The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-05-23


which was led by Col Kimball, was at the
first lodgment, Winchester. The cavalry
skirmishers of both sides were between.
About o'clock that day "Stonewall's"
cavalry, under Ashby, advanced on Win
chester and opened with cannon.
Gen Shields Immediately moved out of
his camps and drove Ashby away, but was
himself temporarily disabled in the en-
counter, The troops led by Shields formed
part of Col. Kimball's brigade, and on re-
turning from the front the general ordered
Kimball to advance with all his force and
take command at the front. On this Incl
dent of the wounding of Shields depended
the fate of jackson in his first independent
battle. During the night Shields sent word
to kimball to move forward at daylight
and drive of or capture Ashby. The gen
eral believed that the cavalry of the latter
was all the enemy ON his front.
llimball went forward promptly along
the valley pike leading south and met the
Confederates on the hills overlooking the
little village of Kernstown, three and
half miles from Winchester, on the low,
lands of u little stream running at right
angles across the main valley Kimball
planted a battery on one side of the pike
and disposed his brigade on the other side,
and drove the enemy before him into the
valley beyond the little stream In this
stroke the Confederates lost the key posi-
ton, and Kimball secured it.
Gen. Shields now sent word to his subor-
dinate to advance. Col. Kimball sent back
answer that he had a strong enemy to con
tend with aud needed re-enforcements.
Shields again ordered an advance, even in
structing Kimball to send body of men
with cannon to break through the enemy's
li,sfla - T.,
detail. Had Kimball obeyed he would
have fallen into the trap Jackson was pre-
pairing for him. Kimball rightly believed
that his superior, lying in his bed five miles
distant, could not know what was taking
place on the battlefield, and decided TO hold
his ground. He now had his own brigade
and Col. j. @. Sullivan's also. On learning
of Kimball's decision Gen. Shields sent up
his other brigade under Col. f. b. Tyler,
and left the affair wholly in the colonel's
hands The man who was to be pitted
| 4. ;linst "Stonewalln in the first battle of
Winchester had not enjoyed the adv au-
| tages of his opponent in military training.
| Jackson was West Point officer who had
| seen much service. kimball had been
| volunteer captain in the Mexican war, and
as colonel in command of the Fourteenth
| Indiana had made one campaign in 1891.
At midday jackson had deployed his
! whole force Of infantry across the valley
| south Of Kernstown, with Ashby's cavalry
| Tor movable column on his right flank
| Kimball had his own and Sullivans bri
| gade deployed along the enemy's front,
| with the vale of the creek and the hamlet
| Of Kernstown between. The Confedcrates
| opened the battle by attempting 10 rout
| kimball by AN assault on his left flank,
using the cavalry rs hankers, and also 70
make a show of strength. Kimball sent
out single regiments TO meet the attack
and repulsed 1t, Then jackson resorted to
tactics which elsewhere made him famous
Leaving Ashby's cavalry and battery TO
keep up a display on the field where his
first attempt had been made, he moved all
his Infantry and three batteries by con
cealed route far to the left, in order 10 seize
a height along the west side of the valley
ON the right of Kimball and overlooking at
fair range the whole Union position. Mean
i while ASilhy male a feint nu the left of