The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-04
THE BATTLE NEAR WINCHESTER, va
On Mondoy the 19M Of Sept.
Correspondence of the Raleigh Confederate.

Correspondence of the Raleigh Confederate.
TUESDAY, Sept. 20, 1864.
Yesterday was bloody day to US, and bloodier
still to oar enemies AT daylight spirited attack
BY cavalry made upon Johnson's brigade, of
Ramseur's division, on the Berryville turnpike,
about two miles from Winchester The attack
was gallanty repelled. But from the contin ued
roar OF artillery, and the constant firing Of sharp
shooters, it sosa became apparent that the enemy
meditated general engagement. The main body
of his forces seemed to be advancing up the turn
pike from Berryville, fanking from the road right
and left. Gems Early, Breckinridge, Gordon,
Rodes and Ramseur, with the Generals of Cav airy,
made their arrangements to give him fitting re-
ception. About 10 O'Clock the artillery played
furiously At IL, the action became general and
ragged with great fury for the space of half hour
when our line of battle being hotly pressed, fell
back distance of about two hundred yards and
reformed in good order The enemy continued 10
advance, and our troops, though greatly out1um-
bered, addressed themselves to the work before
them like men determined to conquer or die. The
Yankee line advanced slowly. Our brave fellows
stood the fire like Salamanders, and piled their
rines like men who were fighting for ali that is
worth living for.
Such a scene 1 never witnessed. Tho battle
field may not be deemed by some place for pray-
er; think differently, and tried in my poor way
to appeal for help to the Lord of Hosts. Who
would not, when gazing at such scene as this?
The angel of death was reapng a fearful harvest
The Yankee line in few minutes began to look
ragged and rent. 1t wavered, confusion ensued,
and the mnions of the tyrant turned their backs
and retreated in confusion. Then the shouts of
victory rang along lines to cheer the heart
of every lover of his country
Standing on the bloody field could not forbear
to lift up my heart aud say, "blessed be the name
of the Lord who hath given US the victory" The
enemy retired some distance and attempted to re-
FORM His artillery also fell back. His fire had
sackened, and everything on all sides combined to
show that our victory complete. This was
about one o'clock, aud thinking the victory CON-
plete, was engaged bringing the wounded into
the city.
A little after three the enemys cavalry made a
demonstration on our left, along the Martinsburg
turnpike. At this point. was brigade of cavalry
called "Imboden's men," and although Gen. In
bodeu was esteemed when living the embodi-
ment Of patriotism and valor, and now when dead,
as the useful and efficient soldier, yet these men,
without being pressed, gave way in confusion, and
came rushing into the two leading streets Of the
town as much excited as if they had looked the
god Pan in the face, and crying out they came
rushing along, "the Yankees arc coming;" whilst
clouds Of dust were rising to hcighten the scene.
Wagoners teamstcrs, ambulance drivers, negroes,
boys, skukers from the battle, and squads loiter-
ing about the field, all caught the panic and fell
into the general rush, until constituted perfect
storm of the madness Of human folly. Soldiers
threw down their muskets about the fields and the
streets, divested themselves of cartridge boxes,
knapsacks and blankets in order to run hight; am
balances just returning from the battle field went
galoping off in this wild whirlpool filled with the
agouizing wounded, all tending to make "confu-
sion worse confounded."
was sitting in an ambulance in the street by
the dead body of Brig. Gen. Goodwin, which had
Just assisted in bringing off the battlefield, when
looking down the street | saw the frenzled rush
coming on towards me like hurricane. Dread
ing its contact, called to the driver to push with
all speed, and if possible to keep before this cur
rent of madness until we could clear the town,
reach the commons, and thus escape being run
over Upon clearing the town we halted. After
the space of about five minutes the passing, rush
ing mass of confusion had pretty much abated and
passed on. l got out to look for Yankees; 1 took
elavated positions; but, behold! l could not dis
cover solitary "bIue coat" None could be seen,
for none had entered the town. Officers who have
seen much that is exciting about battl1-ieds, tell
me they have never witnessed anything that will
begin to compare with the stampede at Winches-
ter The flying brigade OF "Imbodcn's men" COM
municated the panic also to portion of McCaus-
lands command who fed with them. This break
upon left, at this period of the day, enabled the
enemy to flank our forces, and Gen. Early deemed
it proper to fall back a: dusk. We had to leave
our dead in the hands Of the enemy. We had
gained decided victory in the field and were mas
ters of the situation but the part played by body
of undisciplined troops compelled us to drop the
prize.
Our loss, 1 fear from the present lights before
me, will run up nearly three thousand. That of
the enemy was surely much greater and may sum
up five thousand. We brought off about five hum
dred prisoners. The prisoners inform US that Gen.
Grant was in command and that Gen Averill was
killed. will write you more fully two days hence.
Yours as ever, SIGMA.