Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Harvard Memorial Biographies

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The next morning we were ordered back to our regiment. When we got to Strasburg we found the whole division had left an hour before for Winchester. After marching two hours as hard as we could, we caught up with them. Everything was in the greatest confusion. The train was all mixed up with the army, and it seemed impossible that we could ever get to Winchester. We marched along in this way until three o'clock. . . . Colonel Gordon then ordered his brigade back, as the Rebels were cutting off our wagons in large numbers. We marched three miles, our regiment in front, and drove the enemy some distance. At dark, the brigade, except our regiment and a few cavalry, were sent on. The Rebels then attacked us with their cavalry and artillery. We resisted them for an hour, formed in squares, and drove back three charges of cavalry. During that time our own cavalry got frightened, and charged our company and two others, who were resting in the rear. Our men of course thought they were the Rebels, as it was very dark, and for a few minutes there was great confusion. One of our men was killed and two wounded. Harry Russell was a good deal hurt by a horse falling on him, and I was bruised and had my coat torn to pieces in the same way. Five men of the two companies that were with us (Captain Cary's and Captain Mudge's) were also wounded. The regiment soon after began to retreat slowly towards Winchester, fighting all the way. We got there at one o'clock Sunday morning . . . . Our regiment and Colonel Gordon saved the whole division on Saturday, and everybody here acknowledges it. Our loss that night was about twenty-five killed and wounded.

The pickets were firing all night, and at daylight they were drawn in, and soon after the Rebels appeared. Our regiment had the right of the right wing. We marched about a quarter of a mile to the right, and took our position behind a wall just below one of the Rebel batteries. The other brigade took the left, leaving us without any centre or reserve. We lay behind the wall for an hour and a half, our three right companies skirmishing all the time. Then the two regiments on the left of our brigade were ordered to the right. . . . . They marched by us over a hill that was on our right, fired one volley, and the next thing we saw, they were running in all directions. Colonel Andrews then gave the order for us to retreat. We formed in good order and marched down towards the town at quick time amid the most tremendous fire that I ever imagined. Our men behaved splendidly, obeying every command, while they were being shot by the dozen. When we got into the streets of Winchester, we halted and formed again, and marched