The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-04-02

The Battle near winchester.
Unlike some others, The triumph of
the Union arms in the recent conflict near
Winchester, Va, grows in importance
and emphasis as the facts are more clearly
made known. The most material OF the
facts are as follows:
On Saturday afternoon the 22d ult.,
the southwark pickets of th' Union forces
near Winchester were suddenly driven
in by strong force of Rebel cavalry, be-
hind which advanced rapidly to the at.
tack twelve regiments of infantry aud
four or FIVE batteries of artillery. The
total Rebel force that engaged our troops
that night is stated at 1000 infantry, L.
200 cavalry, and perhaps 1000 artillery;
while Gen. Garnett with 5000 more re-
enforced them next morning.
The Union troops are stated bv Gen.
Shields at 1000 or 5000 stlong;" and
all but 5000 were of his division. They
were inferior to the Rebels in artillery
and cavalry, but perhaps equal to them
in infantry. Only a small portion were
ever before engaged in serious conflict.
The attack was entirely unexpected by
our troops, though the Rebels in Win
chester would seem to have had hint of
it, as many of them we've dressed as if
for a holiday, and all appeared to be
needing the new telegraphic maxim,
"Act as if you had received very good
news"
Gen. Banks, commander of the Army
Corps in the Valley of the Shenandoah,
was absent, unsuspecting an attack; Gen.
Shields was severely wounded at the out
set The hour was so late that darkness
soon arrested the combat, the enemy hav-
ing captured few pickets only, and the
fight having been confined to few ex-
changes of shells The two armies lay
on their arms facing each other through
the nj ght-the Rebels evidently surprised
aud somewhat disconcerted by the bold
front of the Unionists, rs they had been
told tina. Winchester had been all but
evacuated by our troops, and expected to
enter it in triumph without meeting Sc
rious resistance.
The Rebels renewed the action on Sun
day morning, making an effort tc turn
the Union right by heavy fire of artil.
lery and feigned attack on our left
Their canon, superior in number (23 TO
a, were advantageously posted their
infantry were covered by woods and
a high stoue wall. The Rebel right was
driven back half mile by an infantry
charge, but gained a strong position
whence, by the help of their artillery,
they regained all they had lost A heavy
cannouade and fusiIade was kept up by
both parties till 3 P NJ, without heavy
loss, though the armies were for the most
part but three or four hundred yards
apart, and at times still nearer. At g
the infantry of the Rebel left debouched
from the woods and charged our right,
intending to capture the battery there sta
toned. Their first charge nearly sue
ceeded, but was repelled by storm of
grape-shot. A second and still weaker
charge was more easily repulsed ; and
then Gen. Tyler, commanding our left,
ordered an advance on the Rebel batter
les in his front Two charges were sue
cessively repelled with slaughter, but the
third prevailed, routing the Rebels who
opposed it, aud capturing two guns and
four caisons. Of the 84th Pennsylvania
which led this charge. Col. Murray and
26 other men were killed and S3 wound
ed-in all 100, out of the 800 who follow
ed its standard into the battle.
This success decided the fate of the
battle. The Rebel left was utterly bro.
ken, and fed, whereupon their centre
wavered and gave ground. An attempt
to retrieve the day by charge of the
Rebel right utterly failed, an Irish bat.
tailion, which was pushed forward in ad-
vance, utterly refusing to fire on the
Unlonlsts. One account says that 40 of
the $50 composing this battalion were
killed and wounded-we trust not by
Union bullets. They certainly were not
fired on from our side if their position was
understood.
Fifteen hundred mnskets were thrown
away by the flying Rebels, and picked up
by our pursuing troops. Gen. Shields
reports the Union loss at $50 killed and
800 wounded that of the Rebels at 500
killed and 1000 wounded, of whom he
has 300 prisoners
Gen Banks, who was on his way to
Washington, returned to Winchester on
the first tidings of the fight, and directed
the pursuit of the flying Rebels. He had
followed them five miles beyond Stras-
burg on Monday, constantly harassing
them, and increasing their decentralization.
The II q hoI mani