Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-04-04
The Battle of Winchester.

STdC ftCCOIy' E'At' "o' dtHdIy DecuS
Of VaLor. General Shields Official
Report.
New YoRK, March 26. The Heyald's
Winchester dispatch says that On Sunday
morning at ten o'clock the rebels received
reinforcements under General Garnet,
numbering 5000 men. The Union forces
did not exceed 10000 men, and with the
exception of about 50l, were Of Gen
Shields division exclusively. At Lalf
past ten the enemy mad, feint on our
left, commanded by Acting Brigadier
General Sullivan, opening heavy fire
of artillery, while the real attack vas
directed against our right, with the object
Of thanking it. Gen Kimball command
ed our right, where the heaviest fighting
was done. The enemy were strongly
posted in the woods behind a stone wall,
and their artillery was posted on an emf
nence on both sides Of their left wing.
Our whole artillery force was engaged.
1t consisted of four batteries of twenty
four pieces in all. The contest ragged
furiously till ; 2. NJ, the fighting being
done chiefly by artillery and masketry
at range of not more than 800 or 400
yards, and often much less. The rebel
infantry opposite our right now debouch-
ed from the roads, and attempted to cap
ture Doane's battery by charge. The
first effort was nearly successful, but
heavy discharge of grape compelled
them to retire in confusion. a second
and weaker attempt likewise failed, and
the enemy fell back with heavy loss, be-
hind the stone parapet,
Gen. Tyler now ordered his brigade
to charge the enemy's batteries on the
left, and a most deadly encounter follow
ed. Twice our men reeIed under the
storm, but on the third effort they routed
the rebels with tremendous slaughterand
loud cheering, capturing two of their
guns and Eour caissons. Our loss in
these struggles was heavy. Out of 800
men engaged in the 8th Pennsylvania
regiment, 26 were killed and SO wound
ed. Col. Murray fell leading his gallant
corps forward, and many other dasbing
officers were killed or wounded.
The 9th and 8th Ohio shared the glory
and losses with the 84th and 81 Virginia
regiments, who also suffered. Lieut..
Col. Thoburn, who commands this corps,
was severely wounded while leading it to
the last charge.
The enemy's killed and wounded
strewed the ground in profusioe, and their
left wing was utterly broken and their
centre was wavering. On their side the
4th and 9th Virginia regiments suffered
The most. The former was terribly dec
mated. Several attempts to rally their
right wing failed, and to add to their
confusion the Irish battalion Of, 100, I
when brought forward and ordered to
fire upon the Union troops, refused to
fire, and rebel regiment Immediately
lrove this gallant little band forward,
out could not compel them to fire upon
he Union army. Forty corpses of the
I50 afterward strewed the field.
In the mean time the rebels gave way
IN their left and centre, with loss of
700 killed and wounded and 23G taken
prisoners. Besides these, about 1900
nuskets were taken, and many other
trophies. Our loss does not
exceed 100 killed and 800 wounded.
WINCHESTER, March %. The de-
ail5 of Sundays fight record more deeds
If daring than any battle in history.
Capt. Shri6er, Aid and Inspector
General in Gen. Shields division, while I
riding to the crest of a bill to the left Of
he stone ledge, with two orderlies, was
confronted by five rebel cavalry, who |
,mptied their revolvers, killing the two =
Capt. Shriber charged them, running
me through the body, and receiving a
,al through his cap, but was unharmed. {
Capt. Perkins, chief of General Banks {
taft, was mainly instructive in planning
he attack, and performing deeds of skill
md valor. S
The twelve rebel regiments engaged g
vele all Vlrginians. Among them were
he Sd, 4tb, 18th, 23d, 42d and 32d, one
and one Irish regiment Z
They had Ashby's cavalry, two eight a
un batteries, one six-gun battery and
ne four-gun battery, making twenty-six
uns in all, among which were some q
hat were captured at Bull Run. Four t
olor bearers of the 9th Ohio regiment
,ere seyerallv killed. when Cant, Whit