Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-02
THE Loss OF wINcHEsFER.
A Narrative of the InyestDent and
Abandonment OF the Place.
Correspondence OF the Philadelphia Ledger.


4 BEDPoRD, Penn, Tuesday June 10, 1868.
The fight at WiuchesterI' Va, actually
began on Friday evening, at Newtown, q
village on the Strasburg road, about ten
miles south of Winchester, our scouts
brought ipfornlation of the advance nf the
enemy and the Eighty-seVeuth Pennsylva-
MIA infantry, with the Twelfth and Thir-
teenth PENNSYLVANIA cavalry, were sentodt
to hold them in check. On reaching the
place, as above, the Eighty-seventho were
placed in ambush behind q stone wall that
bounded one side of the road, while the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry pushed
on to feel the force of the rebels, which
consisted mainly of cavalry. They being
in force commenced the attack, the Thlr-
teenth gradually fell back until the eighty
seventh had them in hand, when fire WAS
poured in on them of the most fearful
character, and it was up and ut them, both
by the Eighty-seyenth and Thirteenth, who
both fell upon them, and the slaughter
was immediate and heavy. Wekilled about
forty, wounded sixty, and brought into
Winchester fifty three prisoners. Next
day (Saturday) the enemy had advanced
near the town, driving in our pickets, and
late at night taking possession ofand hold
ing the suburbs of the town, towards
Strasburg and Front Royal 49, 10 .a+
Sunday morning showed that I'VE were
invested entirely on the east also. TIE First
New York cavalry and the Sixty-seventh
Pennsylvania had been driven out of Ber-
ryville, with the less OF hll their camp
equipage, stores, &C., even to officers bag
gage aud reaches Winchester in the course
of the day, At noon we were invested
from the Romuey road on the Vest, clear
around the southern suburbs of the town,
81 IN m
to Martinsburg. Company G, of the Thir-
teenth Pennsylvania cavalry, under com
mand of Lieuts. Breech and Brown, were
driven back to Martinsburg, with the loss
of their stores, &c. A general alarm now
prevailed; all Glasses of persons-soldiers
and citizens, Union families and negroes
were either taking refuge in the fortitica-
tions which line the west by northwest
suburb of the town, or we're breaking out
for Martinsburg. Brisk skirmishing taking
place at every quarter, we were completely
hemmed in. Lieut.. Col. Moss. Twelfth
Pennsylvania cavalry, was sent out on the
Pughton road, as far out as Pughton, six
miles, aud secured the woods aud country
TO the left, west and south. over to the
Romney road; saw nothing and returned.
At 2 o'clock thirteen full batteries of
the enemy opened on US from the very
points Just gone over by him. In less
than half an hour battery L., of the regu-
lar service, under Lieut.. Randolph, then
posted only about 400 yards to the west of
the main line of liberalization, was taken,
and as fearful fire ensued from all points
upon us as can be imagined.L Such hiss
ing, seethiug, breaking aud bursting of
shells was scarcely ever heard. This con-
tinued until long after dark. Gen. Milroy
was himself posted all this while in the
81, a. SO 81,
.tions, exposed to this fire. AT 4 O'Clock
the citizens began to vacate the forts, aud
the wagons, about GOO in number, began
to fall back. By dark all the cavalry had
fallen back a mile from the forts toward
the east, taking up a position for the
night. At z O'Clock A. n. Monday, we
began our retreat, leaving all our wagons
and every gun, both light aud heavy, in
the forts, land Imust just at this point say
also, George R. Mcguire, Adjutant of the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, who has
been sick during the last two months, and
was too i'll to be removed.) At about
four miles on toward Martinsburg,. wewere
very suddenly attacked on our front by
three batteries and Eve regiments. We
charged them, and heavy fight took
place--the most severe one thus far-'twas
Il hand to- hand conflict, We carried the
position once, but were forced to yacate it
almost Immediately, as they were too
strong for US; the shells then flying about
US like hail, entirely broke up the column.
Gen. Milroy broke away to the east, and
we hear has reached Harper's Ferry. The
Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, under
Major Kerwin, fought desperately, but
were forced to fall back under the muir
derous FREE every regiment began to take
care of itself, and it attempted, and por-
ton of it succeeded, in forcing a passage
by the east towards Harper,s Ferry; while
to the left, the only absolute road not oc-
cupied by the enemy, the Twelfth PENN
sylyania cavalry, the First New York, the
balance of the Thirteenth, Twelfth regi4
pent Virginia infantry, One Hundred and
Sixteenth and one Hundred and Twenty.
third Ohio and others broke for. Your cor
respondent only left the field, when it had
been cleared Of all but few drivers of az,
tiliery, and then Joined the forces to the
left. We passed through Bath at dark,
crossed the Potomac River into Hancock,
reaching it at about 9 p. N. Next morn
ing, Col. James A. Gallagher, of the Thir-
Ieenth Pennsylvania cavalry, took. com.
TnRnd of all the forces in the place, ap.
pointing First Lieut.. John W. Berks, OF the |
same regiment, Adjutant General, and Ma |
jor Timothy Quinn, of the First New York !
cavalry froYost MaFshal. The Mayor APP
pointed Capt Stearns and Lieut.. Watkins, |
of his regiment, as his Assistants, and or
der was Immediately established. Capt.
Alexander and Lieut.. Mckee, of Gen. Ell
liotts Stat, were ont hand as Qnartetnas.
ters and for commissary supplies, and eve-
~ man was well taken care of.
We found that the Thirteenth Regiment
Pennsylvania Cavalry had about 75 men, !,
with Maj Bryne, Capt Spearman, Lieuts.
Reilly and McDermott; the 18th Pa. Caval-
y, under Lit. Col. Moss, and Maj Titus,
had about 2T5 men, with Lieut.. J. Stewart,
3apts. johnson, McAllister and others;
he list New York, under Maj. Adams, with
light officers and about $50 men; Battery
,, LIST Va. artillery, Capt. John Carlin,
yith about 90 men, and as many horses;