On the morning of the 24th Ewell took up the line of march for
Winchester, Jackson having moved on Strasburg the evening before. That
night we encamped on the banks of the Opequon, six miles from our
destination. Here we were ordered to cook some rations, and be ready to
move at midnight upon Banks, whom we intended to attack at daylight.
Long before the sun had risen on the morning of the 25th, the commands
of Jackson and Ewell were in line of battle about two miles from the
town, the former to the left of the Valley turnpike, the latter joining
him on the right. Skirmishers were thrown out, and cautiously, at early
dawn, through the dense fog that prevailed, the Confederate line
advanced.
In front of a portion of Ewell’s line the First Maryland was deployed,
which, after proceeding a short distance, encountered the enemy’s
skirmishers, who fell back at our approach. About the same time was
heard the spattering of musketry in the direction of Jackson, which told
us he, too, had them in his front.
The fog had now become so dense as to make it impossible to see twenty
steps in any direction; and Colonel Johnson therefore thought it
advisable to assemble his skirmish line, as we had entirely lost sight
of our line of battle, and did not know but we might be enveloped by the
enemy. Quietly the men were drawn in, and the regiment lay down in an
orchard and concealed itself behind a board fence, to await the lifting
of the fog.
For an hour everything was still as death, when, the fog rising
somewhat, a column of the enemy was revealed lying behind a stone wall
about three hundred yards in our front, with his right flank resting
toward us, and totally unconscious of our close proximity. They were
apparently intent on watching something before them; and presently, to
our horror, there emerged from the fog the Twenty-First North Carolina
regiment, marching directly upon the stone wall, and altogether ignorant
of the ambuscade there awaiting. Scarcely two hundred yards separated
them, and in a minute the poor fellows would be in the fatal trap. Like
ourselves, they had become separated from the main body and lost their
way; but, unlike ourselves, had failed to exercise the precaution to
ascertain where they were before advancing.
There was nothing on earth we could do to warn them of their danger. Oh!
it was a sad, sickening sight, to see them thus unconsciously marching
straight into the jaws of death. On, on they go, and nearer and nearer
they approach the treacherous fence, behind which they expect to shelter
themselves. They are but forty yards from it.
“Can nothing be done for them?” I heard from more than one around me.
No; too late; too late; and the next instant the long line of blue rise
from their cover; there is an instant’s pause, and then comes a
deafening volley of musketry, and the deadly minnie by hundreds are sent
tearing and crashing through the Confederate columns. The slaughter was
appalling, and the survivors fled to the rear in the utmost confusion.
But they were avenged; for just then the gallant Griffin, of the
Baltimore Light Artillery, espied them, and training the guns of his
splendid battery upon the fence, he raked it from one end to the other,
sending the enemy flying to a safer position nearer the town.
On the left Jackson was now hotly engaged, whilst, with the exception of
his artillery, Ewell is unaccountably idle. Why could he not swing the
right of his division around in the rear of the town, thereby enveloping
the enemy and cutting off his retreat, whilst he at the same time
attacked those who appeared only in front of his left, for there was no
enemy on our right, and Jackson was more than a match for those with
whom he was contending? No, he is awaiting orders from Jackson, as he
afterwards did from Lee at Gettysburg, and the opportunity is lost.
The fog had now entirely disappeared, and on the hill’s side to the left
of us were the contending forces of Jackson and Banks engaged in a
desperate struggle. For an hour the fight raged, of which we were silent
but unwilling spectators. At length Jackson’s reserves reached him, a
little late, but in time, taking into consideration their long march
from Strasburg that night, and he immediately prepared for a charge. The
enemy was also hurrying forward reinforcements to resist the onset he
knew was coming.
Dick Taylor’s and three Virginia brigades were thrown into position to
make the charge; and it was a grand sight as, with a yell, they moved
forward at the double quick.
“I shall wait for orders no longer, but will join in that charge if I
live!” exclaimed Colonel Johnson, quickly swinging himself into the
saddle. “Forward, double quick,” was the command, and the next instant
we were dashing across the country in the direction of the enemy.
Jackson’s right was not more than four hundred yards to the left of us,
and therefore Johnson thought by moving diagonally and at a rapid pace
we would join him almost at the instant he should strike the enemy.
Steadily, in the face of a deadly fire, the Confederate column advances,
leaving in its wake scores of dead and wounded; but never halting, never
hesitating, it hurls itself upon the enemy with irresistible fury,
rending, tearing, and grinding them to pieces. Closely pursued the
survivors fled towards Winchester, and pursued and pursuers entered the
town simultaneously. The First Maryland passed down Loudoun street, and,
pressing on, capturing prisoners at every step, did not halt until it
reached the Taylor Hotel, opposite which we found two large storehouses
on fire, filled with medical stores. Colonel Johnson quickly detached a
portion of the regiment to suppress the flames, while he at the same
time ordered a company to surround and search the hotel for the
notorious Dave Strother, or “Porte Crayon,” who a citizen informed us
was there. The flames were speedily extinguished, but fortunately for
Strother he had been gone about five minutes, or I am inclined to think
much of his “Personal Recollections” would have treated of Libby and
Belle Isle.
In obedience to the orders of Banks the town had been set on fire in
several places, and men and women were rushing frantically through the
streets appealing to the troops to save them from the dreadful calamity
that seemed so imminent. Their appeals were not in vain; and in a short
time the flames were everywhere extinguished, except near the depot,
where several large warehouses had been fired, and which were totally
consumed with their contents. Had the troops of Jackson been one half
hour later this ancient and once thriving town would have been only a
mass of smouldering ruins.
The defeat of the enemy was complete; but owing to the apathy of Ewell
and the wretched disposition of our cavalry very many of them effected
their escape, carrying with them most of their artillery and a large
wagon train. As it was, however, we captured an immense amount of stores
of every description, and about four thousand prisoners.
The joy of the citizens of Winchester at once more having the protection
of the Confederate troops, knew no bounds, and as we filed through the
streets in pursuit of the enemy, provisions and delicacies in abundance
were lavished upon us, while more than one of our young fellows came in
for an earnest embrace from the matron of some well-grown household.
Indeed, Colonel Johnson himself received one of these favors. Now, the
Colonel was regarded one of the handsomest men in the First Maryland,
and having dismounted from his horse in an unguarded moment, was espied
and singled out by an old lady of Amazonian proportions, just from the
wash tub, who, wiping her hands and mouth on her apron as she
approached, seized him around the neck with the hug of a bruin, and
bestowed upon him half a dozen kisses that were heard by nearly every
man in the command; and when at length she relaxed her hold the Colonel
looked as though he had just come out of a vapor bath.
“How do you like that, Colonel?” I heard Captain Willie Nicholas ask,
who, convulsed with laughter, had been watching the performance.
Drawing forth his handkerchief and wiping from his face the profuse
perspiration that covered it, the Colonel replied:
“I shouldn’t have cared; but, d—— it, she smells so strong of rosin
soap, and I never could bear the stuff.”
That night the First Maryland went into camp close by the Winchester and
Martinsburg turnpike, and about four miles from the former town. Upon
the call of the roll but one man was found missing, Lieutenant Colonel
Dorsey, who had been severely wounded through the right shoulder after
entering the town.
On the morning of the 26th orders were received to move to Martinsburg,
and there collect the large amount of stores abandoned by the enemy. Two
or three days were consumed in this duty, after which we rejoined the
main body of the army, encamped near Charlestown.
General Jackson’s movements since the battle of Winchester had much
puzzled his troops, and entirely confounded the enemy.
“Surely,” we reasoned, “he is not going to cross over into Maryland with
the handful of men under his command, for McDowell would quickly compel
him to return, and then it would be too late to escape Fremont, who will
certainly come down from West Virginia with his army of twenty-five
thousand men.”
Our situation seemed a critical one; but then Jackson was with us, and
with him nothing seemed impossible.
The day after our arrival at Charlestown General George H. Steuart was
ordered to take the First Maryland and two batteries of artillery and
attack the enemy’s camp on Bolivar Heights, while a small force was also
directed to make a demonstration from the Shenandoah Heights upon
Harper’s Ferry.
It now became apparent to all that the whole movement of Jackson from
Winchester was a feint, but for what purpose we were entirely at a loss
to conjecture. Little did we then dream of the splendid combinations
General Lee had formed for the relief of Richmond, the principal moves
in which had been intrusted to Jackson, the first of which he was
executing.
Our batteries opened upon the enemy posted on Bolivar Heights about ten
o’clock in the morning, and continued the fire without intermission
until late in the afternoon, when his guns were silenced, and it became
evident he had abandoned the heights. The infantry then crossed over and
took possession of his camp, which was found entirely deserted. As soon
as we were perceived the batteries upon the Maryland Heights and at
Barber’s house opened their fire, without effect, however, and our
object having been accomplished, after helping ourselves to the
bountiful meal we found on the fire, we retired, and went into camp near
Halltown.
The next day found us retracing our steps to Winchester, everything
betokening haste, but no confusion. It soon became known to us that
Fremont was rapidly approaching Strasburg from Franklin, and that a
force under Shields was moving to the same point to intercept Jackson
should he attempt to escape down the Valley. It seemed almost impossible
for us to get away, encumbered as we were with four thousand prisoners
and over two thousand wagons, most of which were ladened with the spoils
captured from Banks; but Jackson had calculated it all, and he knew what
his troops could do.
All day long we toiled on, and at dusk the rear of the army (of which we
were part) passed through Winchester; but with what different feelings
and with what a different reception from that of a week before. Then it
was amid the exultant shouts of the overjoyed citizens; now it was in
sorrow and silence, for it was well known that the victorious army of
yesterday was in full retreat to-day. Without a word the troops moved
through the almost deserted streets, and all felt a relief when we once
more reached the open country.
On, on, we pushed, through a drenching rain; and when at last, away in
the night, exhausted, and unable to go farther, the men threw themselves
down to rest upon the damp ground, it was found we had made thirty-six
miles since morning.