Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-30
WHOLE NO. 1,25L
The Battle of winche.,er-cause of

The Battle of winchester-cause of
the Disastrous Defeat.
The New York Herald Of Tuesday publishes
an accurate narrative OF the battle Of Winchester,
and demonstrates that il was one of the most
disastrous and dsgraeeful OF the war. While
the personal courage Of Major General Milroy
cannot be questioned. he has not the capacity 10
manage large body Of troops, and it is unfor-
tunate for the country that he was placed in the
command of so important position as Winches-
ter. We notice that the criminal bInnder is re-
peaied by again giving him the charge of troops
in Western Virginia We copy the criticism Of
the Herald upDn the disaster al Winchester. AZ
ter referring TO map of the lorality which It
publishes. ami TO the fact that nothing yet pub
lished reaches the full arsDnnt of the disaster t
says:
1t will be seen that the Notifications are situ-
ated on two hills to the northwest of the town,
consisting Of ''tbe main work" nearest TO Win
chester, and "the star fort" further north, both
being connected with each other by a road. The
position is evidently strong, and ought 60 have
been held as IL certaily could have been IL there
had been generalship and pluck AZ the hc3d
The attacking force has been estimated at from
tie. and could have concentrated Is. 900 from the
adjoining posts. The Confederates advanced
from two roadside Front Royal and the Slras-
bnrg-from the South, driving in the pickets and
carving the outpOsts, at the same time working
their way gradually around by the western side Of
the town, and on the second day they assaulted the
outer works of the main forti6cation, rushing
into the ditch and up 10 the parapet, on which
they planted their aag, carrying the works at the
point of the bayonet. aud killing and capturing
considerable numbers. The inner works were
still in the possession Of Mroy, also the star
fort. But council of war was held after night
fall. and when the battle had ceased on Sunday.
Ii was decided to take advantage OF the darkness
and evacuate in silence the place during the
night. leaving behind all the cannon. ammuui-
ton and stores. Better far to have rstreated be
fore the battle. or to have fought il ought. Nil
roy had not gone four miles when he found him
self confronted by an overwhelming force which
the Confederates bad sent ahead. Two regi-
ments were captured Wholesale. and the slaugh-
ter of those who cut their way through con-
siderable, while the cavalry pursued and captured
was saved except what was carried upon the per
sons of the troops Not soldier had change
of clothing The officers we're compelled TO
leave even their wives behind them in the hands
Of the enemy. Three entire batteries Of Geld
pieces and one battery of siege guns-in fact the
gether with 5000 muskets and small arms with
out stint. all the ammunition and commisSary
stores. $50 wagons and 900 horses Out Of
1000 men, only from 600 to 1000 had turned
up safe leaving upwards of 1000 to be accounted
for. The report in circulation that the train cf
Milroy had escaped turns out to be without foun-
dation. Our correspondent, writing on the 10th,
says nothing whatever was saved that belonged
tn Nilroy's command; and the mistake original
ed from the fact that the trains from Jones bri-
gade al Martinsburg, and McReynold's brigade
from Berryville. escaped to Harrisburg. Thus
the defeat of Milroy was rost thorough and dis
astrous, and so much was be scared that be sp-
pears never to have stopped till he got to Balti-
moro. 1n'
Now, his troops fought admirably. and they
were well handled by the subordinate officers.
What, then is the cause of disaster as needless
and as humiliating as that Of Hsrper's Ferry last
year? Nothing but the want of cool courageand
capacity in the commanding General Unfortu-
nately Mii-ny is one OF the nOtical Generals,
appointed not for his military abilities, but for his
violent Abolition opinions. Such men, being
fanatical, have not the brains TO lead armies In
the second battle Of Bull Run, in which Pope
commanded. Milroy's conduct showed that he had
no presence of mind in battle. be says himself.
in his evidence before court of inquiry: al told
him (McDowell) that was not fighting with
General Sgel's corps; that nv brigade had got
the rear. and that had been fighting with halfa
dozen different brigades, and that had not in
quired whose or TO what particular corps they be-
longed." 1t is evident he has no idea of order or
subordination, or command. and is totally unfit
to lead troops The evidence of Captain Cutting
and Lieutenant Roebling shows the extraordinary
state of mind in which he appeared at that battle.
Brigadier General Buchanan bears similar testi-
mony. He says: "His manner was very excited,
and every one inquired who that rushing
about so wildly ! left him haranguing and ges-
ficulating most emphaticaly; but afterwards
found him giving orders to n portion OF my brig
ade His own brigade was not near there. and
he seemed to be rushing about the Geld without
any special aim or object, unless !: was to assist
in the performance OF other officers' duties"
Lastly, General Mcdowell says Of him: when
he spoke 20 me be was in frenzy. not account
able scarcely for what he said. and attracted the
attention OF every one by his unseemly conduct"
His own report, written some time after, when his
mind might be supposed to be in its normal state,
shows how extrayagant and unmeasured he is in
his language and how illogical his mind
Now, all this evidence is in print and before
the War Department: and yet. since the disss-
trous battle In which he played so strange part,
General Milroy has been actually promoted He
has been appointed Major General, placed in
command Of a division. and entrusted with so
important post az that of Winchester, from
flowed, and more grave disasters may follow.
And now, again. instead Of having him put under
arrest. the War Department sends hin into Wes
tern Virginia in command of other troops, which
be will probably suffer to be gobbled up. q -
It must be in the recollection of many OF our
readers, that in letter 10 one of the meetings OF
the LOYAL League beld in this city, General Nil
roy proposed soon TO crush freedom of speech and
freedom OF the press at the North. inasmuch as
the Rebels were now nearly conquered; and. that
consummation having been achieved, the troops
would be at liberty to attend 20 such Northern
traitors as dared 20 criticse the acts of the Ad-
ministration. He has been ahead Of Burnside
and every other General in bis crusade against
the liberties of the loyal and peaceful citizens OF
the North. ba& he has made very little beadwsy
against the Rebels. II is worthy of remark, that
the Generals who are the greatest failures have
distinguished themselves most in sssailiug the
constitutional rights of the people