Milroy was now in a critical position. His cannon ammunition was nearly exhausted and he had but one day's rations for his men. At 9 P.M. he assembled his brigade commanders, and it was concluded to give up further effort to defend the place, to abandon all the artillery and wagons, and to force a way through the Confederate lines that night, taking with them only the horses, small arms and usual supply of ammunition. All the guns were spiked and the ammunition thrown into the cisterns. At 1 a.m. of the 15th Milroy, abandoning his sick and wounded, avoiding the town, moved silently through a ravine about a mile and struck the Martinsburg pike, which was followed cau tiously, with many. halts to close up the glers, for about three miles, when, about 3.30 a.m., Elliott's brigade, which was in the ad vance, was fired upon by Confederate skirmish ers, and it was soon ascertained that their main lady was east of and very near the road. The retreat had been anticipated and intercepted. Under Ewell's order, General Johnson had left one brigade to prevent Milroy from escaping toward the cast, and moved with the remainder of his by way of Jordan Springs to Stephenson's Depot, about five miles north of Winchester, to intercept the retreat in that di rection. Just as Johnson's head of column reached the railroad, 200 yards from the Mar tinsburg pike, Milroy's men were heard coming down the road and Johnson formed his line on elevated ground in a woods east of the road and in a field south of and adjoining the woods. The greater part of his men were sheltered by a stone fence which bounded a railroad cut. As soon as Elliott took in the situation he formed line of battle with his three leading regiments to push back the Confederates and thus clear the way for the rest of the column to pass on toward Martinsburg. An hour's fight ensued with sarving success, Johnson's right being forced back and his artillery silenced but the left of his line held firm against all efforts to shake it. The main road being blocked. Mil roy determined to try another, and directed the troops to fall back a short distance and turn to the right. Part of than did so, but the greater number filed to the left, leaving the Martins burg road and taking that to Bath. The diverg ing columns could not be reunited. A part of the command, accompanied by Milroy, reached Harper's Ferry by way of Smithfield late in the afternoon. Those retreating on the Bath road made good their escape, crossed the Poto mac at Hancock and rallied to the number of 2,700 at Bloody Run. The greater part of Ely's and McReynolds' brigades were captured. John son claims the capture of 2,300 men, 175 horses and 11 colors. The capture of Winchester and defeat of Milroy gave the Confederates 28 guns, 300 loaded wagons, many horses and 4,000 prisoners. The Union loss was 95 killed, 348 wounded and 4,000 captured. or missing. The Confederate loss was 47 killed. 219 wounded. three missing. Consult 'Official Records' Vol. XXVII): Doubleday, and Gettysburg.' On marching into Maryland General Early left a small garrison at NVinchester, and after the return from Gettysburg Lee's army was en camped around the place until it fell back be yond the Rappahannock. The town was not then reoccupied in force by Union troops, being only visited occasionally by small detachments from Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg. It was subject also to Confederate forays from the upper valley. In December 1863 General Early was sent into the valley, and throughout the winter and early spring of 1864 kept his troops very active, occasionally making dashes into Winchester. On 29 Feb. 1864 General Sigel was assigned to the command of the Union troops in the lower valley, and soon thereafter Win chester was occupied as an outpost to Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg. Sigel was relieved by General Hunter after the battle of New Market (q.v.), 15 May, and when Hunter was repulsed at Lynchburg and forced -to retreat to the Kanawha General Early moved down the valley, and driving everything out of it, encamped near Winchester, 3 July, preparatory to his attempt on Washington (q.v.). After his failure on
Washington Early returned to the lower valley and being hard pressed from the east and north fell back toward Strasburg, at the same time sending Ramseur's division of infantry toward Stephenson's Depot, a few miles northeast of Winchester, to support his cavalry and check General Averell's division of Union cavalry, advancing from Martinsburg. Averell defeated Ramseur at Stephenson's Depot (q.v.), 20 July, and followed him through Winchester. He was joined by General Crook's division, on the 22d, Crook assuming command, and the two divi sions of 11,000 men advanced to Kernstown on the 2.3d. Early returned, defeated Crook at the second battle of Kernstown (q.v.) 24 July, drove him through Winchester and across the Potomac. and reoccupied Winchester and Mar tins) urg. Early's successes called for a strong commander of the Union forces to oppose him, .end General Sheridan was selected On 7 %ugust when Sheridan a.cumed command, near Harper's Ferry, karls•s army was concentrated west of the ()pennon Riser, cosering Winches ter and Bunker Htll Sheridan adsanced farm Halltown toward Winchester, on the morning of the 10th, and Early, abandoning Bunker Hill and Vvinchester. fell mark to Strasburg to await reinforcements coming from Lee's army at Richmond. Sheridan followed to Cedar Creek on the 12th. Early's reinforcements arming, Sheridan's infantry fell back to Winchester on the night of the 16th, the cavalry following next day. From Winchester Sheridan, on the 17th, fell back to Berryville, behind the Ope quon, leaving his cavalry to cover the with drawal. Wilson's cavalry division, Lowell's cavalry brigade and Penrose's brigade of New Jersey infantry, 850 men, were ordered to coser the flank of the army in its march from \\ in chester to Berryville. The Jersey brigade was deployed along a small branch of the Opecion, south of and near Winchester, with dismounted cavalry on the flanks, the remainder of the cavalry massed near the town Early had fol lowed Sheridan from Cedar Creek and, in the afternoon of the 17th, his cavalry advanced div ing in the Union cavalry, was checked and held by the Jerseyrnen. until %Vharton's disision of infantry attacked their right and Rarnseur's their front, while Gordon's division advanced against the cavalry. Under this pressure the entire Union line gave way about dark and fell back to Summit Point. The Jersey brigade lost 97 killed and wounded and about 200 prisoners. The cavalry had about 50 captured. Early again occupied Winchester and advanced to confront Sheridan at HaHtown. For some days both parties were feeling each other's lines and suf fering some losses, and 2 September, General Averell, who had been guarding the crossings of the Potomac, south of Hancock, ads anted through Martinsburg to near Bunker Hill, where he attacked and routed General Lomax's cavalry division of two brigades, capturing two Kittle-flags, 55 prisoners, some wagons and a herd of cattle, finally driving Lomax nearly into Winchester next day, but Averell, in turn. was driven back by Rodes' infantry division. On the 13th General McIntosh, with five cavalry reg iments and two guns, started from Sheridan's lines near Berrysille, captured some prisoners, and on approaching Winchester caught sight of an infantry line and charged it, driving It to a piece of woods, which he surrounded, cap turing the Eighth South Carolina of Kershaw's division, with its battle-flag. The rest of Ker shaw's division advanced and McIntosh fell hack with his 143 prisoners. These minor en counters were followed on the 19th by the greatest battle fought at Winchester, which to distinguish it from other battles of Winchester is known as the batik of the Opequon (q v 1, in which Sheridan with 38,000 men defeated Earls's 15,010. and drove him from \\ inchester up the valley, not again to return. From this to the close of the war Winchester remained in Union possession. See also SHEN A %ROAM