The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-04-03
The Battle of Winchester.

uoder Jackson having been incorrectly 10
formed by the inhabitants that this town
had been deserted by Union troops, sent a
force of five hundred cavalry and two guns
to retake it. Our pickets were driven IN:
Gen. Shields brought up his forces and
drove the encmy back, and to K several
prisoners. The General was wounded In
the epemys first fire. The Federals slept
on their arms all night.
Sunday morning at sunrise, Jackson be-
ing reinforced, attacked Shields near Keats
town, three miles from Winchester. The
enemy were strongly posted in the woods
and behind stone wall. The rebel artll-
lery was posted on eninences on both sides
of their left wing. His force consisted of
five hundred of Ashby's Cavalry, five thou
sand infantry and nine pieces of artillery,
with reserve The fight continued tlIl
noon, when charge was made by Ohio in-
fantry, Michigan lst and the lst Virginia
cavalry, on their right, driving the enemy
back half mile, where they got guns In
position again in dense wood, Aanked by
infantry, which caused our forces to retire.
A short artillery engagement ensued, when
Shields ordered Col. Tyler to turn their
left flank, which was done, out with consid-
erable loss, the enemy being protected by a
stone ledge. The S4th Pennsylvania and
10Th Ohio charged their centre, and the
fight became general. Col. Murray. of the
S4,h Pennsylvania, was killed. The en-
emy retired slowly, bringing their guns to
bear at every opportunity. Our men rush
cd forward with yells, when panic ensucd
among the enemy. Our troops followed aud
drove them until dark, capturing three guns,
three caissons, muskets, equipments, &c,
innumerable. Our troops bivouacked on
the field Gen. Williams First Brigade,
Col. DoDnelly, Of the 2S.b New York, com
manding, reinforced Gen. Shields. Gen.
Banks, who was on the way to Washington
Sunday, returned and assumed command.
In the mean time Gen. Shields Division
pursued the enemy beyond Newton, shelling
them the whole way. Jackson's men were
perfectly demoralized and bexpad control.
They threw overheard the del y and wound
cd to lighten the wagons. 1t is noticible
that nearly all the rebels wounded were shot
in the head and breast, testifying the supe-
r:ority of our marksmen. The loss on our
side was chiefly Pennsylvania, Ohio and In
diana troops. Those who conveyed the false
intelligence to Gen. jackson, causing this
disaster to the rebels, have heavy ight
of guilt to shoulder.
1t was evidently known to many in the
town that Jackson wss approaching, from
the holiday attire and buoyancy of spirits
among the men and women here. General
Shields command being screened from OBJ
servation on the cas-. side Of the town led
the informants to believe that all our troops
were evacuatiDg and that jackson could en-,
ter unmolested. Good judges say that the
cnemy's loss is over 200 killed, 500 wound
ed and 800 prisoners, including an aid to
jackson. Our loss is about 65 killed and
125 wounded.
On Sunday morning the rebels received
reinforcements under Gen. Garnett, amount
ing to FIVE hundred men. The Union for.
ces did not exceed 10000, and with the ex-
cep.ion Of about 500 were of Gen. Shields
division exclusively.
AT half past ten, the enemy made feint
on our left, commanded by acting Brig.
Gen. Sullivan, opening a heavy fire of ar
tillerv, while the real attack was directed
against our right with the object of flank
ing it.
Gen. Kimble commanded on the right,
where the heaviest fght was done. The re-
bes were strongly posted in the woods and
behind stone wall, and the rebel artillery
was posted on eminences on both sides of
their left wing.
Our whole artillery force was engaged,
consisting of four batteries, "a pieces in all.
The contest ragged furiously until 3 2. NJ.
the lighting being done chiefly ty the artil
lery and musketry at range of not more
than three or four hundred yards and often
much less. The rebel infantry opposite us
now emerged from the woods and attempt
ed to capture Dunn's battery by charge.
The first 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 behind the parapet. Gen. Ty-
Ter now ordered his brigade to charge the
euemy's batteries on the left, and a most
deadly encounter followed. Twice our men
receded under the storm, but on the third
effort they routed the enemy with tremen-
dous slaughter. Our loss in these struggles
was heavy. Out of 800 men in the S4th
PENNSYLVANIA, 26 were killed aud-S3 wound
e1. Many officers were killed and wound
cd. The 9th and Sth Ohio shared the glory
and the losses with the S4th Pennsylvania
The enemy's killed and wounded strewed
the ground in profusion, aud their left wing
was utterly broken and their centre waver-
ing. On their side the 4th and 9th Vir,