Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/12

 6 Southern Historical Society Paper*.

when a heavy force of Yankee cavalry dashed up the Martinsburg pike, driving back our cavalry like sheep and penetrating- to our rear. Wharton's division was immediately withdrawn and sent to the left and rear to check them, which it succeeded in doing ; but the enemy, seeing the success of their cavalry, sent a body of infan- try to connect with it, which turned our left flank, forcing Gordon's and Rodes' divisions to fall back and form perpendicular to their original line ; and in this position the fight raged for an hour or more, the field meanwhile being covered with stragglers whom it was impossible to rally. When Wharton's division became engaged with the cavalry, I occupied myself endeavoring to rally stragglers and urge the men forward, when, ammunition being inquired for, I started after my brigade ordnance wagons, which had gotten out of the way when the Yankee cavalry advanced. I missed their track, and rode around the east side of the town to the Staunton pike without finding them, but succeeded in finding others, which I sent forward. Riding through town on my way back, I found everything coming through town in the greatest confusion, Market street filled with medical and ordnance wagons and ambulances three deep. I met the ambulance with General Rodes' body, in charge of Captain Randolph, and afterwards my brigade ordnance wagons, in charge of Lieutenants Partridge and Cabaniss. Told them to move on through beyond the town, and concluded to go and bid my friends good-bye. On Main street met the troops coming through in much confusion. The Yankee cavalry had charged again and cap- tured most of Wharton's division, and the overwhelming numbers of their infantry, after our left was thus broken, had forced the remain- der of the line to retire. The troops, however, were formed be- yond the town, and the retreat continued in order. I went up to Mrs. W.'s, and soon after Major Johnson, of Breckenridge's staff, came up also. As I rode away, the shells were bursting all around the house, and, indeed, all over the unfortunate town.

I called at Mrs. G's, then at Mrs. D's. I bade good-bye to the T's and S's, and was going round to Mrs. L's, when Maj. Douglas and others just before me were shot at near the corner beyond. I then retired up Market street, stopping near the Methodist church and witnessing the Yankees come in near the Union Hotel, flays flying, drums beating, and shouting. I have retired through Win- chester many a time before, but never did I witness the Yankees come in in that manner, but I have often seen them in the same pre- dicament that we were. Douglas was a square nearer the Yankees,