Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-06-08
MILRoY AND LEE AT WINCHESTER.

ID. Powell, confederate officer,
contributes a vivid description to
the National Tribune of Gen. Mil.
roy's defence of Winchester in 1868.
Milroy entered Winchester Dec.
1862, and until the following June
was constantly threatened, and his
cavalry secured the valley for miles
around. Engagements took place
in June, 1868, with great loss of life,
Lee losing 600 men in charge
against Capt. Carland's battery, near
the old mill, along the pike, south of
Winchester.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the
rebels opened with heavy artillery
fire. The infantry closed in on all
sides. The weak and unsupported
lines of Mjlroy had to gradually give
way. If they suddenly broke and fell
back, it was only to secure another
cover, where they could infiict great
er loss upon the enemy. The rebels
had to fight for every foot of ground
they gained. AT nightfall Milroy's
whole command was in and around
what was called the Star fort. The
cannonading was terrific. Presently
the firing ceased, and the silence
was oppressive-all was still. Soon
the outstanding pickets began to
fire. In a moment they came rush
ing into the rihe-pits. There was
plainly to be heard the firing and
steady tramp of men. On they
come. The order is Be still-hold
your fire." The step comes painfully
near. At last a sheet of fame
from the mouths of more than 30
cannon, doubleshotted with grape
and canister. A wall, a cry goes up
from the foe without. Yet they are
still heard advancing. Another
shot from the cannon above, and all
is quiet, save the moaning of the
men out. in the dark. In this
assault Maj. Hill told the writer
that Lee lost 1000 men in killed and
wounded. Thus ended the fighting
on Sunday, June u, 1868. Now
the critical moment has come.
Ammunition is exhausted. provisions
almost gone the enemy 10000 or
$4,000 strong, flushed with the honor
OF capturing MllrOy and his com
mand, has folded its coils around and
are waiting for the light of day to
complete the work. MilrOy after
counseling with his officers, said we
must get out of there. Quietly
forming his commands and putting
them in the best shape he could,
gave orders for quiet and steady
march on the Martinsburg road.
After marching some three or
four miles in quiet and without
opposition, he suddenly came upon
a strong force moving to close up
the only line of escape. After a
most desperate fight of some hours
the lines of the enemy were broken,
he passed out, part toward Harper's
Ferry, the other part toward North
Mountain and Hancock, in Maryland
1t rs true that MilIoy lost his
artillery and part of his supplies and
wagons, but his loss of men after all
this fighting did not exceed $500 or
5000 in killed, wounded and missing.
Maj. Hill, who was an Aid on Gen.
Ewell's staff, was wounded in the
last days fighting at.Gettysburg, and
was taken back to Williamsport, Md.
on the Potomac River. There he
was left. The writer was put in
command of the post there to care
for and look after the wounded.
He frequently called to see Maj
Hill, who was a bright, intelligent
officer. The Major often mentioned
the fight at Winchester, and said;
cit was Lees fatal mistake. What
had such handful of men as that
under Milroy to do with one of the
most daring moves that had been
attempted during the war 7 Lee
had started for Pennsylvania with
nearly all of Federal army in his rear
In the midst of his march he turn
ed aside from his main line and
spent four days in battling with g
man who knew nothing but how tt
fight. In the fight with Milroy, Gen
Lee lost four days of marching
he lost in killed, wounded and miss
| ing not short of $4,000 men, mainly
by desertion. 1t was this delay and
the losses he sustained at Winches
tier that located the battle at Gettys
burg, and gave Gen. Meade the vic
tory. Lee lost the victory of BIZ
northern campaign through the OBJ