The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-11

skicnishers into the wood Tyler's Skin
mishers were advancing to seize the van
tage ground. Jackson's infantry and ar
tiIIery combined now held off Tyler, and
his batteries were also playing havoc with
Kimball's line the other side of the valley.
kimball's tactics were at this juncture
unique. He had fought three inferior ac-
tions in order to hold the ground he then
occupied, and, with Ashby, and he knew
not how much besides, standing ready to
pounce upon him there was 10th TO leave
it undefended. His force was divided into
eight regiments, and one by one these regi-
ments were moved out by the right flank
to the front of the Confederates to assist
Tyler in maintaining his ground in front
of the stone wall. The effect that this sJyle
Of fighting had on the southerners is told
in Jacllson's report. He says that the re-
pulsed Union regiments with which he
fought at the stone wall were replaced by
fresh ones drawn from large reserve,
The Confederate Gen. Garnett, whose
brigade was in the center at the stone wall
believed that he was largely outnumbered
because he saw six different Union flags on
his front He also saw Union cavalry NOV
ing around on his left flank, and this bug
aboo was simply few weak detachments
sent out by Himball as f1ankers. However,
Garnett abandoned the stone wall, and
every effort put forth by the Confederate
commander and his lieutenant to ward off
disaster was unavailing The Confederate
troops on the left of Garnett, Fulkersons
brigade, were isolated by Garnett's with
drawal from the line, and the relentless &C
tivity Of Kimball's men allowed no respite
for the recovery Of lost ground. The stone
wall became the prize of the Union men, as
did also two of Jackson's cannon.
1t was now nearing night, and Kimball's
line was very much confused. On his new
front there was a wide stretch of open
ground, with a wood on the hither side
offering good rallying point for Jackson.
But the pet Of kind Providence" had suf-
fered a complete rout; his troops retreated
to their trains, and Ashby's cavalry was
drawn upon to do picket duty along Kim
balls front.
In his formal official report, intended for
eyes in Richmond, Jackson wrote that
though Winchester was not recovered, and
though the contested field remained in pos
session of the enemy, yet the most essen
tial fruits of the battle are ours"
This was penned several days after the
fact which be made do duty as essential
fruits" namely, the recall of Williams
Union division to Banks army in the val
ley as a result of the Confederate attack at
Kernstown. But on the day immediate
ly following his overthrow by Kimban
"Stonewall" put upon record another phase
of his mental processes at that time. In
dispatch to Gen. Johnston, dated March
a, he appealed for 5000 more infantry, a
doubling up of his force, to aid him against
Kimball alone, should the latter advance.
He was himself at that moment retreating
south, and in the same dispatch to John
stou be cried pat hetically TO his chief, after
begging for the heavy reinforcement TO
help him stand Off kimball, Il viii try and
remain on this side Strssburg"
Just how jackson could make kerns-
town count as an essential gain for his side
because it resulted in the return Of Union
division TO reinforce Banks in the valley,
when Jackson's own column needed TO be
doubled in order to withstand Kim ball
alone. is one of the military mysteries sur
rounding the fame Of this remarkable
southern idol II mum bers counted for any
thing. then tho addition Of Williams dIvlS-
ion to kimballis would have necessitated
the doubling OF JackSon's force second
time, and that would have meant the de-
pletion OF the Confederate armies outside
of the valley.
Another cause for conSratGl2tion. as
Jackson reported, was his belief that Kim
balls losses at kernst0wu exceeded his
own. In point of fact, Jackson's loss was
the greater by over - per cent Evidently
''StoNewall' met his peer when accident
threw him afoul Of Col. kimbaL in ms first
Shenandoah campaign.
GEORGE l. kusTER