The accounts which we receive of the triumph of our forces at
Winchester leave no doubt that the victory has been decisive and complete, with the exception that
Milroy succeeded in making his escape.
Under the telegraphic head will be found, in brief, a statement of the extent of the triumph achieved.
We have been able to learn very little of the battle, which resulted in the capture of
Milroy's army, but are assured that our loss in killed and wounded is quite inconsiderable, and will not, it is thought, exceed one hundred.
A gentleman who left
Winchester after the surrender of the enemy states that there were
thirteen regiments, numbering in the aggregate about 7,000 men, and that, in addition to these, 2,000 more were captured at
Berryville, in Clarke county, who had been dispatched from
Harper's Ferry to the relief of the garrison at
Winchester.
The latter are represented to have surrendered without firing a gun.
At
Winchester, so sudden and decisive was the assault upon the enemy's entrenchments, that they did not take time to destroy the large amount of ordnance and commissary stores accumulated at that point, all of which fell into our hands.
The number of horses and wagons captured, with their equipments, is variously estimated from three to five hundred, and if we may believe the reports which are in circulation, the haul has been the richest of any since the war commenced.
Fifty pieces of cannon are also among the spoils.
How
Milroy effected his escape is not very clearly explained, but the report states that he selected a weak point in our lines, and with a regiment of cavalry cut his way out and hurried on to the
Potomac.
Whilst this story does not appear very probable, it seems to be generally accepted as true.
In addition to the reports in connection with the taking of
Winchester, we have a number of other rumors as to the subsequent operations of our forces under
Gen. Ewell. One report says that they crossed the
Potomac at
Shepherdstown on Monday night, and that
Harper's Ferry was evacuated by the enemy on the same evening.
We think it not at all improbable that the whole Valley is now in our possession; but whether our army has crossed into
Maryland is a question which yet admits of some doubt.
If it has, sufficient time has not elapsed for the news to reach
Richmond in an authentic form.
The rumor of the killing of
Gen. Smith in the assault upon the entrenchments at
Winchester, we are glad to be able to state, was without foundation.
