Page:A Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence in the Confederate States of America.djvu/68

64 Ramseur, by General Vaughan, that Averill was at Stephenson's depot, with an inferior force, which could he captured, and Rarmseur moved out from Winchester to attack him; but, relying on the accuracy of the information he had received, General Ramseur did not take the proper precautions in advancing, and his division, while moving by the flank, was suddenly met by a larger force, under Averill, advancing in line of battle, and the result was that Ramseur' s force was thrown into confusion, and compelled to retire, with the loss of four pieces of artillery, and a number in killed and wounded Brigadier-Generals Lewis and Lilly being among the wounded, and Col. Board, of the 58th Virginia Regiment, among the killed. Colonel Jackson made a vigorous charge with his cavalry, which enabled Ramseur to rally his men, restore order, and arrest the progress of Averill before he reached Winchester. The error committed, on this occasion, by this most gallant officer, was nobly retrieved in the subsequent part of the campaign. I received, at Newtown, the news of Ramseur's misfortune, and immediately moved to his assistance with Rodes' division: but, on arriving at Winchester, I found that the enemy, after being checked, had fallen back a short, distance: and, as another and much larger column was moving through Berryville, I did not go after Averill. but moved the whole command to Newtown—The stores, and such of the wounded and sick as could he Transported, having been gotten off.

On the 21st, my whole infantry force was concentrated near Middletown: and, on the 22nd, it was moved across Cedar Creek, towards Strasburg, and so posted as to cover all the roads from the direction of Winchester.

A report having been sent to me from Mt. Jackson, that a force of the enemy was moving from the Valley of the South Branch of the Potomac to that place, Imboden was sent to ascertain its truth, and it proved to be false. We rested on the 22nd, while waiting to ascertain the movement of the enemy, and during the day a report was received from the cavalry in front, that a large portion of the force sent after us from Washington, was returning, and that Crook and Averill had united, and were at Kernstown, near Winchester.