Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-03-30
Battle of KernstOWn.


filth anniversary OF the battle OF kernstown,
near Winchester. We make the following eX-
tract from Dabrey's account Of the battle };
This was the first pitched battle in which
General Jackson had supreme command and II
was fought exclusively by Virglnians, except
that few Marylanders participated in It's dan
gers. It's effect vas to raise The estimate OF the
prowess both Of soldiers an leader 20 an exaIt-
-. height; anI irom this day, the great quail
ties of the vrsinian soldiery, deprecated al first
by their own Southern brelhern. but Illustrated
and redeemed at Manassas, have shone forth un-
questioned by ALL Kemstown has remained,
among The many more bloody days, when
greater hosts pursued the work Of slaughter IN
/ in this sanguinary war, name expressive OF !he
slernest fighling to the CoHfederates, 10 specia-
tors and to the Eederalists. The soldiers Of the
old Jackson division, when describing the hor-
Iors of some SUBSEQUENT struggle are wont 10
sly that il almost reminded them of kenstown'
The ueaceful citizens of Winchester, who have
met The strange fate Of having their ears grow
more familiar with the sounds Of battle 'hah
those Of many q veteran, still declare that none
of the tempests of war which have howIed a.
round their devoted town ragged like that OF
IKernstown. with cannonAde 80 fast and furious,
and such revefberaling roars of musketry. The
Federal soGiery, after timidly pursuing tie
Confederates the next day for a few miles, re-
turned TO their quarters, with no triumph upon
their tongues, or in their counlenances. Their
commander, with The usual gasconade of the
| Federal Generals. claimed a brilliant victory /;
Ibut his boasts awoke no answern enlhusiam
among his 70 lowers. The deadly energy Of
IJackson's blows filed them with gloom and
dread, as they asked the mselves, what was thE
task which they had undertaken, in seeking TO
conquer this people in their consolidated strength
whose resistance, n their weakness and disor-
ganizatIon, was SO terrible. To this sombFe i'm
preston. the spirit Of the captivcs and the OPP
pressed people contributed no lite. The former
as they passed through the streets to their prIs-
ons, were Joyous and defiant the symPahies OF
the patriotic multitude conv' rted their progress
ra her into all ovation than defeat, and they
rent The air with shouts for iheiF country and
General, which their gloomy captors burst not
suppress. The very scenes upon the held
of blood, narrowing as they were, iniimldaled
The Federal spectators. The regiments which
suffered most in Jack5on's command were raised
in the lower Valley and in the town itself. AS
soon as The permission was given to lhe Mdyor
I,Eey hucked thit er upon this era d OF gnel
land mercy. The cultivated and accomplished
female she minister Of religion, the toteflng
grandfather, were seen together, IN all the aban-
{ Oh Of their anguish, running 10 and iro, pour.
ing water into The parched lips OF the wounded,
composing the coIvul>ed liGlb OF the sla n INTO
decency, and looking eagerly into every begrm-
ed and baggard face Of dead or dying 10 recOS-
nize a son, a husband or brother. ct, amidst
all these horrors, the very women were as de-
termined as abe brave men whose late they be
vailed, and arose from beside The CorPse5 whose
discovery had rust informed them OF their be-
reav, inert. to declare to their Invaders thai none
of these rriser;es, nor death rsPP, should bend
their souls 20 submission. Vat these same wO-
men, with generosity equal 10 their heroISm
hiyided their cares and gifts between wounded
friends and fees in the hospitals where they Ian
guished together.
The battle og kernsiown, was technically, q
viclosy Of the Federallsts. They held the field,
the dead and Il c wounded. But, like those OF
Pyuhus al ileracl=s, AMI Of CornwaIIlS AT Gull
ford it was a victory with the results of defeat.
The coRquerolS crippled by their % ses, and ter
rIied BY the resistance which they met, dared
not press the retrealing ConledeTaleS. But above
ALL the object of the battle was won by General
Jackson. The Federal army IN the Valley was
detained there. and The troops which were on
their way to Manassas 10 Increase tie enbar.
rassmeQls of General Johnston, were recalled.
The army of the latter extricated itself from Is
perllou> situntio0, and retired in safety behind
the Rappahannock, while Mcclellan, fOiled IN
his plans, arrested his advance at Manassas,
and began to consider the policy of transferring
the campaign 10 the Peninsula.