Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-27

Noon Reports.
THE WINCHESTER BATTLE
REBELS STILL RETREATlNc.
w NGTON NEWS
DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
SOU THEIR ~ ~ r w -
THE STEAMER NASHVILLE ESCAPED,
g O ~ @ R r - - TO A L.
f O r Z Z q N N Z w 9.
REBELS STILL RErREATlNc
" AsHINGTON NEWS
'EMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
SOUTHER NE VS.
He STEAMER NASHVILLE ESCAPED,
CON GRES SION AL.
70 EIG N N Z w 8.
from winchester.

at = O'Clock p NJ, the enemy showed themselves
a mile and half from Winchester. The enemy
consisted. OF 500 of Ashby's cavalry and two
guns. They drove in our pickets. and then Skin
mished with the Michigan cavalry and portion
of the Maryland lot.
General Shields brought up his force, and fred
rounds of she'll drove them back, and took sew
eral prisoners.
General Shields was wounded in the arm by
the first FIRE of the enemy.
jackson had been informed by the inhabitants
that the town was deserted by the Union troops,
and he advanced to retake it.
General Shields's force slept on their arms Sat
urday night
Sunday morning at sunrise Jackson being re
inforced attacked General Shields near kerns-
town, three miles distant
The enemy's force consisted of 500 of Ashby's
cavalry, 900 infantry, nine pieces of artillery,
with a reserve OF eighteen pieces of artillery.
The fight kept up till noon. when a charge
made by the Ohio Infantry. lst Michigan and LIST
Virginia cavalry on their right drove them back
half mile, when the enemy got their guns in
position again in a dense woods, fanked by in
fantry aud drove Vs. back. A short artillery en-
gagement ensued, when General Shields ordered
Colonel 1 yler TO turn their left flank, which was
executed 10y our troops, but with considerable
loss. The enemy being protected by stone
ledge
The s4th Pennsylvania and 18th Indiana
charged their center, and the fight became gen
eral.
Col Murray, of the s4th Pennsylvania, was
killed.
The enemy retired slowly. bringing their guns
to bear at every opportunity. Our men rushed
forward with wells, when panic ensued among
the enemy. Our troops followed and drove them
till dark. capturing three guns three caissons, and
muskets, equipments, &c, innumerabe.
hivon ol nm tba tiald
Gen. Williams first brigade, Col. Donelly, of
the 2Sth New York, commanding, reinforced
Gen Shields.
Gen. Banks, who was on the way to Washing
ton Sunday, returned aud assumed command.
In the meantime Gen. Sheldss division pur-
sued the enemy beyond Newton, shelling them
the whole way.
beyond control. They threw overheard the dead
and wounded to tighten the wagons.
1t is noticeable that nearly all the COnfeder
ates wounded were shot in the head and breast
testifying the superiority of our marksmen.
The loss on our side were chiefly Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana troops
Those who conveyed the false intelligence to
Gen Jackson, causing this disaster to the rebels,
have heavy weight OF guilt to shoulder. 1t
was evidently known TO many in the town that
Jackson was approaching from the holiday attire
and buoyancy of spirits among men and women
here.
Gen Shields's command being secreted from
observation the east side of the town led the
informants TO believe that all troops
evacuating and that jackson could enter unmo-
Tested.
Good judges say the enemy's loss is over 200
killed, 900 wounded and 800 prisoners, including
aid TO jackson.
Our loss is about sixtv-fve killed aid l25
wounded.
On Sunday morning the rebels received rein
forcements under General Garnett amounting 20
5000 men,
The Union forces did not exceed 10000 men,
and with the exception of about 500 were of Gen.
Shelds's division exclusively.
AT half past ten the enemy made a feint
our left commanded BY acting Brig Gen. SulIi
van, opening a heavy fire of artillery, while the
real attack was directed against our right with
the object OF fanking it.
Gen. kimball commanded the right where
the heaviest fighting was done.
The enemy were strongly posted on the works
and behind a stone wa l. and the rebel artillery
was posted ON emnences on both sides of our LETT
wing.
Our whole artillery force was engaged and con
sisted OF four batteries of twenty four pieces in
all
The contest ragged furiously till 3 p. NJ, the
fighting being done chiefly BY the artillery and
400 yards and often much less.
The rebel infantry opposite our right now
emerged from the woods and attempted TO cap
ture Daum's battery by a charge. The first at
tempt was nearly successful but the heavy dis
charge of grape compelled them 10 retire in con-
fusion.
4 second and weaker attempt likewise failed
and the enemv fell back with heavy loss behind
the stone parapet.
General TYLER now orde, cd his brigade to
charge the enemy's batteries the left. aud
most deadly encounter followed Twice our
men reeled the STERN but in the third effort they
routed the rebels with tremendous slaughter. Our
loss III these struggles was heavy. Out of 300
men the o4th Pennsy lvania % were killed and SO
wounded
Many officers were killed and wounded.
The 5th and oth Ohio shared the glory and the
losses with the e4th Pennsylvania.
The enemys killed and wounded strewed the
ground in profusion and their left wing utterly
broken and their center wavering.
On the rebel side the 4th and 9Th Virginia reg
iments suffered most the former terribly
decmated.
Several attempts to rally the right wing failed
and TO add to the confusion the Irish battalion OF
$50 men when brought forward and ordered to
fire upon the Union troops refused, and rebel
regiment Immediately droTe this gallant little
band forward, but could not compel them to fire
upon
Forty corpses of the $50 afterwards strewed
the field.
Meanwhile the rebels gave way their left
and center with a loss Of 700 in killed and
wounded and $50 taken prisoners
About 800 muskets were taken and many
valuable trophies.
Our loss does not exceed 100 killed and 800
wounded.
WINCHESTER, March 25. P M.-Our column is
five miles beyond Strasburg still in pursuit
of the flying rebels.
All letters for officers and soldiers in General
Banks's division should be directed to Winches-
ter till further notice
From Washington.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-A paper has been
circulated and signed by nearly all the Demo
cratic members nt Congress and by Senator Car