The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-02-13
Gen. Shields and the Battle of VIM
chester.

January, makes the following reference to
Gen. SHIELDS:
Gen. Shields is here and appears in citizens
Dress He is the only general that has whipped
Stonewall jackson.
This is according to the general belief,
and according, also, to the official and un-
official representations made by the off
Ger who is credited with the honor of
whipping Stonewall JACKSON. The occa-
sion referred to is the battle of Winches-
ter; which was opened by skirmish on
Sunday evening, the 22d March, 1862, and
fought in force on the following day. The
statement is erroneous, as we shall proceed
to show.
On taking command of LANDEEs di-
vision, after his death, Gen. SHIELDS
marched to form junction with the
forces under Gen. BANKS. AS he ap-
preached Winchester, JACKSON retired up
the Shenandoah valley, SHIELDS following
ing him short distance beyond Strasburg,
and thence returning to Winchester. Near
evening of Sunday, the 22d March,
AsHBy's cavalry appeared and drove in the
Federal pickets; and an hours sharp ar
tilery practice ensued, doing little dam
age to either side. The place of this skir-
mishing was on the Newmarket pike, some
three miles out of Winchester; and, hear
ing the cannonading, Gen. SHIELDS rode
out to ascertain what was going on. Di-
rectly on his arrival within view of the
skirmish, and while overlooking the ground,
out of the direction of the enemy's fire,
chance shell exploded near him, and he
was wounded by fragment, in the left
arm. He was then taken into Winches-
ter, where he remained some days after,
confined by his wound.
The battle was fought the succeeding
day, and from one to two miles further out
from Winchester. Gen. SHIELDS returned
to Winchester, the evening he was wound
ed, in the belief that AsHBY's cavalry, and
that alone, was in his front. Heremained
OF that belief the next morning. and con-
tinued in that belief till afternoon of Mon
day, in spite of the representations of Act
ing Brigadier General KIMBALL, the senior
officer on the field; and so believing, rid-
culed and refused his requests for reinforce
ments, until our meagre forces were driven
back and nearly overwhelmed by the supe-
rior numbers of the enemy. 1t was after
noon before Gen. SHIELDS would act upon
the fact that JACKsONs infantry was en-
gagged in the attack with AsHBYs cavalry;
and it was sometime after, that the needed
supports arrived on the field.
Gen. SHIELDS represented in his letter
to Senator LATHAM, which was published
at the time, and in his official report, that
he directed the details of the battle The
truth is that Gen. SHIELDS had never been
on the ground where the bulk of the fight
ing was done; and that he was incapacita-
ted by this fact, and by his wounded con-
dition, from giving such directions. The
incidents of the fight were reported to him
from hour to hour, as they occurred; but
the plan of the battle was arranged, and
orders for carrying it ont were given, by
Acting Brigadier KnIBALL He did not
receive an order from Gen. SHIELDS, dur
ing the progress of the fight; and the sug-
gestions sent by Gen. SHIELDS were of
such character that they were not, and
could not safely have been, acted on
Gen. SHIELDS did not give an order dur
ing the progress of the fight on Monday,
but he made up the deficiency after the
victory was won; for Colonel KIMBAIL was
surprised, the midnight following, by the
receipt, at the hands of an orderly from
General SHIELDS, of a batch OF dozen of
orders, directed to him, dated at intervals
through the day, and covering the Incl
dents of the fight, as COL KIMBALL re-
ported them, by messengers, to his wound
cd chief, at Winchester, four or five miles
away. These orders thus sent and re-
ceived, we have seen; and the facts, as
we have stated them, are upon the records
of the War Commttee-swornt to there by
officers of the highest rank and character
then belonging to SHIELDS Division. These
facts were brought to the attention of the
Senate when General SHIELDS nomination
for Major Generalship was before that
body for confirmation; and they operated
more strongly, perhaps, than any other
facts, to procure the unanimous rejection
which he received. ..
The country believes that Gen. SHIELDS
fought the battle of Winchester, in person.
The pictorial papers of that day represent
ed him as riding at the head of his troops
=, when the decisive bayonet charge was made,
i at about half past four, which routed JACK
SONS infantry, and drove them in confu-
f sion from the field; when, in fact, he was
safe in bed. five miles away. And, as we