George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

[218] carry, and haul in by hand such wagons as were whole, if the animals I had sent for did not arrive. With cavalry and one section of artillery, followed by the Twentyeighth New York Regiment and the Twenty-seventh Indiana, I prepared to move forward in the darkness upon my march of about five and a half miles to Winchester, not knowing at what moment I should be intercepted from the many roads that were open to the enemy. To aid Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews in command of the rearguard, I strengthened him with cavalry and one section of artillery. There was delay in withdrawing, but we got off well at last, and with a compact column.

The silence of my guns had hardly given warning to the enemy of my plans, when the growing darkness was illuminated by burning wagons, which, lighting up the surrounding country, shed a lurid glare even up to the streets of Newtown itself. All that had not been removed were destroyed. As Jackson, at the head of his column, rode through the streets of Newtown, the people gave him the welcome of a conqueror. “They illuminated their houses; they embraced the soldiers; and bringing into the streets bread, meat, pickles, pies, and everything they could raise, forced them upon their half-starved countrymen .... They were crazy with joy at the sight of the gray uniforms.” ¹ Truly, a striking contrast this to the lifeless desertion that reigned during our occupancy!

As the red light of burning wagons mingled with the cheerful illumination of the town, we heard the resounding cheers of the enemy, who moved rapidly forward, but to find the coveted plunder reduced to blazing wagons² and pontoon boats, blackened heaps of rice, beef, and bread,