Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-30

cheering aud firing, and beyond themi i've
other regiments beside. The Twenty-sev-
enth Indiana was at this time in a column
Of fours, and without giving time to form
In line, they were ordered to IRE, and then
Immediately to charge bayonets.
The whole rebel line advanced now with
fixed bayonets and heads down, aud the
/ Twenty-seVenth Indiana did not Withstand
the shock, but broke into confused route,
exposing the flank of the Second Massaehu.
sets.
About this time our batteries in trout Of
the town, which held position raking the
course of the hill along which the rebels
were advancing against the Second Massa.
chusetts. ceased firing, limbered up, and
retreated.
During my breakfast heard the tramp
ing of horses upon the road, and the heavy
rolling of artillery over the pavemeuts.-
Certainly, thought, there can be no haste;
we shall not be compelled to leave Win
chester.
1 ordered, however, my horse to be i'm
mediately saddled, and continued slipping
my coffee with very little concern.
Presently there was commotion, sob.
ing among the women and a running to and
fro, which brought me to my feet il time
to fiud our forces were started on hAsty
retreat; and, as l saw flames rising from
the burning buildings not far of, and heavy
columns of smoke roll upward from them,
began to realize that We were TO abandon
Winchester.
But took to my horse with all speed
now, for the enemy were In the other end
of the town, as the rattle and echo of the
musketry up the streets aud between the
houses most plainly indicated.
All the streets were in commotion. Cav
airy were rushing disorderly away, and in
fantry, frightened by the rapidly of their
mounted companions, were in cousterna-
tion. All were trying to escape faster than
their ueighbors, dreading most OF all 10 be
the last.
Presently the enemy's cannon doomed in
the rear, aud small cloud of smoke in the
sky suddenly appearing, and then dissolv.
ing, showed where the ball had exploded
Some shells fell among our men, and the
panic was quite general for short time.
One ronnd shot, 6-pouuder, passing
near me: went directly over the shonlder
of my companion, and, brushing the blau-
ket Of the one next to me, fell 10 the
ground. Guns, knapsacks, cartridge box
es, bayonets, tand bayonet cases lay scat
tered upon the ground in great profusion,
thrown away by the panic-stricken sol.
dIers. Your correspondent, wishing to
leave one musket less for the maintenance
of the rebellion, furnished himself with
one of the abandoned rifles and other
equipments sufficient to furnish a thor
oughly appointed soldier. But this con-
fusion and disorder was not of long dura-
tion. Gen. Banks, riding continually
among the men, and addressing them kind
y and firmly, shAmed them to consider.
alton Of their BETTING CONSERVATION. At
length, stationiug himself and staff with
several others across field through which
the soldiers were rapidly fleeing, the men
were ordered to stop their flight, were
formed into line. and made to march on
more in soldier-like manner.
The guns were taken out at just the pro
per time. A short time later and they
would have been captured
Infantry of Gordon's brigade retreated
| through the town. their drums beating, In
good order.
Col. Murphy, 2sth Pa, was obliged To
dismount from his horse, which had be-
come unmanageable, and the old man, un
able to retreat, sho uted to his men to run
with the colors, for he could not
Dounelly's brigade retreated to the east
of the town, and were reported as cut on
Intelligence has recently been received,
however, that he effected his escopc, and
vas crossing the Potomac at Falling
Waters, Dam No. {. Fuller particulars.in
regard to the fighting in Donelly's brigade
will be given soon. They are reported to
have made an excellent fight, and TO have
repulsed the enemy brought against them.
The first stand made in the retreat was
about three miles from the town. por-
tiOn of Ira Harris guard and Vermont
cavalry supported the battery in the rear,
and Majors Davidson and Gardiner, New
York, and Capt. Preston, Vermont Cavalry,
commanded them with cooluess and bra
very.
While retreatiug through Winchester,
women from the houses opened FIRE of pis-
tolls upon our soldiers, and killed a great
many of them.
Gen. Banks was in the rear Of the re-
treat, aud a shell exploded only four feet
from him, fortunately without injuring
him.
Winchester is reported to be burned.
Some ammunition was seen 10 explode.
While we were leaving, loud report was
followed by the rising of large sphere of
smoke high into the air like balloon.
The enemy had stationed force at Ber-
ryVille to prevent our retreating towards
Harper's Ferry, and we were compelled to
take the road to Martinsburg.
Gen. Banks this morning, on the other
side of the river, made a short address TO
the soldiers, encouraging them to maintain
themselves until reinforcements shall he
received, which will doubtless arrive im-
mediately, aud We shall soon recross the
Potomac and drive back the enemy over
the ground we have lost.
-----------s- - ~
General Rutler's Famous Proelama-
tlOn.
'Tnsirins the poor trsbelSl hshlast the rsOh''
General Orders No. .25. tasrs
HEADQUARTERS CUR DEP,
fEw oRLRAss, Nay s, '62.
The deplorabls state Of dss.itutioa and
hunger Of the mechanics and working clas-
ses in this city has been brought to the
knowledge Of the Commanding General.
BE has yielded TO every suggestion made