well-directed fire from the enemy's artillery, posted in the street and in view of their cavalry. The shells burst too close to be endured, but our men's fire drove them speedily out of town to heights beyond, where they amused themselves with artillery practice, with little or no effect. The place was held till sunset, when the order to withdraw was given-time having thus been saved for the main train to move on, and for the burning of wagons left helpless, after Col. Gordon had endeavored unsuccessfully to have mules sent back. Companies A and C followed as rearguard, and B (Capt. Williams) as flankers.

them, artillery on higher ground in the rear. Here, from the time the pickets were driven in, the two brigades stood three hours and a half against twenty-eight regiments, distinctly counted. Col. Donnelly's forces maintained their ground well. Col. Gordon's, which was on higher ground, and held the key to the position, was more heavily attacked. Grape was poured in in storms. One shell told beautifully. Col. Andrews sent company D (Capt. Savage) to the right to annoy the rebel batteries, and, by and by, company G, (Capt. Carey,) who, nearer the rebel lines and somewhat sheltered by a low wall, completely siOn their return to Newtown, knapsacks had lenced one gun, the gunners not daring to apbeen left in a field to relieve the men. They were proach it even to carry it off. Here casualties again taken; but before companies A, B, and C occurred. Capt. Carey himself was knocked over could be relieved to get theirs, a very pretty affair by a stone hit by a rebel shell, which killed a took place. Hoofs were heard, and soon cavalry man by his side. But regiments were seen pourappeared; but the skirmishers, under Majoring to our right. The two companies had to be Dwight, were ready. Part of company A on one called in. side of the road and of company C on the other, As the rebel troops, in heavy masses, were with platoons from the two in the centre, under moving to flank our right, Col. Gordon ordered Lieut. Grafton, the latter formed in square, wait- the Twenty-seventh Indiana and Twenty-ninth ing until the enemy were but a few yards off, Pennsylvania to the right of the Second Massapoured in such musketry as sent them back chusetts, but forming an oblique angle with its broken. Soon after company I (Capt. Under- front. These rushed with cheers and began firwood) relieved A and C, and took its station nearing-in fact too quickly to be orderly. As the a bridge. Down came cavalry again, but I's men rebel regiments were moving round, soon the met them with perfect coolness, but with a hot brigade would have been crushed. The Twentyfire, under which the rebel riders wilted instantly. seventh Indiana and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania It was so dark that the amount of damage could fell back. Then it was necessary to advance or not be ascertained. Then company I was tried retreat. Our Second, then in line, broke into with infantry, took its fire, and returned it with column "by company right wheel," as undissplendid success. For ten minutes the fire was turbed as though at an afternoon drill, though sharp on both sides, when it slackened. In those under a perfect storm of bullets, and marched off few minutes, out of a little over forty men, fifteen in column by companies. "Retreat steadily," had fallen; but not a man wavered in that gal- Col. Gordon had said, and Col. Andrews would lant band. At a subsequent period the enemy do that at any time. Winchester was entered, tried to make a cavalry charge, but their officers the enemy in hot pursuit. Yet the Second was in vain swore at them as cowards; it was of no too steady to run. In a side-street, Col. Anuse; they could not be brought to stand the cool drews, wishing to change the position of certain fire of our men. companies, brought the regiment into líne, even having his guides out to secure a good alignment, and having the men dress as on parade, and went on, by flank.

On the column moved to Kernstown, five miles from Winchester. Here a halt was ordered. But the enemy soon poured in a fire which told on the men, exposed by their relief against the lightcolored road, while the enemy were in shadow. So it quietly moved on, in perfect order. Here, however, a mischance occurred. Dr. Leland, attending most faithfully to wounded men in a heuse near by, did not leave the poor fellows, and is undoubtedly a prisoner.

Then came the march through Winchester. It was a savage one. The Second were the rear, but all fared much alike. Citizens shot from windows, threw hand-grenades, struck at our men with clubs-citizens! Women did it; women shot wounded men; women threw hot water on them; women killed prisoners. At last forAt Winchester the two brigades halted, just out bearance ceased. Volleys were poured into of town. The men went into bivouac, without houses; rooms were entered and assassins bayfires, with little food, with no coffee. It was two oneted; any public property was fired, and o'clock when the men slept-slept as well as they streets were swept by the conflagration; ordcould in the midst of the firing all night. Com-nance exploded; cavalry rode down stragglers; pany C was on picket duty, and notwithstanding but the Second, then the rear-guard, never its great fatigue, skirmished till morning, often wavered-not a company broke-not a gap was unsupported. to be seen. "Steady-steady," and the discipline of this brave and noble set of soldiers then told.

At daylight all were called to arms. The pickets had returned. Col. Donnelly's brigade was on the left of the road going out of Winchester. Col. Gordon placed his on a ridge on the right of the road, the Second Massachusetts having the right. A little ravine was in front below VOL. V.-Doc. 5

It may seem strange to some that these citizenassassins were fought-without regard to placethough not except in reply to murder. But women pistoled sick men. Rebels had set fire to

hospitals while sick men were in them. Prisoners had been bayoneted. The black flag had been actually flung to the breeze. Cavalry had deliberately rode down some unarmed sick men, who in fear had left a hospital, and with their sabres murdered them in scores. Such is Southern chivalry. And when any regiment of this brigade marches back to Winchester, when the vanguard leaves, Winchester will have been a city of the past.

Against this rear the rebel cavalry pressed in vain. Shot and shell could not break it. And a few miles out of Winchester, Gen. Banks ordered a halt to reform any disordered regiments. It was done, and the corps moved on, the enemy harassing in vain. Martinsburgh was reached, and Williamsport-thirteen miles on. The Potomac was then reached in the evening. A battle had been fought and thirty-five miles marched that day. The train crossed and was in safety. Towards evening the troops passed over, except that the Second Massachusetts and the noble Third Wisconsin, who had stood as if made up of brothers that day, left each four companies, still doing duty on the Virginia shore.

formerly pastor of the Niagara street Baptist Church in Boston:

Having had an opportunity of being near a battle-field, and a sharer in some of the privations incident to army life, I thought a short account of the fight in and retreat from Winchester, taken from a woman's stand-point of view, would not be uninteresting to your readers. Last Saturday morning when I went the rounds of the hospitals in that city, how little I expected that I was looking my last upon so many of our poor wounded boys. We then looked for reenforcements by every train, having heard that Gen. Banks and his army were coming towards Winchester. Towards noon the army supplies and ambulances came pouring in, and then the report was that the wagons were to be camped on the Fair grounds, half a mile from town. The Unionists there had confidence in Banks, while the secessionists put on a bolder face than ever, dressed themselves in their best, and made entertainment for Jackson's army.

Little we thought, as we heard their impertinent remarks, that we should see who would rule to-morrow," that their boasting was to be I have said little of any but of our Second, both verified. Soon came the foot-soldiers, weary and because it will answer the enquiries of Massachu-travel-worn, by tens and fifties. People began to setts readers, and because it had the hardest say, "This looks like a retreat;" still we had fighting. Its loss it cannot yet tell, as more are hope. By night matters grew desperate. There hoped to have escaped, who sank from sickness in crowds. But, as yet, the noble Major Dwight, as gallant an officer as ever lived, generous, beloved, who commanded the reserve of the Second, and with the most perfect composure and skill fought for hours, there is much reason to fear will never return. Drs. Leland and Stone are both prisoners. Capt. Mudge and Lieut. Crowninshield are both injured though not fatally. In all, fourteen are known to be killed, forty are known to be wounded, and one hundred and thirty are missing; as many have come in; there is reason to fear that, of the latter number, many are wounded and some dead.

was fighting. The rebels were pouring in upon our soldiers, exhausted by the march, from every point. The Union men grew thoughtful, some of them left the city, while still the immense train, portions of cavalry and tired foot-soldiers, passed on. All this time reënforcements were surely coming- but they never came. "They are twenty, thirty, forty to our one," the soldiers said, when we questioned them about the rebel forces.

In the morning, Winchester presented a strange sight. Vehicles of every description, crowded with sick soldiers and citizens, came by the door. The contrabands flocked by, each with his little bunIf we have felt sad that the Second has had no dle. Whole families of negroes, some with huge such chance as other Massachusetts regiments packs strapped on head and shoulders, little childnow it has been tried. It has marched in retreat ren almost too small to walk, lean horses carrying fifty-three miles in thirty-two hours, in perfect two and three, went following the train. Meanorder, though fighting a large part of the way, time, the thunder of cannonading had commenced. and for most of it was rear-guard, followed by an Nearer and nearer it came. The cry went forth overwhelming force. It fought three hours and that the rebels were driving our forces. We had a half as one of seven regiments against twenty-engaged a carriage, but it failed us. As the shells eight - a portion of four thousand men against began to pour into the doomed city, we availed fifteen. Its colonel, Gordon, brave, cool, ener- ourselves of the offer of some sick soldiers, who getic, not only handled his brigade well, but is declared by the General to have been of very great personal service. Its lieutenant-colonel, commanding, has justified the high character he has always had. The regiment fired by orders, as evenly as if in mere practice. Of its officers and privates not a single man was known to flinch.

PUTNAM.

A WOMAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE RETREAT.

The writer of the subjoined letter to the Boston Transcript is the wife of Rev. C. W. Denison,

had already crowded an old army wagon, and leaving everything behind us, we took passage in the retreating train, doubtful if we should get away.

By the time we were one mile from the city, many of the buildings were in flames. Our men first fired the houses of storage and blew up the powder-magazines. The rebels directed their shells on the hospitals, firing nearly all. God knows how many of our poor boys burned to death. The report is, and that from the doctors, that they killed all they found alive, even the women nurses, of whom there were four who re

HUNTINGDON, HANOVER COUNTY, VA., mained. Meantime our retreat was covered in . (Sixteen Miles North of Richmond,) masterly manner. Five miles from town, after Wednesday, May 28. the rebels had made a dash into Winchester, our One of the most brilliant movements and men formed in line of battle. The scene was ex-achievements yet accomplished by any of our ar citing beyond description. We were stopped by mies was consummated with the setting of yes a difficult fording-place, and where three or four terday's sun. The rapidity which which it was roads diverged from the main street. done and the happy results following it, all combine to mark it as a living incident in the history of this army's work, which history shall fitly preserve and time never wipe out.

At Martinsburgh the order was to press on to Williamsport, Md.; so, leaving a regiment of cavalry drawn up in battle-array, we continued our The force selected for this important work was monotonous journey, arriving at the bank of the Gen. G. W. Morell's division of Gen. Fitz-John Potomac at five o'clock in the afternoon. The Porter's Fifth Provisional Army Corps. I have men and horses forded the river, and a rope ferry-in former letters fitly spoken of this spirited and boat was soon arranged for the heavy train. I think there never was a more thankful company of human beings than those of us who stood upon the shores of Maryland last night.

pursued, and there were not a few who thought and a section of artillery, the pickets of the enemy

on.

A brief halt at the intersection gave time for a few questions. A pocket-map or two was consulted, and it was found that we were thirteen miles north of Richmond and five from Hanover Court-House, with the evident intention of moving on the latter place. The Virginia Central Railroad was here reported to be but a mile and a half west of us. The Twenty-second Massachusetts, Col. Gove, was ordered to strike the track, disable the road, and then march northward on it, joining the main body two or three miles above. The regiment obeyed, and as will subsequently be seen, did their work.

a demonstration directly on Richmond seriously were discovered. The skirmishers opened fire, intended. Five, six, and seven miles had passed; and the rebels slowly withdrew for a mile or so. no enemy in sight and no Richmond in view. They were rapidly pursued by the Twenty-fifth, "Where are we going?" fled from mouth to who thus got some distance in advance of the mouth. Gradually but surely the division bore main column, and even ahead of the protecting more and more to the right. Pocket-compasses section of Benson's light battery, which was in were consulted, and the column was found to be front. Near the residence of Dr. Kinney, at the heading now west, then north-west. Then came forks of the main road-one leading by the right the responses, "ten," "twelve," and even "four-hand to Richmond, and the other by the left hand, teen" miles to Richmond, as the wondering sol- circuitously, to Mechanicsville-the rebels drew diers questioned the still more wondering inhabit-up in line of battle, in an open field, but behind ants who crowded doors and windows to witness a house and in support of two of their own fieldthe passage of such a host. But few in the col- pieces, thus making a respectable show for a fight. umn, very few indeed, had any idea of the ob- Col. Johnson boldly pressed forward, and engagject or direction of the march. But no questions ed them at close range, making hot work of it for were asked. By ten o'clock the dismal, over- both sides, for at least fifteen minutes before any hanging clouds had disappeared, and the moving supports arrived. The enemy were driven from column was sweltering in the rays of a sultry behind their sheltering places, but suddenly a sun. Soon after the head of the column suddenly force of them appeared from the woods, on the turned to the right, pursuing a course directly right flank of the Twenty-fifth, and succeeded in north. A battery was planted at the intersect- capturing a part of company G, carrying them to ing corner of the roads, a regiment detailed to their rear promptly as prisoners. Col. Johnson support it, and the brigades again moved rapidly now anxiously looked for help, when a section of Marin's Massachusetts battery came up, followed by a couple of pieces from Griffin's regular battery, which soon fixed the earnest attention of the rebels who were firing grape and shell from their twelve-pound howitzers with great vigor. Here comes the surprise. From the cool and determined stand of the rebels, it was evident that they conceived the force in sight to be our total strength, and that it would be an easy matter to repulse or capture it. But word had gone to Gen. Butterfield, who speedily ordered the Seventeenth New-York, Col. Lansing, and the Eightythird Pennsylvania, Col. McLane, into the timber on the left of the road, to deploy, and come out A brief allusion as to what we hoped to find at well on the enemy's flank. With a burst of enor near Hanover is proper here. As late as Sun-thusiasm, in went both regiments, the Seventeenth day, the twenty-fifth instant, a strong brigade of covering the front with a strong line of skirmishrebels had been posted there, believed to be com- ers. In a trice they appeared in the wheat-field posed of six North-Carolina regiments, command- on the left, and with incredible rapidity formed ed by Lawrence O'Brien Branch, formerly mem-line of battle, the Seventeenth coming up on the ber of Congress, but more latterly brigadier-gen-right with the regularity and coolness of a dresseral, with the smell of defeat upon his garments, he having encountered Burnside at Newbern in March last, the retreat from which, it will be seen, did not prove to be his last march. His regiments are: Seventh, Twelfth, Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, and Thirty-eighth North-Carolina State troops. Their strength is represented by members of the same to approach nearly to the maximum standard of one thousand men each. This force was certainly all at Hanover on Sunday. From secession, but reliable sources, we learn further that it was the intention of the enemy to reënforce the position strongly. By throwing a strong column between Hanover and Richmond, this force might be cut off, and possibly captured entire. This was our hope; now for the realization.

When the division reached a point possibly two miles north of the intersection of the roads, the advanced guard, composed of cavalry, the Twenty-filth New-York infantry, Col. Johnson,

parade, supported by the Twelfth New-York, Col. Weeks, in column by division, while the Eightythird took the left of the line, supported by the Sixteenth Michigan, Col. Stockton, in the same manner. The rebels at once perceived the vitality of this movement. They had not anticipated it. Surprised, then confused, a well-directed volley caused them first to waver, and then to fly with all the speed at their command, scattering, like a covey of partridges, in every direction. Another volley picked off most of their men at the guns, when forward went the Seventeenth with a yell, on the double-quick; the cannon were abandoned without even a spike, and the pursuit of the retreating enemy kept up for two and a half miles, to Hanover Court-House, before the regiments finally brought up. Prisoners at once began to be brought in. The men of the Seventeenth and Eighty-third regiments hunted them and dragged them from their hiding-places with great gusto; within an hour fifty to sixty had been brought