s Impression thae ra Cfdag tp wHhdraw EAd ! n-en given. Nu sooner vas this observed bg i hr enemy than it's # Ijmeut1 Swarmtd upon the | crest Of the hll. advalcing from inc woods uplh our fight, which, ~til contnuing is tire steadily l wi | ire v tno ards the town.
 1 The overwhelming force of the enemy now suddenly ohoHing itself, making further resist ! auc4 uuwisr, oricrs were sent 70 the left by Capt l De Vaudeville ro withdraw, which was done r-- 1 uctanliy, bat in order, the enemy having greatly I suffered iu that wing X portion of the troops ! passed through the town in some confusion, hnr he column was s0ou reformed, and continued 1 irs march in order.
 This engagement held lhe enemy in check for ! five hours.
 i The forces engaged were greatly unequal.- ] Iudapog~d to accept the early rl nors concern ing the enemy strength, l reported tO the de- i partnen mt ihat 1t was about fifteen thousand. IL is now c0ncusiyely shown that not less than i Zj.00O men were in position and could have ! been brought into action. On the right and ! left their great superiority of numbers was
 plainly felt and seen, and the ignal officers from elevated positions, were enabled 10 loan. the re-
 siment.I standards indicating strength equal to that have stated.
 i Nv own command consisted of two brgades of less than 1000 n -n, all told, with nine hun lred 900) cavalry, ten Parrott guns, and one
 battery of six pouudrra, smooth hOro cannon. 1 io this should be added the 10th Maine re2i- ment of infantry. and five companies of Mary 1 land cavalry, stationed at Winchester, whi, h
 were engaged in the action. The loss ot the 1 enemy was treble that of ours in k lied and wounded.
 i Officers whose word 1 cannot d)pbt have stats | ed as the result of their own observation that our men were fired upon from private dwellings, ! in passing through Wlnchester, tut an cred ib!y informed, ana gladly believe, that the alro- cities aid to have been perpetrated upon our
 wounded soldiers by the rebels, are greatly ex l argeratcd or entirely untrue.
 ] Our march was turned in the direction of Mar l tinshur9, hoping there to meet with reinforce
 ments--lhe troops moving in three parallel co
 lumns, each protected hy an efficient rear guard. ] Pursuit by the enemy was prompt and vigorous, | but our movements were rapid and without ! loss.
 A few miles from Winch Ter the sound of the
 steam whistle, heard n the direction of Martins i burg, strengthened the hope of rtinforcementsi
 aud stifr9d the blood ot tlt men ike Il trumpet.
 Soon after two squadron3 of cavalry came dash
 ing down the road with wild hurrahs. They
 were thought to be the advance of the antci i pated support, and received with draienlng ! cheers t,ye.y mar ieit like turning pack upon
 the enemy IL proved to be the first Mar, laud