CHAPTER III. ACCOUNT OF THE ENGAGEMENT AT WINCHESTER, JUNE 13TH, 14TH AND 15TH, 1863. June 13th dawned clear and bright on the Valley City, the quiet hush of morning gave little indication of the scene of carnage so soon to be enacted. About 9 o’clock in the morning the long roll sounded to arms, and soon the regiment was in line awaiting orders. Soon they came and we were rapidly moved up the pike to Kearnstown, where after having deployed a heavy line of skirmishers, the regiment was halted and remained until about 2 o’clock P. M., when rapidly drawing in our skirmishers, we fell back a short distance and took up a position west of the pike. While crossing the pike the enemy opened a sharp fire upon us, and several men were killed or wounded, but the regiment behaved splendidly, taking their position as coolly as veterans, though under fire, as you might say for the first time. Volley after volley was now poured into the enemies ranks, which must have done good execution, as their fire very sensibly slackened. We again changed position to a slight eminence a few rods in the rear, where the regiment remained firm, receiving and returning the enemy’s fire as calmly as though drawn up on dress parade until night drew her curtains about us and put an end to the carnage. Our lines were now drawn close around the city, our regiment remaining in line until long after midnight, when we were relieved and allowed a few hours for rest. In this day’s fight the regiment’s loss was seventy-six men in killed and wounded. The men acted grandly, receiving praise for their gallant conduct from Gen. Milroy in person. The next morning we were ordered into the fort where we remained until evening, when we were ordered to make a sortie, but were driven back, the enemy having captured one of our outer posts, and turned their guns upon us. Our forces now all rallied upon the main fort where the enemy charged us, but they were easily repulsed, and they did not again make the attempt. All were now confidant that our position was no longer tenable, the Rebels being largely superior in numbers and rapidly concentrating more troops in our vicinity; a council of war was held, when it was decided to make the attempt to cut our way through to Harper’s Ferry if possible. About 2 o’clock in the morning the movement began; the column moved out on the Martinsburg pike. Our regiment having the advance, all went well until we had put about five miles between us and Winchester, and were congratulating ourselves on getting out so nicely, when all at once our advance guard struck the enemy, who had marched around and got in our rear during the night.