Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-04-11
The Battle of Winchester.

y
war; there are instances, especially among
The rebls, where more than one man has
been hii by the same ball the projectile
passing entirely through the body of one
inan and killing or wounding the next be-
hind him. We saw che instance in which
ball shattered the arm of soldier and
then killed his ile-closer. Very few iniu-
ries are reported by shells, and still fewer
by bayonets. OF bullet wounds there i
every variety Enfield, MIME, mnsket and
rihe balls OF every description, from the pea
or squirrel rifle, to the heaviest bore. and
buck shot. The most terrible appear to be
the Enfield rifle bali, which tears out holes
large enough to put a silver dollar in. smash
ing bones like siraws. The effect Of these
bullets Is well seen on the trees where the
rebel right wing was stationed. These are
cut and gashed as if storms of grape and
canister had been poured into them. stem 5
as thick as mans hand having been sever
ed by single ball. Our fire at this battle
SHOWS terrible precision almost unheard
Of A belt of sears and spliniers is marked
upon the ihicket, ranging from an extreme
height OF seven feet TO within half a yard
OF the ground, most of the shots being about
breast high.
On that portion of the ground defended
by he stone wall, of the men who fell by
our fire were hit in the head, and in the ma.
IJorlty OF cases instantly killed; few pools
OF blood show where some poor fellow, Sc.
verely wounded, slowly ebbed his life away.
There must be something demoralizing in
the TACT OF soldiers seeking shelter, or how
Is 1t that, with all the advantages of cover,
men run IN so many instances when the po-
sition is threatened? Very few of the reb.
els awaited the shock when orr gallant reg
iments, dashing up the open fields, advanced
TO The charge. One or two were bayoneted,
STOPPING against the wall to cap and cock
their pieces for another shot. And in one
case the impetuosty of one soldier carried
him inside rebels guard where, as he
could not use his musket, they took to fisti-
cuffs, the rebel striking out with his fist, re.
ceivng scientific blow in return, and then
becoming prisoner 10 his opponent. Al
though much broken by the charge, the
enemy did not give up the fight, but contin-
ued to fire on the victorious lines of the
patriots from every stone and fence When
the wall was cleared of lis defenders, two
pieces of cannon, hitherto masked, opened
on TyleI's brigade, but were soon captured.
In this fight the colors Of the 14th Indi.
ana received % balls, and had two bearers
shot. The 9TH Ohio suffered more severely
STILL having five Of its colorNbearers struck
down.
The men captured emitted strong smell
of whiskey, which it is said was given in
large quantities to increase the courage Of
the clivalry. This was all very well du-
ring the first part CT the engagement, when
the artillery had it all TO itself; but like
that of Bob Acros, this Dutch courage oozed
out at the fingers ends at close quarters
If If were needed, this fight settles the ques-
tion Of courage entirely in favor of the I'm.
ion men.
1t is generally believed that tackson's
force is too badly demoralizcd and scattered
to be ever got together in any thing like its
former numbers. The cavalry and artillery
covered the retreat. Ashby, however much
he may be considered responsible by his
officers for their defeat, is, Notwithstanding,
a brave fellow-a model cavalry officer
His coolness is unsurpassed; every one
knows him, conspicuous on his White horse,
and nearly every one takes shot at him
he is never hurried, and takes no more no.
tice OF the bullets flying around him than it
they were so many gnats. The well-trained,
\ blooded horses on which his command is
moanted are much coveted by our own
cavalry, who, however, have not had so
many chances of coming TO close quarters
as they desire. Although carrying sabres,
Ashby's men seldom use them, but stand
behind their horses, or sit in the saddle, fir
ing their rifles, occasionally securing across
the country, taking fences and bitches, and
shouting like mad men. In the matter of
noise, nothing can equal the wild hurrah of
the Ohio boys, when they first attacked the
secesh. The latter did the shrieking 10 an
alarming extent, especially when they
thought there were signs Of wavering on
our side but in the charge, change came
over the rebels, and the Buckeye hurrah
was a roar which could be heard for miles.
In one place boot with human leg in
1t was found, upright on the ground, where
its owner had stood, and a portion of fin
ger was seen also sticking TO tree, where
| il had been blown from. a human band.-
This was near where the S4lh Pennsylvania
regiment lost lis colonel, by the terrible
storm of musketry which the rebels deliv-
cred from their cover, but which had no
power to check the victorious advance of
our columns. In this battle, many of the
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