Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-06-29
MISCELLANEOUS
The Battle of Kernstown..
From the Baltimore SUM-

Mr.. VIM. III. Taylor, of Winchester,
Va, a member of the Old Stonewall
Brigade, who took part in the battle
at Kernstown, March %, 1862, writes
to the San to correct misreprcsenta-
tons that have appeared in partisan
accounts put forth in connection with
the recent anniversary of that event.
The accounts complained of credited
Gen. Shields with victory over
Stonewall jackson at Kcrnstown, a
view Mr.. Taylor thinks cannot be
maintained if regard be had to the
object with which jackson fought the
engagement in question, the numbers
engaged on each side or the losses in
hicted. Gen. Shields was at Stras-
burg with his division, and Gen. Will
liams, with another division, was at
Winchester on March 16, when. an
order was received from Gen.. Nc
Clellan directing the transfer of a
large part of the two divisions from
the Valley TO the eastern side of the
Blue Ridge to participate in the adj
vance on the Confederate position at
Manassas. 1t was this reinforcement
of Gen. Mcclellan that Gen. Jackson
undertook to prevent. Through Col.
Ashby Gen. jackson was informed
when, on the goth, Gen. Williams with
his division began his movement to
Manassas via Snickersville. On the
following day Col. Ashby reported the
evacuation of Strasburg by Shields
and his retirement toward Winchester.
Jackson at once followed. Hearing
through his scouts the position taken
by Shields on the night of the 22d at
Kearnstown, village little south of
Winchester, Jackson determined to
attack. At daylight on the morning of
the 23d he moved from Mount Jack
son, reaching the vicinity of kerns-
town with his main force at l p. NJ.
His men were much exhausted by the
long march, and it was his intention,
it is said, on this account not to at
tack. till next day. This purpose was
changed when it was learned that his
presence was likely to become known.
and it was resolved to attack at once.
Col. Ashby was directed to threaten
the Federal left and Major Funston
the right, while the Stonewall Brigade,
under Gen. Garnett, the second bri-
gade, under Col. Burke, and the third
brigade, under Col. Fulkcrson, pre-
pared for action. There were pres
cnt 3,OS7 infantry, of whom 2,742
were engaged; 290 cavalry and 81
pieces of artillery, of which Is were
engaged.
Gen. Shields strength, according
to Gen. McClellan's report for March
giving the number present for duty,
was II, 255, including $50 cavalry and
"a pieces of artillery.
Of the action itself it is not neces-
sary to speak in detail, as it has been
frequently described. 1t is enough
for the present purpose to mention
the results. The Confederatcs con-
tested the field manfully and gained
their object, which was to secure the
recall to the valley of the -, 900 troops
of Gen. Williams. They also COM
PEELED the enemy to withdraw per-
nancntly from McClellan's support
the very large forces that were en-
ployed later under Banks, Fremont
and Shields to look after Jackson and
occupy the Valley. The Confederate
loss WIS OF F1Lleu, c1A NNuhuSb3 ahu
two guns disabled and left on the
field. The Federal loss has not been
ascertained, but facts that came to
the knowledge of the people of Win
chester indicated loss equal to the
entire Confederate force.
The statement that Jackson was
reinforced by Longstreet and Smith
is, of course, untrue, both being over
IO5 miles distant on the other side of
the Blue Ridge. The arrival of re-
Inducements under Gen. Garnett,
spoken of in anniversary account of
the engagement, is absurd, as Gar
nett commanded the First, or Stone
wall Brigade, which was present
throughout the action. Upon which
side the victory lay any one can judge
for himself after considering the facts
here given.