The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-05

To THE EDrroR or THE BuN-Sr: A closer in-
spection Of history would have convinced your cor
respondent In to-day's suE. Mr.. Alfred Lsforost.
Company Il. Seventh Louisiana. that he 10 mistaken
when he says that Gen. Shields never defeated
'stonewRu' Jackson"
There has been . disposition to detract from Gen.
Shields By ignoring the battle OF Winchester. w..
March 20. 1862. It 10 true that Shields, some months
afterward, was defeated by Jackson; but unless, Il
can be shown that Shields. at tho time Of his defeat,
dominated all the Union forces on the neld. ~ Jack
son dominated all the Confederate forces on the
same Geld, II. on this occasion, no was . subordinate
and not the real commander, II It was his business
not to plan but to obey the orders of another. COM
mon honesty would suggest that responsibility for
the result should DO placed on tho shoulder of the
man who was in supreme command, that 10, Gen.
Banks.
Union army was 40 divided and the divisions were
90 detached and 30 scattered over the valley ~ to
make concerted action impossible. Jackson'H keen
eye saw the blunder and promptly turned It TO his
advantage. Placing himself between the converg-
ing columns of Banks. Shields. Milroy and Fremont,
he struck one after another. and with his united
force drove back these isolated fragments In utter
rout. The whole Union army was then defeated. It
was bad generalship. no doubt. but It was not
shields's generalship. He did not "boss' the situa-
ton at that time.
At Winchester. on the contrary. Shields was in
bupTemo COHiHhn VI III THO OulOu IOECob on inc
field operating against Jackson. oven as Jackson was
in supreme command of all the Confederate forces
operating against Shields. Banks. 1t will be remem-
bered, was not on the field at the time OF the action,
he having been called to Washington before the en-
gagement began. The results Of Winchester. then.
were the legitimate fruits of shields's plan of opera
tons. strategy, and execution. To him belongs the
glory of the victory.
From Appletons' Annual 1892 American Cyclic
pedia. 1 take this account of that engagement:
Winchester was evacuated by 'stonewall, Jack
discovered Jackson reinforcedin a strong position
ne, near m New S Msgrke q a s5s Ctshin sup. snpp9 HthT S aiSfSne CO.. of
Johnston;
fell back rapidly to Winchester on tho goth. as II In
retreat a having marched arch his whole COMMAND thirty
cayalry, under Gen. Ashby showed themselves in
sight Of winchester.
Banks Himself ssiins s6sens from the nsid and on
sRiel HsyE division IL %asn erso3at:d Win Winch sas s and msrohs ID
S for Gsnt re Which this d%0 SYs . H. n Si1,t sh% % pa tsa
enemy to believe that the town was evacuated. with
the Exception Of q few regiments to garrison It:
the i Pictats Of Shields and si0d dro ssn them ann9 p. f but Esa
repulsed by q small force pushed forward BY Shields
contest taa' IN HI Tie morning nj Only IyDs q s s%sSi confsde sGSe
f pofsio sP IS Fl" %srt II aa' to @SfR'dPf 70 S oDsn a S'a aSd an a
This had the desired effect, when a baltic ensued.
crate left flank, forced that wing back upon its centre
and placed the enemy to be routed by q general at.
tack, which was made at g O'Clock in the afternoon
with great success.
THE Confederates were driven from the held.
Two guns. four caissons. 800 prisoners and 1000
stands OF small arms were captured. The force of
Shields was between 1000 and 5000. of which he
lost in killed and wounded between 800 and 400.
The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was
large: Considerable numbers were subsequently,
found in houses as the Union army advanced.
1.-THE brigadeB OF Gems. Jackson, Smith, Garrett
and LG 9Iam FSa s we're ,opFS oH,3S P M},t pr%E0nsTs we're
Twenty-third, Twenty-seyenth Thirty-third, Thirty
seventh and Forty-second Virginia."
For this brilliant victory ovor ."stonewall' Jack
son Gen. Shields was ohaoiGlly complimentod by the
Secretary Of War. Edwin N. Stanton. Con. McClel-
ties. p. J. FoRD, in.
BRooKLTN, Aug. 81.