The National tribune., 1908-11-05
Stories Enineny Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
In the Great National Struggle.
AT WINCHESTER UNDER MILRo1
H-hc Eighth Corps Experience in the
Battle.

u-Lc Eighth Corps Experience IN the
Battle.
Editor National Tribune: Some time
Ago Comrade D. Bongye, of the S'th
Pa. expressed the wish that some one
of the Second Division, Eighth Corps
rvouId write ND history of the en-
gagement at Winchester, June IL, IL
and 1S, 1863. and I viii now endeavor
IN give nv version of it as well as
can from memory. On Friday, June
II. the engagement opened near MID
flietown, on the Strasburg pike. we
surprised the rebels at first, but they
rot a little the better of us while Mil
row was ordered to hold Winchester
for reinforcements. Two days later a
aelegram was received from Gen. Hal
Heck at Washington to fall back, but
the wires we're cut and the message
never reached its destination. The sup
port at Berryville and Harpers Ferry
was withdrawn to protect washington,
so Milroy was left to take care OF him
sell. with 6,009 available men under his
command, against EwelPs Division,
which was being constantly reinforced.
Milroy, expecting support all TIE time,
made a bluff by throwing his entire
force into a skirmish line, and held
che Confederates in check from FRIDAY
noon to Sunday evening, June IL. In
the meantime EweH, reinforced by
Earlv and other commands, made an
attack on Bowers Hill, CAPTURING lot
Of our artillery and driving our forces
down along the Winchester pike. The
only thing the cavalry could do was TO
H1anuyer around to keep out of range
OF the Confederate artillery. The m
fantry was protecting Flint Hill, where
the main fort is situated, 300 wagons
,d tho side The Con-
Sederates opened on the teams of horses
with shot and shell, and l never saw
such stampede of horses and wagons
The 9Th Md. Band was playing on the
hillside, when a shell burst and they
disbanded in a hurry. About sundown
Milroy packed lot of infantry into
the fort on Flint Hill, and at dark the
Confederates made three assaults on
the fort and were repulsed each time.
About II years ago ] attended lee
ture given by Gen. Gordon, and in
conversation with him afterwards
asked him II he knew anythin of the
battle at Winchester. He said he did.
and was not fooled so bad during all
his war experience as he was at that
enlargement On Sunday evening, June
1S, Ewen ordered him to take Fort
Flint the next morning at daylight at
all hazards. He ordered his men to fall
fn line, and then told them what his
orders were, wrote to his wife explain
ing the situation, saying he fully ex-
pected to lose his life. but would take
The fort at any cost. The next morn
ing he formed his men, made the
charge, took the fort, and found moth
fag but spiked guns.
j On Monday morning, about ! o'clock
I'VE We're ordered to fall back, and when
about four miles from Winchester We
were surrounded. The S7th Pa. was
Ii vubap
they advanced found the telegraph
wires stretched from tree to tree, and
Sf the Confederates had not fired too
high the regiment would have suffered
a. very heavy loss. Milroy gave orders
10 the commanders of the regiments to
get their men out the best they could,
and the crossing was made at three
different places One lot got out on
the road leading 10 Bath, Va, and
crossed tie Potomac at Hancock, Md:
another crossed the Potomac at Dam
No. 4: one at Harper's Ferry BIilroy
went out by Harper's Ferry. He was
dishonorabfy discharged from the ser
vice. which ! think was very unjust.
Our loss was between 5000 and 1000
killed. wounded and missing, 800 wag-
uns and about 25 pieces of artillery.
II Milroy had fallen back when first
attacked I do not believe the battle
would have been fought at Gettysburg,
but near Washington or Baltimore
was informed that the combined force
on the home stretch was about 10000.
The different regiments engaged in this
battle. as near as ! can remember, were
the I23d anu 124th Ohio, 9Th Md, 80th
Pa. 1st n. Y. Cav, 18th Pa. Cav. and
18th Pa Cav These are all I recollec'
of the Second Division, Eighth Corps
Viii say in conclusion that 1 wish any
comrade reading this would take 1t up
and correct me where my statements
are wrong. But do not knock me toe
hard. boys. as Il is too long since the
conflict to give an absolutely correct
story from memory alone.-G. W. War
lel, A24 Franklin St, Williamsburg, Pa