The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-10


Keniy were recalled the advance guard Colonel Don.
nely's brigade, was ordered to return TO Strasburg,
several hundred disabled mon left IN our cha 80 BY
Sholds division put upon the march and our wagon
train ordered forward to Winchester under escort OF
cavalry and infantry General Hatch, with nearly our
whole force OF cavalry and pieces OF artillery. was
charged with the protection VI the rear OF the
column and the destruction Of any stores
for which transportation was not provided, with
instructions TO rem, in front of the town a.
long ss possible and hold the enemy in check, our OK
pectaons OF attack being ia that direction All these
orders were executed with Incredible celebrity and soon
after nine O'Clock the column the march Colonel
onnsy in 'front.' Colonel Gordon in the centre and Gen.
Hatch in tho rear.
The column had passed Cedar creek about three miles
from Strasburg with The exception Of the guard
still In the OF the town. whom Information was re-
ceivod from the front that the enemy had attacked the
train and was in full possession Of tho road at Middle
town. This report was confirmed by the return Of ug
tves. refugees and wagons which tumbling to the
rear In fearful confusion.
1t being apparent that immediate danger was
In trout the troops ordered TO the head OF the
lumn and tho train the rear and in view Of posi-
BILE necessity Of our return TO Srasburg Captain James
W. Albert. Typographical Corps-who assocaed with
him the Zouaves d'Afrqus, Captain ColS-was ordered
to prepare Cedar creek bridge for flames order
prevent pursuit in that direction by the enemy. In
tina this order Captain the Zouayes
were cut of from the column which they subsequently
joined at Wiiamsport. They had at Strasburg very
sharp conflict with the enemy, in which h: cavalry
will be found In the reports u Captain Abort and Captain
Coils. -f
The head Of the reorganized column, Colonel Donney
commanding, encountered the enemy force vt Middle
town. about thirteen miles from Winchester Three hun
dred troops had been seen in town. but appeared
that larger forces in the The brigade halted
and the Forty Psnnsylvania, Colonel Knips,
ordered to tho right and disiodge
the onemy's skrnishers They were supported by
section Of Cothrans New York battery. Five compa-
MICS OF the snemy cavalry were discovered in an open
field in tho rear Of the woods and artillery masked
ut rst by the infantry, opened IRE upon They
stood fire for while. but At length retsated pursued
by our skirmishers. The Twenty eighth New York,
Lieut.. Colonel Brown was brought up, aud, under
heavy fire or infantry and artillery, the enemy
driven back more than two miles from the pike. Colo
mel Donnelly being informed at this point by Citizen
great alarm, that 900 in the beyond,
the men were anxious to continue the fight; but this
would have defeated object by the loss OF valuable
time, with the exception small guard they were or
dercd TO resume the march.
This affair under my own observation, and
have great pleasure in voucbing for the admirable
duct OF officers and men, We lost one man killed and
nine wounded The loss Of the enemy could not be
ascertained
This episode with The change OF 'front.' occupied nearly
hour; but saved column. Had the enemy vg0-
rousy attacked train while at the head Of the column
1t would have been thrown into such dire confusion
have made the successful continuation OF oh i'm
possible Pending this contest. Colonel Brodhsad tho
First Michigan cavalry, was ordered to advance,
and II possible, to cut his way through and occupy
Winchester. was the report OF this energetic officer
that gave us the first assurance that yet
Clear and lie was the first Of column to enter the
town.
SECOND COMBAT.
enemy
between and Winchester General Hatch ordered
to advance with all his available cavalry from Strasburg
leaving Colonel De Forrest to the and destroy
stores not provided with transportation Major vought
Fifth New York cavalry had been previously ordered
to reconnoter the Front Royal road ascertain the
position Of the enemy whom he encountered in force
near Mddletown, aud was compelled to fail back, mme-
diately followed by the enemys cavalry, infantry and
artillery In this affair five Of our men werc killed and
some wounded The snemys loss is not known.
After repeated attempts TO force passage
through the lines Of the enemy, General Ha; Oh,
without sr ns and Soua mot
have proceeded but short distance the left
moved upon parallel road, aud made several ineIcc.
tua attempts to junction with the main column
At Newtown however. he found Colonel Gordon holding
the enemy in check, and joined his brigade Major Col
Inns, with three companies Of cavalry, mstakng tho
point where the main body OF the cavalry left the road
dashed upon the enemy until stopped by barrcads Of
wagons and the tempesuocs nre Of infantry and art
lery His loss must have been
Six companies OF the Fifth New York, Col. De For
rest, and six companies OF the First Vermont, Col.
Tompkns, after repeated and desperate efforts to effect
Q junction with tho main body-the road being
filed with infantry, artillery and cavary-fell back t.
Strasburg, where they found the Zouavss d'Afrque.
The Fifth New York failing effect junction at Win.
chester and also at Martinsburg in Clear Spring
with train OF thirty two wagons and many sragglers
The First Vermont Col Tompkins, joined US at Wnohes
ter with six pieces Of artillery and participated in tho
fight Of the next morning. Nothing could surpass the
CELEBRITY and spirit, with which the various companies Of
cavalry executed their movements, or their intrepid
General Hatch deserves great credit for the in
winch he discharged ms duties Chief Cavalry
this part Of march, well at the fight ut Win
chester and in covering the OF column the
river, but especially for the spirit infused into his
troops during the brief period OF his command HIGH
by confession OF friend and oe had made equal ii
not superior 70 the best OF the snemys long trained
mounted mon.
From this point tho protection Of the rear of the
column devscd upon the forces under Colonel Gordon
TIE THIRD COMBAT.
The guard having been from the column
the OF the train having been attacked by an
force near the bridge between Newtewn and
Kentown. Colonel Gordon was directed to send back
the Second Massachusetts,, Lieutenant Colonel Andrews
anding; the Twenty seventh Indiana Colonel Col
grove, and the Twenty-eighth New York, Lieutenant
Colonel Brown rear of the train and hold
tho enemy In check They found him at Newtown with
a strong force OF infantry. artillery ana cavalry.
The Second Massachusetts, was deployed in the field,
supported by she Twenty eighth New York and the
Twenty seventh Indiana and ordered to drive the enemy
from the town; and the battery was, at the time,
30 placed as to silence the guns Of the enemy.
Both these objects were quickly accomplished. They
found impossible to reach Mddletown as 10 enable
the cavalry under General Hatch to join the column
70 entirely tho rear OF the train Large bodies Of
tneeuemys cavalry passed upon right and left and
the increased vigor OF his movements demonstrated the
rapid advance Of tho main body A cavalry charge
made upon troops received in squares on tho
right and the road and in the line the left which
repealed his assault and gained time to reform the train
TO Its and to burn the disabled wagons This
affair occupied several hours-ths regiments having
been moved to the about O'Clock and not reach
ing the town until after twelve.
A full report by Colonel Gordon who commended In
person, IL enclosed herewith The principal loss OF the
second Massachusetts, occurred in this action.
THE FIGHT AT WINCHESTER.
The strength and purpose of the enemy TO us I'M
known when we reached Winchester except upon un
certain reports aud sactory Our
suspicious by tho vgor with which the
snemy had pressed our main column, and defeated at
every point the efforts Of dstachmens TO effect junction
with the main body.
At Winchester, However, all suspense was relieved on
that subject All NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Union rci
gees fugtves and prisonsrs-agresd that the enemys
force at or near Winchester overwhelming ranging
from twenty-five to thirty thousand. Rebel officers,
who came into our camp with entire unconcern, sup.
posing that their own troops occupied the town, and
captured confirmed these statements, and
added shat attack would DO made upon US at
daybroak. I determined to test the substance and
strength Of the enemy by actual collision and measures
promptly taken 20 prepare troops TO them
They had taken up their positions on entering the
after dark without expectations u battle and were a.
disadvantage as compared with the enemy
The rafting Of musketry hoard during the latte
part Of the night and before the break OF day sharp
engagement occurred at the outposs Soon after four
O'Clock the artillery opened It's fire. which continued
without cessation till the close II the engagement
The right OF our line was occupied BY the Third bri
gade, Colonel George II. Gordon commanding The regi.
ma MAJ tha ntrac