General Rodes encamped on the night of the 12th June near
Stone Bridge on the road to
Milwood, and moving on next morning towards
Berryville, his infantry were met by a detachment of Yankee cavalry before reaching
Milwood.
Finding himself discovered, he pushed on rapidly: but before reaching
Berryville the enemy's infantry had retreated on the
Charlestown road, holding
Jenkins at bay for a while with their artillery, which was withdrawn as soon as ours came up. Turning off by the road to
Summit Point, the enemy retreated to
Winchester.
After securing the small amount of supplies at
Berryville,
General Rodes, sending
Jenkins in pursuit, followed with his infantry to
Summit Point, where he encamped.
Jenkins failed, from some cause, to overtake the enemy.
Late on the 14th
General Rodes came to
Martinsburg, before reaching which place
Jenkins drove the enemy from some barricaded houses at
Bunker Hill, capturing seventy-five or 100 prisoners. At
Martinsburg General Rodes found the enemy's infantry and artillery in position before the town.
He immediately sent
Jenkins's command to the left and rear of the place, and putting some of
Carter's artillery in position, drove off the opposing battery, which retreated towards
Williamsport, so closely pursued by
Jenkins's dismounted cavalry and two squadrons mounted, that they were forced to abandon five out of their six guns, and many prisoners were taken.
The infantry fled by way of
Shepherdstown, a fact not known for some hours, and which, together with the darkness, will account for their escape.
The enemy destroyed many of the stores at
Martinsburg, but about 6,000 bushels of grain and a few quartermaster and commissary stores fell into our hands.
The results of this expedition were 5 pieces of artillery, 200 prisoners,
[
294]
and quartermaster and subsistence stores in some quantity.
General Rodes mentions with commendation the conduct of
Major Sweeny, of
Jenkins's brigade, wounded in charging the enemy's rear near the
Opequon as they retreated from
Berryville to
Winchester.
