Correspondence of the Baltimore Republican.
Winchester, March 26, 1862.
Messrs. Editors: It may interest your readers to have some account of the severe battle of Sunday last, near this town. You have already the main facts as stated in the dispatches of the telegraph agents, and it is therefore needless to repeat them. The plain story of the fight, as ascertained and believed by the substantial people of this place is sucinctly thus:
Late on Saturday afternoon some two or three hundred of Col. Ashby’s cavalry, unexpectedly to all parties, military and citizens, made their appearance on thehigh ridge of hills south of the town and signalized their presence with the discharge of a few shells, but not in the direction of any of the houses of the citizens. This, of course, produced great commotion among the Federal military, who immediately commenced moving in all directions; cavalry, infantry, and artillery went thundering and plunging through the town all night, giving our citizens a very impressive idea of the dread commotions and fierce energies of war.
At sunrise in the morning, the Federals, to the number of from ten to twelve thousand, Infantry and cavalry, with numerous batteries of artillery, were drawn up opposite the Confederate position, who, under tho command of Gen. Jackson, had been posted about two miles from the town, numbering in all, as is I believed here, about forty-five hundred to five thousand men. The infantry were generally posted behind a stone wall or parapet, while the artillery, consisting of some eighteen pieces, some rifled, occupied very advantageous positions on the surrounding eminences, while Ashby’s cavalry could be seen maneuvering in various directions. The conflict began shortly after sunrise between the artillery. which kept up an incessant roar, the shells flying and exploding among the hostile ranks, carrying death arid wounds upon their iron wings. The contest reached its height about 2 o’clock when the rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery was most terrible. The safe distance at which your correspondent was compelled to stand, enabled him to see in the midst of the clouds of smoke, only the movements of the masses of troops as they deployed or rushed forward or backward in the charges.
The battle raged fiercely all day, when the Confederates, exhausted and overpowered by the numbers of the foe, slowly fell back on the Strasburg road, stopping at every advantageous point to discharge their artillery into the ranks of the advancing enemy, who soon gave up the pursuit and retired for the night.—The Confederates lost but two pieces of artillery, which have been brought into town. I can learn of no capture of small arms of any description.
A committee of citizens, with the Mayor at their head, next day proceeded to the battle ground, where they found and buried eighty-five Confederate dead. Fifteen of their wounded were captured and brought to town, where they are receiving every possible attention. Two hundred and thirty-six other prisoners; were taken who had by some means advanced too far beyond their lines. No further losses in dead, wounded or prisoners can be ascertained here, as if there were any they were carried off by their friends. In regard to the casualties of the Federals, I can only say they are very great.
The sights at many of the largest public buildings in the place are truly awful They are filled with poor dead, dying creatures, the shrieks and moans of the latter chilling our blood to hear them. The largo Union hotel, the Methodist Church, the Seminary, and other buildings, are crowded with them, the living receiving all the assistance they need, and the dead being buried as fast as convenient. The general opinion here is, that the entire Federal loss will not fall short of three hundred killed, and from five to six hundred wounded. Certainly the numerous wagons, ambulances, and other conveyances which were seen continually bringing loads of the unfortunate creatures, seemed sufficient to have conveyed these numbers. The sights I have seen were my first experience of the horrors of war, and I sincerely hope they may be my last.
Montgomery County Sentinel, Rockville, MD