Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

These are the names of those who escaped — W. J. Miller, Wm. B. Dah, Robert Gilchrist, Herman Clingman, Benjamin Reynolds, and Theodore Bardsall.

All the rest are gone. The others, whether killed, wounded or prisoners, it is impossible for me to ascertain. More information may possibly be received soon.

The rapid flight of cavalry caused a great panic among the teamsters, who fled from their wagons, while some upset them and others of them broke down; cattle got loose and joined in the general stampede, and horses breaking loose, joined their neighing and galloping to the great melee. The rebel cavalry came up, and more than a hundred wagons were taken possession of by the enemy.

The cavalry which were behind have suffered much more than I am able now definitely to speak of. They were ordered at daylight, when the infantry and artillery and baggage had started toward Winchester, to make a reconnoissance to Woodstock to see if anything could be learned of the anticipated attack in the rear. They were cut off by the cavalry of the enemy and unable to return. More particulars in regard to this I will forward soon.

Company A, however, of the Vermont cavalry, were all lost, captured, or killed, except Capt. Platt, his lieutenant, and half a dozen men, who made good their escape from the toils of the enemy most creditably. Major Collins is among the captured, and Major Sawyer, whose horse fell under him and injured his foot, made good his escape with no further injury.

The loss in the cavalry it is impossible to state at present with any accuracy. After wandering through the roads and forests, they arrived in Winchester by midnight, and the remnant of them were on hand next day.

After a long and anxious day's march, preceded by a half-night's sleep, disturbed by uncertain rumors of the disaster of Col. Kenly, I retired to rest in the town of Winchester, and dropped off into quiet slumbers, from which, by daybreak upon the following morning, the voices of cannon and the rattle of musketry, coming in through my open window, brought me suddenly to the consciousness that another day must be broken of its peaceful quiet by the fierce and unnatural pursuits of war. I listened to the sounds and saw the smoke which rose from the hills, but three miles distant.

The people with whom I remained were gazing thitherward as upon an interesting spectacle, rejoicing that Jackson was again coming to free them from the Northern yoke.

During my breakfast I heard the tramping of horses upon the road, and the heavy rolling of artillery over the pavements. Certainly, I thought, there can be no haste; we shall not be compelled to leave Winchester.

I ordered, however, my horse to be immediately saddled, and continued sipping my coffee with very little concern.

Presently there was a commotion, a sobbing among the women, and a running to and fro, which brought me to my feet in time to find our forces were started on a hasty retreat; and, as I saw flames rising from the burning buildings not far off, and heavy columns of smoke roll upward from them, I began to realize that we were to abandon Winchester.

But I took to my horse with all speed now, for the enemy were in the other end of the town, as the rattle and echo of the musketry up the streets and between the houses most plainly indicated.

All the streets were in commotion. Cavalry were rushing disorderly away, and infantry, frightened by the rapidity of their mounted companions, were in consternation. All were trying to escape faster than their neighbors, dreading most of all to be the last.

Presently the enemy's cannon boomed in the rear, and a small cloud of smoke in the sky suddenly appearing, and then dissolving, showed where the ball had exploded. Some shells fell among our men, and the panic was quite general for a short time.

One round-shot, a six-pounder, passing near me, went directly over the shoulder of my companion, and, brushing the blanket of the one next to me, fell to the ground. Guns, knapsacks, cartridge-boxes, bayonets, and bayonet-cases lay scattered upon the ground in great profusion, thrown away by the panic-stricken soldiers. Your correspondent, wishing to leave one musket less for the maintenance of the rebellion, furnished himself with one of the abandoned rifles and other equipments sufficient to furnish a thoroughly appointed soldier. But this confusion and disorder was not of long duration. General Banks, riding continually among the men, and addressing them kindly and firmly, shamed them to a consideration of their unbefitting consternation. At length, stationing himself and staff with several others across a field through which the soldiers were rapidly fleeing, the men were ordered to stop their flight, were formed into line, and made to march on more in a soldier-like manner.

What occurred in the extreme rear of the column I am unable to state with much confidence. Col. Donnelly, Acting Brigadier-General--the fate of one of whose regiments, the First Maryland, has been already stated — with two of his regiments, the Twenty-eighth New-York and Fifth Connecticut, is reported, and on good authority, as captured.

During the fight, which continued for two hours before the retreat from Winchester, the brigade behaved admirably and repulsed the enemy, but being outflanked by superior numbers, they were compelled to withdraw.

Our forces, Donnelly's brigade on the left and Gordon's upon the right, were in position along a gorge between two hills. The Second Massachusetts was firing upon the enemy from behind a stone-wall, when, being opened upon by an enfilading fire from the enemy who had come upon our flank, they had to escape from them, coming as they were in vastly superior numbers.

The enemy are said to have fought well. At one point they came up in a large hollow square,