Horace Greeley, The American Conflict: A History of the Great Rebellion in the United States of America, 1860-65: its Causes, Incidents, and Results: Intended to exhibit especially its moral and political phases with the drift and progress of American opinion respecting human slavery from 1776 to the close of the War for the Union. Volume II.

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Winchester and vicinity.

by a Rebel battery, and fell back, after a slight skirmish, unpursued; while General Elliott, on the Strasburg road, advanced a very little farther, and was halted by observing the enemy in force on his left — that is, on the Front Royal road. Here some cannon-balls were exchanged; when our men fell back to Applepie ridge, that next the city; where more skirmishing beguiled the time till dark, when a prisoner was taken who rather astonished Milroy by the information that he belonged to Ewell's (formerly Stonewall Jackson's) corps, and that Longstreet's also was just at hand — the two numbering about 50,000 men.

Col. McReynolds, with his brigade, arrived from Berryville at 9 P. M., and was assigned a position; but what use in that? Lee's army was at hand; Hooker's was many weary marches away, had not been heard from, and knew nothing of the imminent peril. A thoroughly brave and competent commander must have realized, it would seem, that there is a time to fly as well as a time to fight, and that now was the time to run, after destroying every thing that could be of use to the enemy. But Milroy held on, waiting for something to turn up, and let the night pass unimproved.

The next day¹ was one of ominous quiet for the most part; but the enemy was constantly crowding up, and was of course working around to cut off the retreat of the garrison. There was skirmishing at intervals; and the numbers of the foe visibly and steadily increased. At 4 P. M., they made a charge up the Front Royal road to the edge of the town, but were repulsed; when Milroy ordered a charge in turn, which amounted to little — the enemy being found in great force just out of range of our works; and, a little later, they opened fire from two 8-gun batteries on the north-west, hardly a mile from town; and forthwith Ewell's infantry swept up to and over our breastworks, disregarding the fire of our guns, driving out the 110th Ohio with heavy loss, and planting their colors on the defenses. meantime, the city had been substantially invested on every side, and was now virtually lost; though an attempt to storm the main fort from the position first gained was repulsed; and the assailants desisted for a time.

At 1 A. M.,² Milroy held a council, which decided to evacuate and run. It was too late. Though he spiked his guns, and drowned his powder, he was unable to steal off, and obliged to fight — the enemy attacking so soon as he had disarmed himself. The 110th Ohio, Col. Keifer, and the 122d ditto, on one road, the 87th Pennsylvania,