The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-23

Of arms, ammunition and stores we're
captured the gallant tight vt Col.
Ashby at Bucktown, and the cum
pIeto turning af the position Of the
enemy at St,anSharS, were all re-
suits of these rapid movements which
| have not time to describe in detail.
We bivouacked that night just be-
You'd the forks of tho Shenandoah while
some Of the picketS Of our division were
advanced to within four miles Of VIM
chester.
We were now on til" fl lux, and would
soon be in the rear Of Gen. Banks, whose
army numbered about $4,000, while Ours
numbered about 10000. But no was
equally on our flank, AMI could, by u
bold movement ON Front Royal, have
recaptured his stores and prisoners, and
planted himself in our rear Whether
this would have been a wise thing for
him to do is another question, and he
does not seem to have long hesitated as
to "entering the lists" Gas he expresses it
in his report) for race to the Potomac"
Gen. Ewell, with Trimb]e's brigade aud
some cavalry, was sent on the morning of
Saturday, May oath, by the direct road
to Winchester, while Jackson moved his
main body across to Midd|ctown, Oh the
main "valley pike
Coming in sight Of Mildlctown
Jackson saw that the pike WAS filled
with a rapidly rrtreating column, and
Immediately ordered Captain P"as"e,
of the famous R"ckbridge Artillery to
open fire on the moving mass, while
Gen. Dick Taylor was ordered to
charge with his splendid Louisiana
brigade. The best troops find Il sud
den attack on them while retreating
in column a severe test, aud these
broke in widest confusion, the main
body hurrying on towards Winc|'es-
ter, while a part retleated on Strauss
burg. Our brigade was hurried for
ward at a double quick, but only got
there in time to see the rear of the
retreating column, and witness the
wild confusion presented by upturned
wagons, dead and wounded horses
and men, muskpts, knapsacks, ETC.,
scattered over the fields, while pur-
sued and pursuers were disappearing
in the distance. Our column now
pressed along the main pike to Win
chester, passing along the whole
route the deserted wagons of the enc
my. At Newton there was a tempo
rary check to our advance, which gave
the enemy time to fire their wagons,
and from that we marched for miles
might had now set in) By the light Of
burning wagons, baggage and stores.
Jackson was himself at the head OF
the column, and was frequently III
great personal peril from the ambns'
cades of the then enemy, and the fire
of their rear guard. 1t was a weary,
tedious night march, but was enliven'
ed Ivy the music of our bands, the
cheers that would ring ont along the
whole column, and the jests Of the
men which, would create lond bursts
If laughter.
An hour before daybreak our col.
umn halted and the men snatched
little sleep, while Jackson himself
stood sentinel at the head of the COL
umn, receiving reports from the sk'r:
mishers, who pressed slowly on, and
giving frequent orders to direct thei,
movements. "At early dawn" "a ia.
vorite hour with Stonewall for begin.
ming a ma,ch) Jackson gave the quiet
order which reused the column from
it's hasty slumber, and moved it for
ward on the enemy, who had taken a
strong position on the hills command
ing the approaches to Winchester
Jackson personally recoDnoitered the
position, going 80 close to- the skir-
mish liue of the enemy that two offi
GERS were wounded at lhis side, and
Immediately made his dispositions.-
Gen. Ewell was on the direct road
from Front Royal fighting hin way
towards the town; Gen. Jackson's d.
vision and Taylor's brigade were ad
vancing on the enemy t" the lett Of
the pike, and E'zy's brigade was held
ia reserve on the pike.
Jackson seemed on this occasion the
very personi6cation of the genius Of
battle, as he galloped from point tt
point on the field. and gave lila sharp
crisp orders. Riding up to the Thir'
ty.third Virginia Regiment (tho gal
liant Colonel Neff commanding in the
midst Of the battle, he said to tile c."
pointing to a hill near by, II expect
the enemy t" bring artillery to occupy
that hill, and they mnst not d" it,
Do you understand me sir? The,
must not d" it! Keep a good '"ol
out and your men we'll ia hand, aut
if they attempt to come charge then
with the bayonet aud seize theirgn"s
Clamp them sir, on the sp"t.' And
his clenched hand, ringing voice al
betokened that he meant inst what ht
said. But when the critical momen
came he ordered forward his whole
line, and gave to all near him the EN-
1phatic order, "Forward after the enc
myw The while line swept gallant
lily onward, the brave resistance Of TIT
enemy was of but short duration, AM
while Ewell drove everything before
him on the east of the town Taylo
and Jackson's old division swept dow
the pike, E|zey moved rapidly for
ward on the pike, the enemy CAV
way at every point and we pushed
pell-mell into the streets Of WiDches
ter. The scene that ensued beggar
all description. The women AM
children Of Winchester, wild will
delight, marched out into tho street
utterly regardless ofthe death. dealing
missiles which flew thick and fast VI
every side. At one poin: We had &C
tualIy to advance a guard to clear til
streets of women that our men Nigh
fire on tile retreating enemy. Wit
waving Of handkerchiefs, exclama