Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[343] hundred and sixty-five. Of these about two hundred were wounded. Most of the wounded have been brought to Staunton, where they are comfortably quartered and are cared for in the hospital, which has been established in the spacious and commodious buildings of the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind. I am happy to say that much the larger proportion of the wounds are slight, involving no permanent disability. The wounded are cheerful and anxious to be sufficiently restored to their respective commands.

Reliable advices from Winchester represent the loss of the enemy in killed at near one thousand five hundred, and the wounded at a much larger figure. It is said that about three hundred and sixty dead bodies were brought to Winchester for transportation Northward. These, as we suppose, were the elite, whose friends were able to incur the cost of removal. The mass, of course, were buried in the neighborhood of the battle-field.

Upon inquiring as to the cause of the disparity of the casualties in the two armies, I learn from some of our men that the enemy were so thick that it was impossible for our men to miss. Every shot took effect — if missing the column at which it was aimed, it was sure to hit in the rear.

The most deadly strife occurred near the boundary of two fields which were separated by a stone wall. One of our regiments was in one field and six Yankee regiments in the other. At first they fired across the wall, but after a while each party advanced on a run, to get the benefit of the shelter of the wall; our men reached it first, and the Yankees were then about forty yards distant. Our men immediately dropped on their knees, and, taking deliberate aim, fired deadly volleys into the advancing lines of the enemy. The effect was terrific, and it is said that an Ohio and a Pennsylvania regiment, which were in advance, were almost annihilated. It is said that after this fire not more than twenty men of one of these regiments were left standing.

I learn that the regiments engaged in this terrible contest were Burke's and Fulkerson's, which greatly distinguished themselves. Col. Echols is said to have acted with signal courage, coolness and ability, and I am happy to add that Col. Allen had an opportunity of putting the stamp of falsehood on the slanders that were circulated against him at Manassas. My informant remarked: “He had covered himself all over with glory.” In referring to these gentlemen, I do not wish to be regarded as, by imputation, disparaging others. Every man did his duty nobly, and I learn that Gen. Jackson expressed the opinion that they were a band of heroes. The Fifth Virginia regiment was held in reserve, and did not participate actively in the earlier part of the fight, but was called in to perform the perilous task of covering the retreat. This duty it performed nobly, losing many of its gallant members, but dealing death and destruction upon the enemy, who were kept at bay.

We lost two guns in the battle--one from the Rockbridge and one from the Augusta battery. The Rockbridge gun was struck by a cannon-ball and disabled. The loss of the other was caused by the killing of one of the horses, which frightened the others, and caused them to turn suddenly and capsize the carriage. The enemy were close upon us, and left no time to replace it. Our men, however, cut out and secured all the horses but one, and he was cut out by the enemy, and escaped from them, and came galloping to our camp. It would seem as if even the horses were infected with the spirit of rebellion and hatred to the Yankees.

Col. Echols' left arm was broken by a rifle or musket-ball, about four inches below the shoulder. He was quite comfortable when I visited him, and I hope will save his arm.

The report here is, that the enemy lost eight or nine colonels, and a large number of officers of inferior grade.

A large proportion of the Augusta militia went to join Jackson this day week, and the residue, who required a few days to make their preparations, are rapidly assembling to leave, this afternoon. As I write, the spirit-stirring drum and ear-piercing fife are calling them to their rendezvous. They are a noble set of man, and will give a good account of themselves. When they reach their destination Augusta will have in the field three regiments, besides Imboden's and Walter's batteries, and Patrick's and Sterrett's companies of cavalry.

All the troops engaged in the battle near Winchester were, I believe, from Virginia, except a company or two from Maryland.

I do not know all the regiments engaged. They were nine in number, but reduced to skeletons by furloughs. Among them were Allen's, Harman's, Fulkerson's, Patton's, Echols', Cummin's, Burke's, and Preston's, (now Moore's.) Allen's, Fulkerson's, Burke's, and Echols', I belive, suffered most.