The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-03
From the N. Y. Herald, June 22.]
The Battle NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
of the Disastrous Defeat.

OIL the DlSaStrOuS DeAcht
For the first time is laid before the
public this morning in the Herald an
accurate narrative of the battle OF Win
chester, concerning which there had
been so many conflicting accounts, most
Of them of an unfavorable nature, but
some giving the Union General extraor-
dinary credit for his performances. The
reliable report which we publish to-day
shows that nothing which has hitherto
seen the light reaches the full amount of
the disaster. Accompanying detailed
description of the battle to correct map
of the locality, including the roads, the
town, the Notifications and the positions
of the contending forces at various sta
ges ofthe battle.
The position is evidently strong, and
ought to have been held, as it certainly
could have been if there had been gen.
eralship and pluck at the head. The
attacking force has been estimated at
frem $1,000 to $4,000. Milroy had T.
900 in the battle, and could have con-
centrated 5000 from the adjoining
posts. The Confederates advanced by
two roads-the Front Royal and the
StraSburg-from the south, driving in
the pickets and carrying the outpostS
at the same time workingtheir way grad
ually around by the western side of the
town, from which, on the second day
they assaulted the outer works of the
main fortifcation, rushing into the ditch
and up the parapet, on which they plant
ed their flag, carrying the works at the
point of the bayonet, and killing and
capturing considerable number. The
inner works were still in the possession
of Milroy, also the star fort. But a
council of war was held after nightfall,
and when the battle had ceased, on Sun
day, it was decided to take advantage
of the darkness and eyacuate the place
during the night in silence, leaving be-
hind all the cannon, ammunition and
stores. Better far to have retreated be-
fore the battle or to have fought it out.
Milroy had not gone four miles when he
found himself confronted Oy an over.
whelming force, which tho Confederates
had sent ahead. Two regiments were
captured wholesale, and the slaughter of
those who cut their way through was
very considerable, while the cavalry pur-
sued and captured great numbers. The
loss was terrible. Nothing was saved
except what was carried upon the per-
sons of the troops. Not soldier had a
change of clothing. The officers were
compelled to leave even their wives be-
hind them in the hands Of the enemy
Three entire batteries of field pieces ard
one battery of siege guns-in fact the
whole of the artillery of the command
were lost, together with six thousand
muSkets, and small arms without stint,
all the ammunition and commissary
stores, two hundred and eighty wagons
and one thousand two hundred horses.
Out of seven thousand men only one
thousand six hundred to two thousand
had turned up safe, leaving upwards o
FIVE thousand to be accounted for. The
report in circulation that the train oi
Milroy had escaped turns out to be
without foundation. Our correspond
ent, writing on the Goth, says nothing
whatever belonging to Milroy's com
mand was saved, and the mistake origi
mated from the fact that the trains from
jones' brigade, from Berryville, escaped
to Harrisburg Thus the defeat of Mil
roy was most thorough and disastrous
and so much was he scared that he ap
pears never to have stopped till he go
to Baltimore.
J 1t must be in the recollection Of man,
, of our readers that, in letter to one o
the meetings of the Loyal League hell
, in this city, General Milroy proposed
soon to crush freedom of speech ant
freedom of the press at the North, mas
much as the rebels were now nearly con
quered; and, that consummation having
been achieved, the troops would be q
liberty to attend to such Northern trait
ors as dared TO criticise the acts of tn
administration. He has been ahead c
; Burnside and every other general in hi
: crusade against the liberties of the loyt
t and peaceful citizens of the North; bu
S he has made very little headway again'
= the rebels. 1t ia worthy of remark tho
S the generals who are the greatest failure
/. have distinguished themselves most
: assailing the constitutional rights OF th
d people.
OUR LOSSES.
+ Our losses have indeed been terrible
o Not thing was saved except that whiC
was worn or carried upon the persons
the troops Three entire batteries
field artillery and one battery of siel
l. guns-all the artillery of the comman
n in fact-about two hundred and eigh'
d wagons, over twelve hundred horses ar
70 mules, all the commissary and quartz
,r masters stores and ammunition of o
/. kinds, over six thousand muskets ar
10 small arms without stint, the private bal
Is gage of the officers and men, all fell in
y the hands of the enemy. Of the 7,0(
Il men of the command but from Ice
ID to 1000 have as yet arrived here, lea
ii ing to be accounted for over 5000 me
|. These comprise the list of horrors, Q
= cept the names of the killed and youn
10 ed, which ills, impossible to asCertai
ID as the slain remained unbnried and Il
re wounded unsurgeoned where they fe
st Not soldier of the command has
r. change of clothing, except he has boug
ID it here, borrowed it Of a more fortuna
is comrade in arms or pressed" it; b
II L.. h. ,uo,,ld In NJ