Banks had won a race with “
Stonewall”
Jackson for
Winchester, but was not allowed to rest there, for the
Confederates, close behind him, were 20,000 strong, while the Nationals numbered only 7,000.
General Ewell, who lay within a mile and a half of
Winchester, attacked
Banks before the dawn, May 24, 1862, and a furious battle ensued in front of
Winchester.
The Confederates were kept in check five hours. Meanwhile,
Jackson's whole force was ordered up, when
Banks, perceiving that further resistance would lead to
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destruction, and having sent his trains forward towards the
Potomac, gave an order for a retreat in the same direction.
They passed rapidly through the town, assailed in the streets by Confederates of both sexes, firing from windows and throwing hand-grenades, hot water, and every sort of missile.
Late in the afternoon the wearied and battle-worn troops reached
Martinsburg, rested a few hours, and then pushed on 12 miles to the
Potomac, opposite
Williamsport.
Before midnight a thousand camp-fires were blazing on the slopes overlooking the river.
The pursuit was abandoned at
Martinsburg.
Within forty-eight hours after hearing of
Kenly's disaster,
Banks, with his little army, had marched 53 miles and fought several skirmishes and one severe battle.
After menacing
Harper's Ferry, where
General Saxton was in command,
Jackson beat a hasty retreat up the valley.
Banks's loss during this masterly retreat was thirty-eight killed, 155 wounded, and 711 missing. These were exclusive of
Kenly's command and the sick and wounded in hospitals at
Strasburg and
Winchester.
Only fifty-five of his 500 wagons were lost.
Jackson's loss, including that at
Front Royal, was sixty-eight killed and 329 wounded. His gains were over 9,000 small-arms and 3,000 prisoners, including 700 sick and wounded.
On Aug. 7, 1864,
General Sheridan assumed the command of the
Middle Division of the army, with his headquarters at
Harper's Ferry.
He spent a month in getting his forces well in hand for an aggressive campaign.
Early tried to lure him up the valley, in order that he might flank him.
Sheridan was too wary for him, and kept the entrance into
Maryland closely guarded against Confederate raids.
General Grant visited him (Sept. 16) to view the situation.
Sheridan was anxious to begin offensive operations.
The
lieutenant-general had confidence in
Sheridan, and, after deliberation, left him, with the laconic order, “Go in!”
Sheridan and
Early then confronted each other at
Opequan Creek, a few miles east of
Winchester.
Sheridan watched his antagonist closely, and when, on Sept. 18,
Early weakened his lines by sending half his army on a reconnaissance to
Martinsburg (which
Averill repulsed),
Sheridan put his forces under arms, and, at 3 A. M. on Sept. 19, they were in motion towards
Winchester,
Wilson's cavalry leading, followed by
Wright's and
Emory's corps.
Wilson crossed the
Opequan at dawn, charging upon and sweeping away all opposers, and securing a place, within two miles of
Winchester, for the deployment of the army.
There they formed, with
Wright's corps on the left, flanked by
Wilson's cavalry,
Emory in the centre, and
Crook's Kanawha infantry in reserve in the rear.
Early had turned back towards
Winchester before
Sheridan was ready for battle, and strongly posted his men in a fortified position on a series of detached hills.
Averill had followed them closely from
Bunker's Hill, and he and
Merritt enveloped
Winchester on the east and north with cavalry.
Between the two armies lay a broken, wooded country.
The
Nationals attempted to reach
Early's vulnerable left wing and centre, and, in so doing, encountered a terrible tempest of shells.
They charged
Early's centre furiously and carried his first line.
The assailing columns were quickly hurled back by two powerful divisions.
It seemed, for a moment, as if the Nationals had lost the day. The Confederates eagerly sought to seize the only gorge in the mountains through which the Nationals might retreat, if compelled to. This was well defended by a few troops at first.
Very soon the
Confederates were pushed back to their lines.
This was followed by the rapid rallying of the broken columns of the Nationals and reforming of their line, which speedily advanced.
There was now a most sanguinary battle until 4 P. M., when a loud shout was heard from beyond the woods on the
Union right.
It was from
Crook's (8th) Corps—the Army of Western
Virginia—which, with
Torbert's cavalry, pressed forward in the face of a murderous fire and fell heavily upon
Early's left.
At the same time there was a general charge upon the
Confederate centre by the infantry, and by
Wilson's cavalry on
Early's right, driving the
Confederates to the fortified heights.
Before 5 P. M. the latter were carried, and
Early's broken columns were flying through
Winchester and up the valley towards
Strasburg, in full retreat.
They left behind them 2,500 of their number as
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prisoners, with nine battle-flags and five pieces of artillery.
They were pursued until dark.
The Confederates lost about 1,000 men besides the prisoners;
Sheridan's loss was about 3,000.
Besides the prisoners taken in battle there were about 3,000 wounded left in
Winchester.
