The Battle of Winchester or Kernstown--Stonewall Jackson Whipped.
At Kernstown, some four miles south of Winchester, Jackson’s command,
numbering fully fifteen thousand men, was massed, and on March 22d
attacked the Union outposts. The citizens of Winchester, who, by the
way, were about as thoroughly imbued with treason as at any point
within the writer’s knowledge in the whole of the chivalrous (?) South,
were in high glee at the prospect of being rid of those odious Lincoln
hirelings, and some were so sanguine of success to the Southern arms
that they prepared elegant repasts for the victors. However that may
be, the rebel horde did not enter Winchester at this time, except,
perhaps, a few dead ones carried there for burial.
Soon after the firing began the First and Second brigades of General
Shields’ division were moved to the front, and a lively skirmish
ensued resulting in the repulse of the enemy. General Shields was
wounded quite severely during this brief engagement, and at night,
when active hostilities ceased, he retired to Winchester. The dawn of
Sunday, March 23d, was heralded by the rapid boom of artillery and the
lively rattle of musketry, as the advance of the two armies resumed
the skirmishing of the previous afternoon. This was continued during
nearly the entire forenoon. About noon the long roll beat throughout
our camp; quickly the men fell into line, and in columns of fours,
under command of brave Colonel Buckley, marched rapidly, a portion
of the distance at a double quick, toward the point of attack. On
reaching Winchester the regiment halted, came to a front, loaded their
pieces, and remained until the artillery and trains had passed. We then
moved on the road leading to Kernstown, some two or three miles, and
again halted. After some vexatious delay the regiment again resumed
the march and soon reached the scene of the action, which was about
seven miles from Winchester. The enemy were under General Thomas J.
Jackson (Stonewall). His right extending across the Pike leading to
Strasburg, and his forces on his left masked behind a stone fence,
while at the rear for a considerable distance the ground was a gradual
ascent covered with stumps and wood which were well used as cover. The
Twenty-ninth regiment and its brigade was moved to the extreme right
of the line, and, formed in close column, by division, moved forward
through the timber to the attack. At close range the rebels opened a
heavy fire, but we continued to advance, halting at a small ravine
where we deployed in line of battle, and in this position a sharp
and determined engagement ensued. The distance between the opposing
forces did not exceed sixteen rods. Late in the afternoon an order was
given the Third brigade to charge the rebel line. Quick as thought the
whole line sprang forward, and with cheers sounding above the roar
of the conflict, in the teeth of a murderous fire, swept down over
the stone wall and at the bayonet’s point drove the enemy from their
chosen position. To the rear they fled until reaching their artillery,
where another stand was made and a rally attempted. The Union lead
poured into their ranks with such deadly effect that they soon became
panic-stricken, and in the greatest disorder retreated in whatever
direction best offered an avenue of escape, and Stonewall Jackson, the
pride of the South and by many considered the bravest general in the
rebel army, was whipped, and that, too, by a force much inferior in
numbers, many of whom had never faced death before.
To make the victory still more sure our forces followed the disordered
mass of fleeing rebels and captured many prisoners, until darkness
closed over all, when our brave boys returned to rest upon their
laurels upon the bloody field of carnage, bury the dead and care for
the wounded. The result of this battle was a loss to the rebels of
the Shenandoah valley, at that time of great importance to them, with
casualties amounting to some five hundred men killed, wounded, and left
on the field, and three hundred prisoners. The loss of the Twenty-ninth
regiment in this action was: Five killed, seven wounded, two missing;
aggregate fourteen. See casualties at the close of the volume for
names.