The following is a follow-up to the posting of November 19, with further details of the participation of the 114th NY Regiment in the Battle near Winchester Va. The author is unknown, but definitely present at the battle.
Chenango Union, October 12, 1864
Harrisonburg, Va. Sept. 27, 1864
For some weeks the armies of Sheridan and Early had confronted each other, each showing a strong front, and neither seeming desirous of an engagement. On the 18th of September, Sheridan's force, consisting of the 6th, 8th and 19th Corps, with three divisions of Cavalry, was in bivouac on the right of the Berryville Pike, and about two and one-half miles below the town. Reports had massed Early's force at Bunker hill, a few miles to our front and right. It was estimated that it numbered forty thousand. This had been the position of officers for some days, when it was rumored that Gen. Grant was at Sheridan's Headquarters.
As soon as it became known that Grant was at Charlestown, it was talked in circles official and unofficial that a movement was on foot. It seemed as if by common consent officers and men concurred in the opinion, and no one was surprised when we received news to move at 1 P.M. of Sunday. We were delayed, however, until 2 A.M. of the morning following, when the whole army took up its line of march. We pushed rapidly on, heavy firing being constantly heard at the front. At 11 A.M. we halted in the woods, and began our preparations for the battle.
In this account I will hardly be expected to particularize regarding the positions, &c.., of the different Corps engaged, but will endeavor to give a general view, with an eye to the part taken by the 114th N.Y. The scene of action was about two and one-half miles below Winchester. The country was a rolling farm, interspersed with woods. The 1st Brigade formed in a wood in column by Regiments, the 114th in front. The Second Division of the 19th Army Corps had been in the advance, engaged the enemy, and being outnumbered was falling rapidly back in considerable disorder. The 114th was now pushed forward out of the wood, and into a clearing of some hundred yards in depth; then a heavy wood in the back ground. The 114th formed its line in this clearing with nothing on either flank. In the edge of the skirt of woods in front, we could see the rebel line, and their battle flags. No sooner had we established our line, and passed the retreating portion of the Second Division to our rear, than we received a murderous volley from the enemy. Our men now commenced loading and firing rapidly. The enemy's fire was terribly destructive, but our line remained unbroken. Col Per Lee passed constantly along the line, encouraging the men, urging them to hold the line, and speaking words of cheer to all. Each company commander saw his men falling, one, two and three at a time, until remnants were all that remained. In this exposed position our Regiment stood for more than a whole hour, amid this incessant rain of lead. The enemy taking advantage of the fact that our flanks were exposed, got an enfilading fire on us, on the left with musketry, on the right with artillery and musketry. The other Regiments of the Brigade had deployed in our rear. Thus you will see that one Regiment, and that our own, singly and alone, was for more than one hour under the fire of at least a whole Brigade of the enemy, and subject in addition to an enfilading fire. But for all this, not a man blanched, nor a face showed anything but a stern determination to remain until ordered to retire, even though the ground on which that line of battle stood were to be the trench wherein it would be buried The order came to retire our line into the wood, and it was only until that moment that our fearful destruction became apparent. The battalion, now a handful of men, retired in the best of order, and on its colors. On nearing the wood, we moved to the right of the 116th and 153d NY., which had now deployed into line, and made across an open field two hundred yards in depth, led by Major Curtis, and subjected to a most scathing fire from the enemy, which was secreted in the woods. Two color bearers had already been shot down, and the entire color guard annihilated.
Having successfully charged across this field, we halted in rear of a rail fence, and opened our fire on the enemy. All this time the artillery was making fearful havoc in our ranks. This position was still in rear of our first and fatal line, and we held it until every round of ammunition was exhausted, and then fell back to the woods. Re-supplying ourselves with ammunition, we again showed as bold a front as our thinned ranks would allow, and again a steady fire checked the advancing line of the enemy, and forced him again under cover of the woods. We knew the importance of holding this position; it must be held at all hazards, in any event. It was held. Had it been yielded, the enemy would have massed his forces in that wood, and the day would have been lost to us. For three hours we held their line, and were then relieved by the 8th corps. The process of reorganization now began, and we found we had lost eight officers and one hundred and eighty-two men. Thus in a few hours our Regiment had been reduced in its effectual strength over one-half. We lost more than any other three Regiments in our Corps, and nearly twice as much as the rest of our entire Brigade. As a compliment to the 114th, I heard a staff officer say that the result of the day rested in checking the enemy in its pursuit of the broken portion of the Second Division, and the General wished to put forward a Regiment which he knew would stay where it was put!
The enemy, which had not only been checked, but seriously whipped by our Corps, now began flight before the 8th Corps, and we joined in pursuit. We followed them to Winchester, having fair sight of our cavalry charge over the hill in front of the town. This was a splendid affair. The cavalry continued to push the enemy forward and the infantry bivouacked for the night. Of the scene after the battle I will say nothing, for at the North you know as much of war as a "Nicholdemus did of the new new birth," and no more. Would that the good, quiet people of Chenango, all, young and old, could have marched over that field of death. "None linger now upon that plain, Save those who ne'er will fight again."
Darkness drew a curtain over the scene, and tired, hungry and thirsty, we lay down to think of the day, and march on the morrow.
Early on the following morning, we moved forward after the flying enemy, pursuing his rear closely. But he must have some rest; and taking a strong position on Fisher's Hill, near Strasburg, he made a stand, but was flanked and charged out of the position, the natural advantages of which can hardly be excelled. From that time until our arrival at Harrisonburg, the evening of the 26th, we have closely pressed the rear of the enemy annoying and scattering him. The veteran army of Gen. Early now a disorganized mob, throwing away arms, and making shelter in woods and mountains.
The result is a most splendid victory, a victory followed up which makes it doubly so. The dead and wounded were left in our hands. We have taken over six thousand prisoners, 26 pieces of artillery, and the effectual strength of armed men lost to Early cannot be less than ten thousand.
Approval of Our Conduct
Headquarters, First division, 19th, A.C., Near Harrisonburg, Va. Sept 26, 1864
Maj. O.H. Curtis: Sir: I am directed by the Brig. General commanding the Division to express to the officers and men of the 114th N.Y. Vols., his high appreciation of the noble conduct displayed and signal service rendered by the regiment on the 19th inst. during the engagement at Winchester. The loss sustained but too clearly attests the peril of the position held, and the devotion shown by the regiment on that day, exposed as it was for three hours to a heavy cross fire of musketry and artillery.
The general, while regretting the severity of the loss, rejoices that so gallant a body of men is attached to the Division under his command.
You are requested to publish this to your commend. Very respectfully your obedient servant. I.G. Leefe, Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
Suffice to say, this is glory enough for one day. Our regiment, that is, the remaining remnant, is in the best of spirits, all rejoicing over the great victory, but few of which will bring us lasting and honorable peace.
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