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Chapter 22: capture of Winchester.
Very early in the morning of the 13th, the remainder of my division crossed over the
Shenandoah, and I received orders from
General Ewell to move to the
Valley pike at
Newtown, and along that road against the enemy then occupying
Winchester, while
Johnson moved along the direct road from
Front Royal to the town,
Rodes being sent to the right to
Berryville, where there was also a force.
Milroy occupied the town of
Winchester with a considerable force in strong fortifications, and my orders were to move along the pike to
Kernstown, and then to the left, so as to get a position on the northwest of
Winchester from which the main work of the enemy could be attacked with advantage.
This main work was on a hill a little outside of the town on the northwest, being an enclosed fort, with embrasures for artillery, and I was informed that there was a high hill on the northwest which commanded it, and of which I was directed to get possession, if I could.
Six main roads centre at
Winchester, to-wit: the
Front Royal road on which we were, coming in from the southeast and uniting with the
Millwood road a mile or two before it reaches town; the
Valley pike coming in on the south and uniting with the
Cedar Creek pike between
Kernstown and
Winchester,
Kernstown being about two miles from the town; the
Romney or Northwestern pike coming in on the west side; the
Pughtown road coming in on the northwest; the
Martinsburg pike coming in on the north, and uniting with the direct
Charlestown and Harper's Ferry roads, three or four miles from town; and the
Berryville road coming in on the east.
Lieutenant Barton of the 2nd Virginia Regiment,
Walker's brigade,
Johnson's division, who had been raised in the neighborhood, was furnished me as a guide,
