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Chapter 42: battle of Kernstown.
On the reception of the foregoing information, I determined to attack the enemy at once; and, early on the morning of the 24th, my whole force was put in motion for
Winchester.
The enemy, under
Crook, consisting of the “Army of west
Virginia,” and including
Hunter's and
Sigel's forces, and
Averill's cavalry, was found in position at
Kernstown, on the same ground occupied by
Shields, at the time of
General Jackson's fight with him, on March 22nd, 1862.
Ramseur's division was sent to the left, at
Bartonsville, to get around the enemy's right flank, while the other divisions moved along the
Valley Pike, and formed on each side of it.
Ransom's cavalry was ordered to move in two columns: one, on the right, along the road from
Front Royal to
Winchester, and the other on the left, and west of
Winchester, so as to unite in rear of the latter place, and cut off the enemy's retreat.
After the enemy's skirmishers were driven in, it was discovered that his left flank, extending through
Kernstown, was exposed, and
General Breckenridge was ordered to move
Echols' division, now under
Brigadier General Wharton, under cover of some ravines on our right and attack that flank.
This movement, which was made under
General Breckenridge's personal superintendence, was handsomely executed, and the attacking division struck the enemy's left flank in open ground, doubling it up and throwing his whole line into great confusion.
The other divisions then advanced, and the rout of the enemy became complete.
He was pursued, by the infantry and artillery, through and beyond
Winchester; and the pursuit was continued by
Rodes' division to
Stephenson's depot, six miles from Winchester-this division then having marched twenty-seven miles from its position west of
Strasburg.
The cavalry had not been moved according
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to my orders; and the enemy, having the advantage of an open country and a wide macadamized road, was enabled to make his escape with his artillery and most of his wagons.
General Ransom had been in very bad health since he reported to me in
Lynchburg, and unable to take the active command in the field; and all of my operations had been impeded for the want of an efficient and energetic cavalry commander.
I think, if I had had one on this occasion, the greater part of the enemy's force would have been captured or destroyed, for the rout was thorough.
Our loss, in this action, was very light.
The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was severe, and two or three hundred prisoners fell into our hands; and among them,
Colonel Mulligan, in command of a division, mortally wounded.
The infantry was too much exhausted to continue the pursuit on the 25th, and only moved to
Bunker Hill, twelve miles from
Winchester.
The pursuit was continued by our cavalry, and the enemy's rear guard of cavalry was encountered at
Martinsburg; but after slight skirmishing, it evacuated the place.
The whole defeated force crossed the
Potomac, and took refuge at
Maryland Heights and
Harper's Ferry.
The road from
Winchester, via
Martinsburg, to
Williamsport was strewed with debris of the rapid retreat-twelve caissons and seventy-two wagons having been abandoned, and most of them burned.
