Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-06-07
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
THE BATTLE AT WINCHESTER.
eALLANTRY OF OUR SOLDIERS.
WuI1ANspoRr. Nav 81.

oALLANTRY OF OUR SOLDIERS.
WILLIAMspoRT, May 81.
Amid the reigning confusion at this point
it is almost impossible TO procure sufficient
accurate information 30 warrant tho sending
of letter. During the occurrence of Sat
urday and Sunday there was not single
recognized correspondent OF the public press
present Several had taken advantage of
the quiet and fancicd security to visit their
friends elsewhere; one, a person by the
name of Clark, is believed to have been taken
prisoner at Front Royal, and the only one in
the vicinity was the correspondent of the
World, who was, unfortunately, asleep in
Winchester, and was compelled to rely upon
the statements of officers the next day, for
material sufficient to enable him to indite
an epistle. Fortunately, he awoke in time
to escape with the army
The subjoincd account of the movement
of the Division is collected from statements
Of the principal officers engaged in the fight
and they may be relied upon as correct
This is really scarcely deserving of the name
of Corps d. Armee, the regiments having
been Withdrawn from time to time, until
not more than five thousand men in all were
in the command. With these were five hun
dred wagons; and as only a very tew-pro
badly not more than tifty-wcre lost, it was
Il most astonishing retreat.
THE LEFT WING AND THE FORTY SIXTH
PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT, COL. JOSEPH
=. KNIFE.
The actions of this regiment are spoken
of in the highest terms. Information hay
ing been received of the attack at Front
Royal, an order was given to the regiment,
at three o'clock on Saturday morning, to
march Immediately for Winchester. The
regiment was then encamped on the banks of
Il small stream called Toms Brook, about
six miles southwest of Strasburg. The
order was Immediately obcycd. Tents were
struck, and Mithout breakfast the men
started on tlith march. The Forty-siNth,
being the right of Acting Brigadicr- General
Donncllys Brigade, moved in advance. fol
lowed by the Twenty-cighth New York,
Lieutenant Colonel Brown (Col. Donnclly
acting as brigadier,) and the Fifth Connec-
ticut, Lieut. Colonel Chapman. (The colo
mel of this regiment, Col. Ferry, is acting
as brigadier-gcneral of Gen. Shields com
mandy The brigade and rcgimental trains,
in number about one hundred and fifty
wagons, had been sent ON Immediately in
advance.
About seven o'clock the brigade arrived
| at Strasburg, where it was joined by Brioa-
der General Gordon's brigade, Donnelly's
brigade taking the advance. An hour after
wards the entire force, under command Of
Major-Gcneral Banks, took up the line Of
march for Winchester. The cavalry, con-
sisting of the First Michigan and parts of tho
Fifth New York and First Vermont, under
General Hatch, and 1ampton's Pennsylvania
Battery, in the meantime remained at point
about four miles south of Strasburg, for the
purpose of protecting the removal Of a large
quantity of commissarys stores. Finding
| it impossible to remove all, the soldiers were
supplied, and the balance were prudcntly
set fire to and destroyed. When the COM
mand reached Middlctown, six miles this
side of Strasburg, the Rebel cavalry came
out from the woods on the side of the road
and attacked the train in front. A STAN
pede took place among the tcamsters, and
while many wagons were upset i'll turning
short, Others were set fire to and burned
Among the wagons were several belonging
to suffers and refugees.
The Forty y-sixth Immediately, by compa-
mics, placed their knapsacks, blankets, and
everything that would interfere with their
movements, upon the roadside, loading at
will, and forwarded ut will double-quick up
the turnpike as far as Newtown, about four
miles distant, driving the Rebel cavalry
ahead until they reached the village, where
the Rebels took to woods to the right
One section of New York battery, under
Lieutenant Woodbury., followed, and taking
position, opened fire, driving them back.
At the same time two companies of the
Forty A and X, acting as skirmishcrs,
fired, killing two and wounding one which
they left upon the field. The FortysiXth
| tho lo,t r,{t to thn 10
and moved on in front of the train, which
was protected in the rear by the rest of the
command. No Rebel interference was ex-
pericnced after that, and the command
reached Winchester about 0 o'clock =. NJ.
Donnelly's brigade bivouackcd that night,
without food or blankets, on the Front
Royal road, about mile south of the town,
| Gordon's brigade resting on the left of the
Strasburg road. On Sunday morning before
daybreak, rereille was sounded, and the
troops were called to arms. During the
night there had been constant and heavy
firing between the pickets.
During the night, anticipating an attack
early in the morning, an order was given
by General Banks that Gordon's brigade
should form the right wing of the defence
and Donnclly's the left. About half past
four fire was opened upon the left by the
Rebel batteries, about two miles distant,
and almost Immediately afterwards an attack
was also made upon the right. Our bate
ries then returned the fire and general
engagement cnsued. A North Carolina reg
iment, several of the officers Of which were
in citizens drcss-onc Captain having on u
black silk hat, and who was subsequently
shot in the head-madc an attack on the
Forty-sixth, taking them by surprise; but
most gallantly was the assault met, for
scarcely had they made their appearance
over the hilltop and fired their murderous
volley, before the rilled Minnies of the
Forty-siXth had played havoc with their
ranks. Bayoncts were then fixed, and a
charge being made, the traitors were driven
from behind stone wall, where they had
taken shelter. Severe fighting continued
for half an hour-the firing ON both sides
being desperate and the loss severe. Severe
firing was also continued 10y the other regi-
ments OF the two brigadcs.
L -. 4