, 1862-06-12

| ofHe r that gave us the first assurance TINT
our course was yet clear, and he was the first
Of our column to enter the town.
TIE SECOND COMBAT.
After repeated attempts to force passage
through the lines Of the enemy now adyanc-
ed TO The pike, Gen; Hatch, satisfied that this
result could not be accomplished without
| great loss, and supposing cur army to have
| Proct e6eu but q short distance, turned 10 Inc
left, md moved upon parallel road made
several Intellectual attempts to effect juno
lion with the main column: At Newtown,
enemy in check, and Joined his brigade.
Major Collins, with three companies ofcayalry,
| mistaking the point where the main body Of
the cavalry left the road, dashed upon the
enemy until stopped BY bazrieade Of WAGONS
and the tc1upetu0us fire Of the infantry and
| artillery. His loss must have been severe.
Six companies OF the 9th New Yora, Cal
| DeForre st, and six companies of the 15t Yer
mont Cavalry, Col Tompkins, after repe 1ted
aid desperate efforts to effect junction with
the main body-,ae road now being filed with
Infantry, artillery and cavalry-fell back to
straslurg, where they found the Z3uaycs
| D. afr;Gue. TIC 5:h New York, filling to
| effect u junction at Winchester, and also at
| Mart;neburg, came in at Clear spriog with a
train Of :hirty-two wagons, aud snAuy str.g-
| g1trs. The 1st Vermont, Col Tompkios,
! joined us at Winchester with six pieces of
| artillery, aud participated iu the fight Of the
rext morning Nothing could Elrpass the
CELEBRITY and spirit with which the various
| companies of cavalry executed their move
nicnts, Or their intrepid charges upon the
! enemy.
THE THIRD COMBAT.
The guard having been separated from the
column, ard the rear Of tho train having been
attacked hy nm increased force near tho bridge
between NewtaTn and kernatovn, Col. Cor.
don was directed to send BACH for the ID
Massachusetts,, Lieut.. Col Andrews com.
harding; the 277ta Indiana, Col. CoIgeoye, ac,,l
the 2Sth New York, Lient- Col. Brown, to
rescue the rear Of the train nnd hold Tie enc
my ii click. They fund him at Ne8tnwn
| with strong force Of infantsy, artillery, and
| cavalry.
| The I'd Massachusetts, sas de,,layt::l il the
field, supported by TIE ssh Nvw FORK aud
nth lndiapa- and ordered to drive the enemy
/ from TIE .u~n: anu tlre battery was, at I'll,
| same tlEe, So plictd d. TO silence the guns Of
! liz: Grizzly.
/; Both tl:.se objects we're quickly acconl-
p:ishe1- They ioan! it, i,npossihiu to r:4c;1
/; Middleton 50 as to enable tho cavalry under
| G:n. Hasch to !oin tEc cS'usna, OF to eo:er
! entirely the rsar Of the trag. Large f,ciies
! OF the eremy7s cavalry Ga-s.d npou our right
i aid LETT. ara the Increased .igtr OF lis nloYe-
; mcnts demonstrated tht rapid ADVANCE Of lii.
1n;li1l body. j e;.yalr: t.ilar-: made upon our
troops WAS received IN sqa.ss5 ou the r.,rs,t
IL.
which r::lle!l1s! bis ass t.s aud .asnrd tlr. IN
reform the train, to cover its re:l: and .,,.7n
the disabled wagens. Ttlis aE1Ir urcuni-e1
several lours-the regiments having bean
moved to the rear about six o'c1ock and uut
! reaching the town until after twelve
+: At Winchester ali cia:scs-scrcssion;sts
Cn!onists, refug:sS, 1ugztivcs ;lud prisoner =
argued that the ene1ny's force Ut or u..,f Win
| chester was over @hcltnirg, ranging Gou
q, 600 to 20, 600. Rebel officers WHO caiue into
nnt 1yf-1%h
that their own troops occupied the town as
matter of course, and were captured, con-
frned these statements, and added that an
attack would be made upon us at daybreak.
determined to test the substance and strength
OF the enemy by actual collision, and meas.
troops to meet them. They had taken up
their positions on entering town after dark
without expectations Of battle, and were at
disadvantage IS co!apared with the enemy
Ihe rattlIng Of musketry was heard during
the hitter part Of the night, and before the
break of day sharp engagement occurred
at The outpCsts. Soon after four o'clock the
artillery opened it's fire, which was continued
without cessation ill the close Of the engage
mrnt.
The right Of our line was composed of the
Sd Brigade, Col Geo. e. Gordon commanding
The regiments were strongly posted, and neal
the center covered by stone walls from tht
fire OF the enemy.
TIER infantry opened on the right, and soor
BOTH Lines werc Under heavy lire.
The left Was occupid by the Sd brigade, Col
Dudley Donnelly commanding.
The line was weak compared With that O
the enemy but thu troops were posted, ant
patiently awaited, as they noblE improved
their coming. opportunity. The earlies
movements Of our enemy were on our left
two regiments being seen to move as witt
the purpose Of Occupying position in flank
: or ear. Gen, Hatch sent detachment o
csralr3 to intercept this movement, when i
was apparently abandoned. The enemy suf
fered very serious loss from the fire Of ou1
infantry On the left. One regiment is repre-
scnted by pcrsons present during the action
and after the field WIS evacuated, as nearly
destroyed
The main body Of the enemy was h;ddc,
during the early part Of the action by the eres
OF the hills and the woods in the rear
Thrir force WAS masscd apparently upo1
our right, and their nlareuyers Indicated
! purpose to tnrn us upon the Berryville road
where, it appeared subsequently, they ha,
placid . considerable force, with view 0
| Ferry. But the steady ire Of our lines he'll
| them in check unit! small portion of til,
! troops On the right OF our line made move
nscnt to the rear. It is but just to add tAa
this was done Inler the erroneous impression
that IN order to withdraw b III been given
No sooner was this observed by tho encm
that his regiments swarulcd upon the crest O
the bill, advancing from the woods upon on
hight, which, still continuing its fire stcadiY
; withdrew toward the tuwn.
The overwhelming force Of the enemy hoy
suddenly showing itself, making further rc
, tlstauce unw;se, orders were sent to the lef
, by Capt. De H4utcville to Withdraw, whic
was done reluctantly, but in order, the enena
having srcstly suffered in that win e, a poi
| lion OF the troops passed through tile town i
some confusion, but the column WAS soon IT
formed ard continued its march in order.
This engagement held the enemy in chcc
fer five hours.
= The forces engaged were greatly uncqua
; 1ndisposed to acCrpt the early rumors COZ
department that it was about Is 900 It is no,
conclusiGe1y shown that not less than q, 90
. ) men were in position, and could have bee
I brought into action. On the right and Lei
: their great superiority. ofnumbcrs were plai1
f II felt and seen, and the signal officers, fros
: elevated positions, were enabled to count ii
. re4imcLt;I standards, Indicating siren Il
i equal to that have stated.
;, My cWn command consisted Of two brigade
;, of less than 1000 men, all told. with 9t
;, cavalry, ten Parrott guns, and one battery
6-pouuders, smooth bore cannon. To th
:, should be added the 10th Maine regiment {
= infantry, and five companies Of Marylan
cavalry, stationed st Winchester, which Vel
= engaged i'll the acten The loss Of the cnem
+ vas treble that Of ours killed and wounda,
c In prisoners ours greatly exceeded theirs.
= Officers whose word cannot doubt hay
= stated as the result Of their Own observation
t that our men were fired upon from priyat
= dwellings in passing through Winchester
but AM cred;bly Informed, and gladly b.
y lievc, that tho ATROCITIES said to have bee
= perpetrated upon our wounded soldicrs b
n the rebels, are greatly exaggerated or entir
- Il untrue.
~ Our march was turned in the direction
q MartiEsbu1g, hoping there te meet with +
= lniorecn,sn,s-thc troops moving in thrt
y parallel columns, each protected by an ell
:. eicnt rear guard. Pursuit by tue enemy ";
r. T'omrt and vigorous, but our movement
. we're rapid aud without loss.
- A few miles from Winchester the sound
- the steam whistle, heard in the direction
~ M.rtlnshurg, Strengthened the hope Of rc-e
Il forccnlcnts, and stirred the blood Of the me-
~ | like q tTuI1pet Soon afLer tXo Ennadrons