Among the lesser engagements of this period a spirited cavalry engagement near Aldie is worthy of note. At 3 o’clock on the 17th of June, a division of the Union cavalry encountered a rebel force, consisting of General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry brigade and a battery of artillery, about one mile from Aldie, on the road to Unionstown. As soon as General Lee was apprised of the approach of the National troops he made preparations to oppose their advance, and to maintain his position. The rebel Captains Boston and White, with a command of thirty men, were sent forward as sharpshooters, but not receiving any support they were compelled to fall back before the first charge of the advancing Unionists. Close behind the rebel advance the Fifth and the Third Virginia cavalry were stationed; and as the National troops charged upon them a fierce hand-to-hand encounter took place, and in the course of the fight many rebel prisoners were captured. After a brave resistance the rebels were overcome, and the order was given to fall back. Seventy-seven privates were taken prisoners, together with the following officers:—Major Carrington of the Third Virginia regiment; Captain E. B. Boston of the Fifth Virginia; Captain F. R. Winser and Captain Jones of the Third Virginia; and Captain L. B. White; Lieutenant Boston; Lieutenant Turnell; and Lieutenant Douglass of the Fifth Virginia. The loss upon the Union side was very trifling; the men fought with the greatest bravery. It was dark before the fight was finally at an end, light artillery firing being kept up on both sides, without any material injury to either; and when night fell it saw the Union troops entirely victorious, and the rebels slowly retiring.
BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.
June 14, 1863.
On Saturday, the 13th of June, an attack was made by the advance of the enemy’s forces moving up the Shenandoah valley, upon Berryville, then held by General McReynolds. The position was midway between Winchester and Snicker’s gap; and, as an outpost of Winchester, it was valuable. The force under General McReynolds, numbering about three thousand men, made a gallant defence; but finding themselves overwhelmed by numbers they retreated toward Winchester. In the mean time a portion of the rebel advance, consisting of two divisions commanded by Generals Early and Johnson, under General Ewell, had attacked Winchester, which was held by Major-General Milroy. The firing was continuous during the day, and the fighting was severe on both sides. During the whole of the following day the fighting continued at short intervals. At about half past four o’clock the skirmishers of the enemy charged up the Berryville and Front Royal roads, but were received by a hot fire from the Union troops, which dispersed them in confusion. General Milroy now ordered a charge upon the enemy, which was gallantly made, but his men, finding the rebels very strongly encamped in a wood behind them, were forced to return as quickly as possible to the protection of the town. A road running directly west from Winchester, called the Romney road, now became the point from which the enemy attacked. About 5 o’clock the rebels appeared in strong force in front of the main fort situated north of this road, and a sharp engagement took place between them and the National troops. The rebel general, Ewell, got his batteries into position and opened a heavy fire upon the Union men; he then massed his infantry and charged upon them in the face of their hottest firing. Without an instant’s pause the rebels leaped over the breast works, driving off the Ohio regiment at the point of the bayonet, and planted their colors on the embankment.
Of the Ohio regiment a few escaped back to the main fort, but the greater number were either killed or taken prisoners. The Union forces were now completely hemmed in, but not defeated. Sharp and deadly firing continued between the rebels and Unionists until dark. The First brigade, under General Elliott, at this time occupied the main fort; the Second, under Colonel Ely, occupied the town and the space to the main fort on the northwest; and the Third, under General McReynolds, was posted to the north of the main fort. The final charge of the day occurred soon after dark; the rebels crossed a ravine between their main position and the front, but were received by a hot and murderous fire from the Union artillery, which hurled them back again, and the fighting was over for the night. At midnight, after a council held by the brigade commanders, General Milroy ordered a retreat to Harper’s Ferry. The troops marched straight on the road to Martinsburg for about four miles, when they were met by a large body of rebels. They attempted an advance, but were violently repulsed; and two regiments, the Eighteenth Connecticut, and Fifth Maryland, were captured entire. Of the whole force, about four hundred reached Hancock and Cumberland; one thousand six hundred reached Maryland Heights; and one thousand seven hundred reached Bloody Run; while the remainder of the division of twelve thousand men, with a large quantity of artillery and military stores, were captured by the rebel forces.
CAPTURE OF MARTINSBURG.
June 14, 1863.
While the fight just described was taking place at Winchester, the rebel General Rhodes appeared in front of Martinsburg, a town some miles to the north of Winchester, and demanded its surrender from General Tyler, then in command. The surrender was proudly refused; and the rebels immediately opened an attack, which was gallantly resisted until night came on. Perceiving that he could not hold his position, General Tyler, under cover of the darkness, prepared to evacuate the city. The movement was discovered by the enemy, who at once renewed the attack, and a most bloody contest began, which was kept up till the Union troops reached the Potomac river. General Tyler, after a hard struggle, and the loss of two hundred men, many pieces of artillery and a large quantity of ammunition and grain, succeeded in crossing the river at Shepherdstown, and moving on, to Harper’s Ferry. The rebels instantly took possession of Martinsburg; their losses in the capture of it having been only one killed and two wounded.
During this time it was impossible to determine correctly where General Lee was moving with his main army; but on Monday, the 29th, it became evident that he had selected Gettysburg for his field of operations and on that night the flame of his army’s camp-fires shone luridly against the sky—a warning of the bloody battle to come. During the entire period of this bold invasion of the North the skirmishes, raids, and minor battles consequent upon the continual meetings of the rebel and Union forces were almost daily, but the great battle was that which will ever be remembered at the sound of the word, Gettysburg, and must always bring a glow of pride to the cheek of every loyal American who hears it named.
ATTACK ON CARLISLE, PA.
July 1, 1863.
As we have seen, the advance of Lee’s army began on June 27th, a large rebel force occupied the city of Carlisle; and on the 30th they removed all their infantry and stores to Gettysburg. On the evening of July 1st, a severe engagement took place between the rebels under General Fitzhugh Lee (who had not been apprised of the withdrawal of the enemy, under General Ewell, from Carlisle) and the Union forces under command of General W. F. Smith, who were just entering the deserted town. Being unable to comprehend the state of affairs before him General F. H. Lee commenced skirmishing with the Union troops; but finding them much stronger than was supposed, he sent in a flag of truce demanding the surrender of the town. General Smith promptly refused to surrender, and at once made preparations for sending away the women and children.