The New York herald., 1862-03-31
Omciai Report or Captrin n. G. shrfber,
nrl.r of General Shields STAFF.

Omciai Report or Captrin n. G. shrfber
cox of General shields' STAFF.
wscsnsrss, March 26, 1852
To Bradier General JANIS SHIELDS Commanding second
Division Fifth Army Corps
GEsERAI beg respectfully 70 report 10 you that after
having received on Sunday last the Esd OF March, at
nine O'Clock A. M order report duty ad.de-
camp your staff left headquarters for Kernstown,
and assisted coloncs Kimbal Tyler Sullivan lhor
efforts as commanders Of brigades lighting the enemy
under General Jackson and 10 unity Of action Of
their three respective commands.
reported at half past nine A. N. 10 Colonel KinbaI
acting brgadisr and senior ofcer tho aeld who
stationed on hill almost one half mile west OF Kerns
town, which latter place s insrssctsd by tho turn
pike leading TO Strasburg. There / informed myself
~ 70 the events which had transpred previous my
arrival. and understood that Ns enemy. who endea
voring to drive in pckets the day before had boon
repused, had opened with his artillery about eight
time engaged responding 10 his battery OF four
guns, which he then had play, and in endeavoring TO
our chain Of ssntinels Accommodating tho ground
surrounding me found that between the hill upon which
now stood with COL Kimbal and the hill opposite
upon which the enemys battery was posted about half
mile distant, ravino lying running from east TO
west which is entirely FREQ OF wood. When about half
mile TO tho east forest connected both hills through
the centre Of which passed mud road and is bounded
on its extreme right by another mud road leading to
Cedar creek The country 70 the left (wos Of the turn
We placed in position six gun battery, commanded by
Capt Jsnks, First Virginia artillery, oppose the
whole battery whereupon Capt CarKs regular battery
put in proongaton Of the former named. Both bat
teres were fought by COL Damn. Chief OF Artillery.
Gen. Shields DIVISION In person. Our fire from the two
batteries became too hot for the enemy, and they
brought third battery in the direction Of their right
wing in such position upon two batteries the h
that they snAadsd thcm but with this maneuvre sx-
posed their battery TO rakng Gre or Of the Ohio
batteries placed near Kernstown to defend the turnpike
sfad limb IN ha
all their batteries, but continued their hre.
In the meantime the infantry regiments wore moving
Of battle about thousand yards 70 the Of bat.
teres when at once the enemys heavier battery moved
to the front and threw in rapid succession number OF
well aimed shell into our batteries and the cavalry and
infantry stationed upon the interior slope Of the battery
hi and the necessity to storm and take their guns be-
In conjunction with Coonels Kimbali and Tyler, the
following infantry regiments were drawn up in mass,
parallel with each other. The right resting upon the
mud road passing through the forest held by the
Seventh Ohio the Sixty seventh and Fifth following and
the Thirteenth Indiana, and Eighty Pennsylvania
the One hundred and Tenth PennsyIvani and the
three companies Of the Eighth Ohio In reserve. During
the time these arrangements were made, messenger
was sent to you General TO have your approval as to
this flank movement and personally apprsed all the
commanders in the and TANKS Of Intentions
as to kssp them on tho aort
Colonel Damn was snjoned to keep his artillery in
lively fire not to direct the attention Of the enemy
from him. and when the order came to move on every
thing ready to respond General Tyler moved his
column by the right flank far the Cedar creek r0ad
rested his right the same and his left upon the be-
roads cavalry changed direction to the left right
in front, and moved silently but steadily upon the
my's left through the woods for almost half mile,
when, coming upon more sparsely wooded ground, he
made half wheel to the left and came TO theface OF the
extreme flank Of the enemy. who received him
behind a stone wall at about two hundred yards
distant, with a terrific volley OF ried arms, but
still went the regiments without return fire. and then
threw themselves with immense cheering and an un-
yards first fire. fell back across the field, thus
masking two six pound iron guns which hurled, beng
cleared in front, death and destruction into ranks
with their canister. But still onward went taking
one gun and two caissons, and making there short
stand Again the enemy uamasked two brass pieces,
caused the captured gun to be tipped over, so that
the enemy in rcganing the ground could not drag 1t
away Tho Fifth Ohio and Eighty fourth Pennsylvania
threw themselves more with fixed bayonets for
ward. theformer losing four times in few minutes their
standard bearer Captain whitcomb at last took
men, fell also. So, too, Colonel Murray, whilst
calamity leading on his Eighty-fourth regiment In
General Tyler lost there his aid Lieutenant Williamson,
of the Twenty ninth Ohio.
hurried back to bring up the One Hundred and Tenth
and Fourteenth Indiana bya right obliquo movement
through the woods and the enemy receiving all the COM
bnsd shock retired and left in possession OF dear
ly bought gun and cassons
United, onward we pressed against the enemies, two
brass pieces and mskstry pouring in their fire. Three
companies OF the Eighth Ohio reinforcing us we gained
brass piece and its casson and compelled the enemy
to fall back.
This was at seven o'clock p. n. moved to the right
flank and caused the cannon 10 go forward the
fast retreatng enemy, when met with six of Ashbys
cavalry who shot down my orderly aud killed his horse
of their bullets piercing my cap. was compelled to
use my sword TO kill ono Of them.
The cavalry captured two hundred and thirty prison.
ss and only with little resistance from the enemy
cavalry.
AT eight p. NJ. the musketry ceased. A few more can
shots from their extreme left fired 70 with
draw our attention from the rereating foe and all
over. Our remained the fold OF battle picking
up the wounded, and slept upon their arms and awoke
for the pursuit Of the enemy the morning OF the cath
who fell rapidly back beyond Newton, when at nno
O'Clock OF the morning OF that day Major General Banks
took command, and reported back to you.
General have the honor TO be ready TO serve in
so glorious body Of soldiers under your able loading
Your most obedeut, humble servant
X, c, SfIRIBER.