"I do not give you any description of the battle or the battlefield, where at least four to five hundred lay dead, nor of the wounded which filled the houses of Winchester and all the little villages on our march this side. You will see pictures enough, often greatly exaggerated, in the newspapers. "

      On March 23, 1862 the rebel forces under Stonewall Jackson struck at the Union forces under the command of Gen. Shields at Kersnstown just south of Winchester. It resulted in Jackson's first and only defeat in the Shenandoah. After the battle his forces retired up the Shenandoah harrying the Federal advance with its calvary rearguard.

      Williams, whose force had been ordered east to join McDowell, had half his force across the Shenandoah at Berryville when news of the attack arrive. Hurrying his forces west of the river to the scene, he took part in the pursuit of the retiring rebels. The Rebels retired and Williams' division advanced against the rear guard and occupied and fortified the strategic town of Strasburg at the north end of Massanutten Mountain. Strategically, Jackson had suceeded in his objective of drawing off troops from the east.

Strasburg, 20 miles south of Winchester, Va., March 30th, 1862

My Dear Daughter:

I wrote you last from Winchester, after I had been put in command of a division (three brigades) of troops and was on the point of marching eastward across the Shenandoah. One of my brigades left on Friday, the 21st, and the other two and myself on Saturday, the 22nd. We reached the Shenandoah with our long trains Saturday night, and the head of the column, including one brigade and train and part of another brigade, had passed, when the pontoon bridge gave way. It took nearly all day to repair it. In the meantime I had received information that the enemy had returned in considerable force to Winchester and were threatening an attack. Gen. Shields was there with his division. I halted my brigade, which was still on this side, and sent it back to Berryville to be ready to reinforce Gen. Shields.

In the meantime, the river was rising and the bridge bid fair to go away altogether, leaving my command on two sides. I stood by the bridge to watch its safety, expecting to cross the other brigade the next day. At daylight in the morning, however, a messenger brought the. word that there had been a fight before Winchester, that Gen. Bank; had left for Washington the same day, and that Gen. Shields had been wounded in a skirmish the day before. I was much wanted. I mounted my horse and with a small escort of cavalry set out in hot haste for Winchester. My 1st Brigade was already on the march for the same place. On reaching Winchester I found that Gen. Banks had returned and assumed command and was then following up the retreating enemy. I stayed long enough to order my brigade to follow, and to feed myself and horse, and started for the front.

I overtook Gen. Banks seven or eight miles out. The enemy was in sight, with a strong rear guard of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, but retiring from one strong position to another. We followed them all day till near sundown. At their last stand a battery from my brigade was brought up and they were driven helter-skelter from their position, leaving behind several killed and wounded, with tents, etc. The troops of Gen. Shields' division had been engaged in battle the day before and had marched fifteen to twenty miles after a night-watch on the battlefield. My brigade (the old third that I commanded for so many months, now commanded by Col. Donnelly, senior colonel) had marched thirty-six miles since the preceding evening and with but two hours' rest.

We could follow no farther, so the whole command bivouacked on the field, many a poor fellow supperless. My wagons were thirty miles away with no order to follow, for I did not expect to follow so far, but I found comfortable lodgement in a farmhouse and sufficient to eat. I do not give you any description of the battle or the battlefield, where at least four to five hundred lay dead, nor of the wounded which filled the houses of Winchester and all the little villages on our march this side. You will see pictures enough, often greatly exaggerated, in the newspapers. We came and occupied this place and five miles in advance on Tuesday last and are waiting certain events for future operations. Two of my brigades are now here. The third is over the Shenandoah. Which way we go next is not decided, but I think you'd better direct to me, "Comdg. 1st Division 5th Army Corps (Banks), Winchester."

Union troops assault a Confederate position at the First Battle of Winchester (Kernstown) on March 23, 1862. Image based on a drawing by Alfred Waud.

interact.gif (468 bytes)