The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-04-04
Details Of the Late Fight Near Win
chester.

chester.
WINCHESTER. Va, March a5.--On Sat
urday at two O'Clock in the afternoon III,
enemy showed themselves mile and .
half from Winchester. The enemy, con
sisted OF 500 Of Ashby's cavalry and twc
guns. They drove in our pickets and
then skirmished with the Michigan cav.
airy and portion Of the Mary yiand Firsl
regiment. Gen. Shields brought up hi,
iorces and cred rouEds Of shell, drove
them back and took several prisoners.-
Gen. Shields was wounded ia the arm
by the first FIRE Of the enemy. Jackson
had been informed BY the inhabitants
that the town was deserted by the Union
troops. and he advanced 10 retake it,
tien Shields forse slept on their arms
Saturday Eight.
Sunday morning at sunrise. Jackson
being reinforced, attacked Gen. Shields
near KearRestown, three miles distant
The enemy's force consisted OF 500 Ash.
by's cavalry, 5000 infantry and nine
pieces Of artillery, with reserve Of 10
pieces Of artillery. The fight was kept up
till noon, when a charge made by the
Ohio infantry, ist Michigan aud lsi vir.
ginia cavalry on their right, drove them
back half mile, when the enemy GO.
their guns 10 position again In q dense
wood. fanked by infantry, aud drove us
back. A short artillery engagement en-
sued, when Gen. Shields ordered Col.
Tyler 10 turn their left flank. which was
executed by our troops, but with consid.
cradle loss. the enemy being protected
by stone ledge. The 84th Pennsylvania
and 18Th Indiana charged their centre
ard the fight became general. Col. Muir.
ray OF the 84th Pennsylvania was killed.
The enemy retired slowly. bringing
their guns to bear at every opportunity. :.
Our men rushed forward with wells, when
panic ensued among the enemy. Our
troops followed and dove them ill dark,
capturing three guns. three caissons,
muskets, equipments, &C., innumerable.
Our troops bivouscked on the field.
Gen. Williams first brigade, Col. Don
nelly, 28th New York, commanding, re.
inforced Gen. Shields.
Gen. Banks, who was on the way 10
Washington Sunday, returned and as.
sumed command. Meantime Gen. Shields
division pursued the enemy beyond New.
ton. shelling them the whole way. Jack.
sons men were perfectly demoralized and
beyond control; they threw overheard
the dead and wouded TO tighten the wag.
ons.
II is noticeable that nearly oil The Con.
fad IL
or breast, testifying the superiority Of our
marksmen. The loss on our side we're
chiefly Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana
troops.
Those Who conveyed the false intelli.
gence to Gen. Jackson. causing this dis.
astcr TO the rebels, have heavy weight
OF guilt to shoulder. 1t was evidently
known TO many in the town that Jackson
was approaching from the holiday attire
and buoyancy OF spirits among men and
women here. Gen. Shields command be.
ing screened from observation on the east
side OF the town, led the informants 10 be-
lieve that all our troops were evacua,ing,
and that jackson could enter unmolested.
Good judges say the enemy's loss is
over 200 killed, 500 wounded and 800
prisoners. including an aid to Jackson
Our loss is about IS killed and 1876
wounded.
On Sunday morning the rebels received
relntorcements under Gen. Garnett,
amounting to 5000.
The Union forces did not exceed 10, 900
men, and with the exception Of about 500,
were Of Gen. Shields division exclusively.
AT half past ten, the enemy made
feint on our left. commanded by ac'ing
Brig Gen. Sullivan. opening q heavy fire
Of artillery, while the real attack was di.
rected against our right. with the object
Of fanking il. Gen. Kimble commanded
on the right, where the heaviest fighting
was done. The enemy were strongly
posted in woods and behind q stone wall,
and their artillery was posted on EN-.
inences on both sides of their left wing
Our whole artillery force was engaged,
consisting OF 4 batteries Of "a pieces in
all. The contest ragged furiously Till 3 P.
NJ. the fighting being Gone chiefly by the
artillery and muske,ry. at q range OF no,
more than 800 or 400 yards. and often
much less.
THE rebel infantry opposite our right,
now emerged form the woods and at.
tempted to capture Doan's battery by
charge. The first effort was nearly sue.
cessiul. but the heavy discharges Of grape
compelled them TO retire in confusion. A |
second and weaker attempt likewise failed, |
and the enemy fel! back with heavy loss
beyond lhe stone parspet. Gen. Tyler
now ordered bis brigade to charge the en-.
emy's batteries on the left. and most
deadly encounter followed. Twice our
men recled under the storm, but in The
Sd effort they routed the rebels with tre-
mendous slaughter. Our loss in these
struggles was heavy. Out OF 500 men 10
the 84lh Pennsylvania regiment &c were
killed and s3 wounded. Many officers
were killed and wounded. The 5ih and
9th Ohio shared the glory and the losses
with the 84th Pennsylvania.
The enemy's killed and wounded
slrewed the ground in proiusion, and their
lett wing was utterly broken and their
centre wsvering. On their side the 4th
and 9Th Virginia Regiments suffered most.
the former was terribly decimated, several
attempts to rally the right wing failed.
aud to odd IN the con n, aior tha Irish hat.