Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[342] Ohio suffered terribly while debouching through the woods which skirted the right-hand side of the narrow clay road. The enemy never exhibited themselves to view, but shot from behind their cover of stone walls or forest-trees; and it is very significant that among those of their dead who were left upon the field, not one but was shot through the head.

The Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania suffered more than any other. This regiment, of which there were only three hundred engaged, lost twenty-three in killed and sixty-three in wounded, one third of them falling from the bullets of the enemy, and among them Colonel Murray, already alluded to, and Capt. Gregory and Lieut. Ream. Another of the unfortunates was Col. Thoburn, wounded in the arm and breast, not dangerously, however.

The firing ceased, and the enemy fell rapidly back towards Newton. Gen. Banks had been called away to Washington, and was not present during the battle, but arrived this morning early, and resumed the command, and now follows up the enemy most vigorously, driving him very rapidly before him, and is to-night in Strasburg, expecting that the enemy will make a stand, so as to cover their baggage-trains.

The Federal loss as ascertained thus far, is less than one hundred killed and two hundred wounded. The enemy's loss was much greater. Engaged in the battle on that side were twelve regiments of infantry, twenty-six pieces of artillery, and Ashby's cavalry, a magnificent regiment, and vastly superior to our own it must be acknowledged. Of these forces two hundred prisoners were taken, seized near the enemy's right wing by our Michigan cavalry, under Col. Broadhead. Ambulances were bringing in the wounded all the night and day, and of the enemy, those who were not taken off the field amounted to one hundred and fifty wounded. Not less than three hundred of the enemy were killed. Many have said that the severity of the battle was greater than that of Bull Run, and even Stonewall Jackson, in his retreat, declared to the country folks as he passed that he never had seen such fighting before. It was indeed terrific to behold, and I am told by one of the officers who mingled in the thickest of the fight, and who was himself through all the Crimean war, that he had never seen so terrible a fight.

The number of surgeons was insufficient to attend to the wounded. Our experience was similar in North-Carolina, and a deficiency in the surgical department has been felt in every quarter of the army, whenever a large number of wounded fall in battle. Among those whom we have of the enemy's dead, the highest in rank is a major. Four wounded officers are prisoners; one of them has both eyes shot out. Hundreds of the enemy's muskets were taken, of every variety, from the very finest to altered flintlocks.

Those who fought were all Virginians except an Irish regiment, who are said to have thrown down their arms twice and to have taken them again when Gen. Jackson ordered them to be fired into.

I send you such particulars as I have been able to gather of the bloody battle near Winchester. It is impossible to get accurate accounts of the details of the conflict, as those engaged can only speak of what occurred in the range of their observation, and they were kept too busy to look much around them. From all accounts it was the most desperate contest of the war. Many who participated in both engagements think that Manassas was child's play compared with Winchester, and from the fact that the loss on our side was twenty per cent of the whole number engaged, and that of the enemy still greater, I am inclined to think their opinion is well founded.

Gen. Jackson's official report will give the only reliable account of the battle as a whole; but we have gathered some facts from those engaged, and civilians, who left Winchester since the fight, which will shed some light on the subject.

I learn from a reliable source that the number of infantry engaged on our side was two thousand two hundred. In addition to these were the Rockingham and Augusta batteries, and probably some others, making an aggregate force of about two thousand five hundred. The force of the enemy was about twelve thousand.

For many hours our little band of heroes maintained their stand against the overwhelming hosts of the enemy, and finally withdrew in good order, when the increasing numbers of the foe threatened to surround them.

The first rumor was, that Jackson had been caught in a trap, and dreadfully worsted. But this is altogether a mistake. Jackson was duly apprised of the movements of the enemy, and acted with his eyes wide open in the whole affair. His object was to give the enemy a foretaste of what they had to expect in the valley, and if they were satisfied with the result, I am sure “Old Stonewall” is.

I learn through a gentleman who left Winchester on Tuesday, that Mr. Philip Williams and other gentlemen applied to the Federal commander for permission to bury our dead. This was granted, and the pious duty was performed in a suitable manner. The number of our dead was eighty-three, which has been increased by subsequent deaths to about ninety. Our whole loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was foul