Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-03-29
BATTLE OF wINcEsTER.

WINCHESTER, March 25.
On Saturday the 22d, al o'clock p. NJ,
the enemy showed themselves a mile and a
half from Winchester. They consisted of
500 of Ashbys cavalry aud guns. They
drove 10 our pckets aud then skirmisbed
with the Michigan cavalry and portion OF
the Maryland LIST. Gen. Shields brought
up his forces aud fred rounds of shell aud
drove them back aud took several prisoners,
and was wounded in the arm
jackson had been Informed 10y the inhab-
itants that the town was deserted by the
Union troops, and he advanced to re.take
it. Sunday morning at sunrise, jackson
Icing reinforced, attacked Gen. Shields,
near Kearnstown miles distant. The
enemy'S force consisted of the 500 of cav.
airy, 5000 infantry mine piecess of artillery,
with reserve Of l8 pieces Of artillery.
The 6ght was kept up till noon, when a
charge made by the Ohio Infantry, lst
Mich, and lst Va. Cavalry on their right,
drove them back half mile, when the
enemy got their guns in position again in
dense wood, banked by Infantry, aud drove
US back.
A short artillery engagement ensund
when Gen Shields ordered Col Tyler TO
! turn their left faux which was executed by
our troops, but with considerable loss, the
enemy being protected by IA stone bridge.
The 84th Pa, and l2'h Ind, charged
their centre and The fight became general
| Col Murray Of the S4th Pa. was killed
The enemy retreuted slowly, bringing their
guns to bear at every opportunity.
Our men rushed forward with yell, when
a panic ensued among the enemy. Our
troops followed aud drove them ill dark,
capturing three guns, three caisSons, musk
cts, equipments, &c, bivouaced on the lield.
Gen. Williams lst B'gade, Col. Dounely
OF the 28ih n Y. commanding, reinforced
Gen. Shields.
Gen. Banks who was on his way 10
Washington, returned and assumed com.
mand. Meantime Gen. Shields Division
pursued the enemy beyond Newtown she'll
ing tbem the whole way, Jackson's men
were perfectly demoralized and beyond
control.
They threw over the dead and wounded
to Tighten the wagons. 1t is noticeable
that nearly all the confederates wounded
were shot in The head aud breast, testifying
the superiority of or marksmen. The loss
on our side were chiefly Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Indiana troops.
1t was evidently known TO many that
jackson was approaching, from the holiday
attire and buoyancy of spirits among men
and women
Gen. Shields command being screened
from observation on the east side of the
ln1 ha inf
lieye that all our troops were evacuating,
and that jackson could enter unmolested.
Good judges say that the enemy's loss is
over 200 killed, 500 wounded, aud 800
taken prisoners, including an aid to Gen
Jackson. Our loss is about 65 killed aud
l25 wounded.
On Sunday morning the rebels received
renforcements under Gen. Garnett amount.
ing TO 1000 men. The Union forces did
not exceed 10 900 men, ,and with the excep.
tion of about 500 we're Of Gen. Shields
division exclusively.
AT half past ten, the enemy made feint
on our left, commanded by acting Brig.
Gen. Sullivan, opening heavy fire of ar.
tiIlery, while the real attack was directed
against our right, with the object of faux
ing it.
Gen. Kimble commanded on the right
where the heayiesI lighting was done. The
enemy were strongly posted in the woods
and behind q Stone wall, and the rebel ar
tillery was posted on emiheuce on both sides
of their left wing.
Our whole artillery force was engaged
consisting of batteries and "a pieces in
oil. The contest ragged furiously till 3 p.
NJ, the lighting being done chiefly by the
artillery aud musketry, al range OF not
more than 900 or 40G yards, and often much
less.
The rebel infantry opposite our right
now emerged from the woods and attempted
to capture Doan's battery by a charge.
The first effort was nearly successful, but
the heavy discharge of grape compelled
them 10 retire in confnsiOI. A second aud
weaker attempt likewise failed, and the
enemy fell back with heavy loss behiod the
stone parapet
Gen. Tyler now ordered bis brigade to
charge the enemy's battery, aud on the left
a most deadly encGuntre followed. Twice
our men reeed under the storm, but 10 The
third ehort they routed the rebels with
great Slaughter.
Our loss in that struggle was heavy.
Ont Of 300 men in the 84th Pa, 26 we're
killed, aud SO wounded. Among the mum
Der were many officers.
The 9th and 9Th Ohio shared the glory
and the losses with the 84th Pennsylvania
The enemy's killed and wounded strewed
The ground now in our possession, and their
left wing was utterly broken, and their
centre gavering, On their side the 4th
and 5th Virginia Regiments suffered most.
The former was terribly decimated.
Several attempts To rally the right wing
failed, aud TO add to The confusion the Irish
battalion Of l50 meO, When brought for
ward, and ordered to Gre upon the Union
troops. refused aud rebel regiment drove
this gallant little band forward, bat could
not compel them TO fire upon US.
Forty corpes of the $50 afterwards
slrewed The 6eld. Meanwhile the rebels
gave way on their left and centre, with a
boss Of 700 killed and woun6ed and 236
taken prisoners. Besides these, 1900 mus
kets were taken, aud many other valuable
| trODbies OuF lOgg does NOT exceed I00