Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[658] whose sides they continued to fight, as though resolved to die rather than give way. Lieutenant-Colonel Ronald, commanding the Fourth, having been injured during the early part of the engagement by being thrown from his horse, the command of the regiment devolved upon Major A. G. Pendleton. Though our troops were fighting under great disadvantages, I regret that General Garnett should have given the order to fall back, as otherwise the enemy's advance would, at least, have been retarded, and the remaining part of my infantry reserve have had a better opportunity for coming up and taking part in the engagement, if the enemy continued to press forward. As General Garnett fell back he was pursued by the enemy, who thus turning Colonel Fulkerson's right forced him to fall back. Soon after this the Fifth regiment, under Colonel W. H. Harman, came up, and I directed it to advance and support our infantry; but before it met the enemy, General Garnett ordered it back, and thus the enemy were permitted unresisted to continue the pursuit.

So soon as I saw Colonel Harman filing his regiment to the rear, I took steps to remedy, as far as practicable, this ill-timed movement, by directing him to occupy and hold the woods immediately in his rear; and calling General Garnett's attention to the importance of rallying his troops, he turned and assigned the Fifth to a position, which it held until the arrival of Colonel Burks, with the Forty-second, under Lieutenant-Colonel D. A. Laugharne. Colonel Burks and the officers and men of the Forty-second proved themselves worthy of the cause they were defending, by the spirit with which this regiment took and held its position until its left was turned by the Federals pressing upon the Fifth as it fell back.

Colonel John Campbell was rapidly advancing with his regiment to take part in the struggle, but night, and an indisposition on the part of the enemy to press further, had terminated the battle, which had commenced at four o'clock P. M.

Leaving Ashby in front, the remainder of my command fell back to its wagons and bivouacked for the night. Our artillery had played its part well, and though we lost two pieces, one belonging to Waters' and the other to McLoughlin's — the former from having upset when hard pressed by the enemy, and the latter from having its horses killed, when it was on the eve of leaving the field which it had so well swept with canister as to have driven back the enemy from a part of it, over which he was pressing near the close of the battle.

During the engagement, Colonel Ashby, with a portion of his command, including Chews' battery, which rendered valuable service, remained on our right, and not only protected our rear in the vicinity of the Valley turnpike, but also served to threaten the enemy's front and left. Colonel Ashby fully sustained his deservedly high reputation by the able manner in which he discharged the important trust confided to him.

Owing to most of our infantry having marched between thirty-five and forty miles since the morning of the previous day, many were left behind. Our number present on the evening of the battle was, of infantry 3,087, of which 2,742 were engaged; twenty-seven pieces of artillery, of which eighteen were engaged. Owing to recent heavy cavalry duty and the extent of country to be picketed, only two hundred and ninety of this arm were present to take part in the engagement.

There is reason to believe that the Federal infantry on the field numbered over eleven thousand, of which probably over eight thousand were engaged. It may be that our artillery engaged equalled that of the enemy, and that their cavalry exceeded ours in number. Our loss was: killed, six officers, twelve non-commissioned officers, and sixty-two privates; wounded, twenty-seven officers, fifty-three non-commissioned officers, and two hundred and sixty-two privates, of which number some seventy were left on the field; missing, thirteen officers, twenty-one non-commissioned officers, and two hundred and thirty-five privates. Nearly all the missing were captured. A few days after the battle a Federal officer stated that their loss in killed was four hundred and eighteen.

Their wounded upon the supposition that it bears some relation to their killed, as ours, must be such as to make their total loss more than three times that of ours. Our wounded received that care and attention from the patriotic ladies of Winchester, which they know so well how to give, and our killed were buried by the loyal citizens of that town. The hospitality of Baltimoreans relieved the wants of the captured. For these acts of kindness, on both sides of the Potomac, I am under lasting obligations. The officers and men of the various regiments and batteries deserve great praise. In consequence of Major F. B. Jones, Second Regiment Virginia Volunteers, being familiar with the locality, he was detached from his regiment and acted as a staff officer during the engagement, and from his familiarity with the country, added to his zeal and daring, rendered very valuable service.

Dr. Hunter McGuire, Medical Director, discharged his duties in a manner which proved him admirably qualified for his position.

Major J. A. Harman, Chief Quartermaster, ably discharged his duties.

Major W. J. Hawkes, Chief Commissary, with his usual foresight, had the wants of his department well supplied.

First Lieutenant G. G. Junkins, A. D. C., and A, A. A. General, faithfully and efficiently devoted himself to his duties until near the close of the engagement, when I regret to say he was captured by the enemy.

First Lieutenant A. S. Pendleton, A. D. C., who