BATTLE FOR WINCHESTER
GREAT VICTORY!
MILROY'S FORCES RETREAT
 Gen. Ewell |
at Culpeper Court House- General Milroy's Union army at Winchester was sent flying from the city's defenses this past weekend when Confederate troops commanded by the gallant General Richard Ewell, former officer under "Stonewall" Jackson, arrived south of the city and immediately opened fire upon the city's defenses. General Ewell's troops, the members of "Stonewall" Jackson's old corps, are the advance of General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, which has marched from their camps at Culpeper and Fredericksburg and into the Shenandoah Valley. After a day of hard fighting, Milroy cut his way through and took flight to join Union forces at Harper's Ferry. It is said that though our loss was "severe", Milroy's losses were very high- 2,000 in killed, wounded and captured, and he also lost over 50 wagons and several artillery pieces.
The battle on Saturday was very desperate and our forces held in check until General Early's Division struck the Union defenders west of town. Suffering from such heavy loss, General Milroy made his arrangements to abandon Winchester the next morning and found that he was nearly surrounded. A reporter in Winchester relates that Yankee troops were scattered during the Sunday morning attempt by Milroy to escape the town. The escape became a panic as teamsters and camp followers galloped through a mass of retreating Union soldiers as infantry and cavalry closed surrounded their retreat route. Ewell's men were hailed by the Winchester citizens, relieved of the occupation by the Union troops since last year. For the general it is a great personal triumph as it was near this place that he was wounded last year, resulting in the loss of his leg.
FIGHTING NEAR MIDDLEBURG
JEB STUART THWARTS YANKEE CAVALRY
 Gen. Stuart |
Middleburg, VA- Union cavalry under Gen. Pleasonton made several attempts to pass through the Bull Run Mountains at Aldie on the 17th, but General Stuart's vigilant forces blocked every attempt, even though our forces were outnumbered almost two to one. Gen. Stuart was able to delay the Yankee cavalry until artillery could be brought forward. It was thought that the enemy had withdrawn that night, but the next morning they made an appearance in force near Middleburg and drove in our pickets. Despite our attempts to block the Union cavalry from the town, they succeeded in flanking some Virginia cavalrymen who withdrew to Upperville about 4 miles west of Middleburg. Here Gen. Stuart made a final stand with his horse artillery and the Union troopers withdrew just before nightfall. Our losses were severe and homes in Middleburg and Aldie are filled with wounded soldiers of both sides.
Mrs. Ophelia Knight who resides near Middleburg, relates: "The Yankee soldiers came into our yard and laid several wounded boys on our front porch. We bound their wounds with such bandages as we could find and gave them water from our well. A yankee doctor came by to tend to them but soon left when word arrived that our boys were pressing them and may be arriving any minute. This were a terrifying day for us."
The Union cavalry under General Pleasonton has experienced several brushes with General Stuart's forces ever since the battle two weeks ago at Brandy Station near Kelly's Ford. It was in that battle that the Union forces attempted to surprise General Stuart's cavalry and drive on Culpeper, but were thrown back across the Rappahannock River after a day of desperate fighting.
MORE ON WINCHESTER
Winchester- Despite the distance our army had to march to reach the battlefield, the men fought bravely and there were many brave deeds performed during the battle, one of which was a bayonet charge by General John Gordon's Georgia brigade. Samuel Eaton of the 57th North Carolina wrote about his experience: "We started early for Winchester and marched in a very good gate until we arrived there. We had a very good road and passed Newton only 7 miles from Winchester. We arrived within 5 miles of Winchester about 1 o'clock (and) took our position in the line of battle. Our Brigade did not fight on this day, but the Georgia Brigade made a charge and lost several killed, wounded and some taken prisoners. It rained very hard in the fore part of the night."
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
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"UNREASONABLE DEMANDS!"
GOVERNORS DEFIANT
from the Raleigh Register- North Carolina Governor Zebulon Vance has denounced the attempts of President Jefferson Davis to acquire military stores in North Carolina, which have been set aside for use by state troops and use within the state borders. "With Federal troops on our coast, stationed on the Outer Banks, our situation warrants that we must retain these supplies for the defense of the state," wrote Governor Vance. He contends that supplies and equipment that have been shipped from North Carolina to Richmond for use by the Confederate War Department have not been issued to the troops despite the known condition of the army. "North Carolina will continue to support our great Confederacy," Vance said, "but not by wasting all of the resources of our state. We cannot carry all the weight of the war. Conscripts from this state have been sent to General Lee's army and North Carolinians are standing side by side with those from other states. We will do all that we can but not at the expense of our own self-destruction."
Governor Brown of Georgia is "defiant in his will" and agrees that President Davis has possibly exceeded his constitutional power by calling for all of his state's supply quota be turned over for general use by the war officials in Richmond especially in light of the military crisis at Vicksburg and in South Carolina.
Story of the Day
An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-pen when the old woman wistfully stated that Saturday would mark their 50th anniversary as husband and wife. "Let's have a party," she suggested, "and kill a pig."
After some thought and head scratching the farmer looked upon his wife and answered, "I don't see why the pig should take the blame for something that happened fifty years ago!"
DR. LIPPITT'S JOURNAL
Near Fredericksburg, VA- Surgeon Charles Lippitt of the 57th Virginia Infantry, Gen. Armistead's Brigade of General Pickett's Division, has kindly lent "The Defender" his personal journal which he kept for many months. We offer the readers these passages that he recently wrote while the army has moved into the Shenandoah Valley.
June 9 - Started at 6 o'clock marching 20 miles camping about 4 o'clock, country uncultivated & water scarce.
June 10 - Started at 6 ½ marched about 20 miles camping about a mile beyond Sumerville ford where we came to Rapidan River. Passed today through a fine country to Orange Court House. No wheat, very little corn planted but plenty of very fine grass & well watered. Heard on the march of a fight that took place at Kelly's Ford. The Cavalry was attacked & defeated but our infantry coming up saved the fortune of the day. Weather very warm & roads dusty. Came in sight reminding me of my home in the good old Valley of Virginia. Camped on Cedar Mountain Pass made historic by a battle, fought last year by Stonewall Jackson.
June 15 - Broke camp at 1 o'clock & proceeded about 2 miles beyond Culpeper Court House on the Front Royal Road. Very hot; a number of men being over come by heat. Our wagon has gone by another road so we are without blankets & what is of more consequence, rations. Heard today on the march that Ewell has engaged Milroy at Winchester and defeated him. My friends Buck & Tom called on me in camp. They are in the 12th Virginia Cavalry.
June 16 - Ordered to march at 6; did not get off till 7, made about 17 miles & camped near Gaines Crossroads, VA. Crossed Hazel River today and the Rappahannock River, passing from Culpeper County into Rappahannock. The land is not so fertile as that around Culpeper but mountain scenery by far more grand & beautiful. The conditions of the road were most pleasing. The rumor of Ewell's fight seems to be confirmed. He said he took 6,000 prisoners _ all their supply train and Milroy escaped. It is a great pity he was not taken and hung. The morning was cloudy and cool but the roads very dusty & the middle of the day hot. We will not have the wagons up tonight so we must sleep without blankets again & no supper before bed. I slept soundly last night not withstanding the want of poor accommodations.
June 17 - Marched at 5 o'clock. An excessively hot day, a great many of the men fell out again from the march. Marched about 22 miles camping at a church near Piedmont. Gen. Mahone was there. Many rumors afloat; one that 800 dead yankees had been taken out of the streets of Winchester & 1800 prisoners taken, with many pieces of artillery. The rest of Milroy's army went in retreat but Ewell had thrown a force between them & the river.
June 18 - Marched at 5 AM. Passed Piedmont, reached Paris about 11 where we halted & went into camp. In the evening a fine rain with some hail, the former very much wanted. Sent for Medical wagons. 260 Yankee prisoners taken at Aldie in a cavalry fight yesterday passed near here. The last & most reliable rumor is that 5000 prisoners were taken at Winchester with many stores. Ewell is said to be in Maryland.
THE VICKSBURG SITUATION
Vicksburg, Mississippi- With the city surrounded by Grant's Union forces and Union Navy gunboats bombarding the city from the Mississippi River, communications from within Vicksburg have been limited to only a handful of messages per day. The city's populace has retreated to cellars and caves to avoid the heavy shelling that has shattered homes and commercial buildings on the edge of the city. General Pemberton is still holding out hope that Confederate troops near Jackson, Mississippi will march to his relief and break the siege. Union activity in Louisiana has kept Confederate troops there and prevented them from marching to Vicksburg. It is hoped that General Lee's move into Maryland and Pennsylvania will draw some of the Union forces away from around the city and end the terrible siege. Northern newspapers have been "jubilant" in describing the sad plight of the citizens.
LETTERS FROM THE ARMY
Lt. Henry Figures of the 48th Alabama Infantry in General Law's Brigade is with the army in the Shenandoah Valley and writes:
My Dear Ma
We left Culpeper last Monday morning & got here day before yesterday & left that evening; crossed the Shenandoah River without taking off our clothes. As soon as we got to the top of the mountain we were put in line of battle to wait for the Yankees. It was said by Gen. Law that the Yankee general Slocum had orders to come through the gap in the mountain at all hazards, but he did not come. So yesterday we recrossed the river.
You have heard by this time of our capture of Winchester, VA. by General Ewell. We are just twenty miles from Harper's Ferry. It is thought by all that we are going into Maryland & Pennsylvania. Dr. Hudson, our Brigade Surgeon, told me yesterday that Gen. Lee was going to Pennsylvania to subsist his army; that he would probably remain there two months. Hooker's Army has left Fredericksburg. Rumor says he has gone to Washington to keep Lee from getting there. If we do go over into Maryland, I will get me a good horse. They are cheaper than they are here.
You must make that suit of clothes for me by guessing my size for I cannot get my measurements taken. Make the coat about the same size as the one you sent me at Fredericksburg, but make the tail longer & double-breasted. Maj. Scruggs loaned my a very nice jacket this morning until I could get one made. I will send this letter by Maj. Alldredge and love to all.
Lt. Henry S. Figures
48th Alabama
THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA
The army has moved rapidly from Fredericksburg and the itinerary of the army has been released.