Winchester, Mar.
13th, 1862.
"Dear Daughter:
My I have merely time to say that we are in
Winchester. I left Bunker Hill day before yesterday,
my brigade in advance. I skirmished all the day with
my light troops and occasionally shelling the woods
with six pieces of artillery, which I held in
advance. I have since learned that we killed several
of the Rebels. I had but one man wounded. We encamped
at night within five miles of this place, the Rebels
with their artillery in full view of us. Several
earthworks were observable, and we looked forward for
a great battle in the morning. My whole brigade was
under arms at 4 o'clock yesterday and at daylight we
moved for ward, four regiments in advance with nearly
800 skirmishers leading, covering the hills in a line
for nearly three miles. The morning was beautifully
spring-like and the sky as clear as crystal. We moved
with great caution, as all the hills showed
entrenchments. It was an exciting sight as our long
line of skirmishers moved forward and mounted in a
long row of single men towards the batteries, looking
in the distance like a swarm of ants crawling up the
hillsides.
We watched with our glasses as they reached the
works, and observed several persons advance from them
in front as they approached. Presently we saw them
all going to the rear and our front line of videttes
pouring over the line of entrenchments without
opposition. Soon the large fort came in sight and the
left line of skirmishers approached and halted and
sent back word that the fort was in front and
apparently occupied. They were ordered to
"feel" them cautiously, and forward went
the whole line, and soon we saw them tumbling over
the parapets and the bayonets brightly glaring in the
morning sun.
We knew then that the town was ours, and gathering up
the whole command, ten regiments, two batteries (ten
guns), and four companies of cavalry, we advanced on
the town en masse, myself and Gen. Hamilton, who just
ranks me, riding in advance. As we reached the out
skirts the mayor and council met us and surrendered
the city of Winchester, asking protection to private
property. We then marched most of the regiments
through the town. Many of the people hailed our
entrance by waving handkerchiefs and some by showing
the Star Spangled Banner. It is nearly a year since
it has been shown in Winchester."