Army of the Potomac

“Advance of the Army of the Potomac. Occupation of Winchester, VA., and the abandoned Confederate Fortifications, by a detachment of General Banks’s Deivision of the Federal Army, consisting of the brigades of Generals Hamilton and Williams, March 12th, 1862. Our sketch represents the advance of the Federal troops upon the City of Winchester, and is thus described by our correspondent: ‘A portion of General Banks’s Division, under General Gorman, occupied the town of Berryville, VA., on the 11th. There were five hundred of the Confederate cavalry in the place, but upon the Third New York Cavalry, properly supported by artillery and infantry, charging them, they fled in confusion toward Winchester. During the night the pickets of General Gorman came in contact with a portion of Colonel Ashby’s Confederate cavalry, and were compelled to fall back, but the general made a reconnoissance in force to within two miles of Winchester, and, charging upon the Confederates dispersed them, taking several prisoners, and killing or wounding four of the Confederates. This reconnoissance sealed the fate of Winchester. The enemy were blinded and misled by the movement of our troops, and they commenced the evacuation of the place on the afternoon of the 12th. General Hamilton advanced from Bunker hill, the Michigan Cavalry heading the column. The Confederate Cavalry, one thousand two hundred strong, and supported by a section of artillery, gave battle at five o’clock in the afternoon. Our cavalry was supported by the First maryland Infantry, and a battery of artillery. The fight was a short one. The Confederates fled, leaving their guns behind them, and at daylight on the 12th our troops entered the city as the rear guard of the enemy was flying out of it.’"— Frank Leslie, 1896

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