.ODA.MjEyMTg
3rd
Brigade, Gen Trimble comd'g, remained till
5 P.M. where halted by Maj. Gen Jackson, about 7 miles
from Winchester. Hearing that the enemy were being
driven from Strasburg, I then ordered Gen Trimble &
Gen G. H. Steuart to move forward & reported to the
Maj. Gen. comdg what I was doing. I received on the
march orders to make the move.
The 21st North Carolina, Col. Kirkland, drove in the
enemys pickets & held a position two miles from Win-
chester, occasionally skirmishing during the night.
The rest of the command slept on their arms, three
miles from town. We moved at dawn & opened the attack
at 5.40 A.M. the 21st No. Ca. Col Kirkland & 21st Ga Col Mercer,
gallantly dashing into the Western part of the town &
driving back the advanced posts of the enemy. The 21st
No. Ca. was exposed to a murderous fire from a Regt
posted behind a stonewall. Both its Field Officers
present were wounded, & a large number of men
killed & wounded. They were forced back, returning
in good order & ready to renew the fight. Col Mercer,
21st Ga. drove out this Regt & joined the rest of
the Brigade in the subsequent movements. The Md
Regt under Col Bradley T. Johnson had been sent
into the [...burbs?] on the left, where it remained.
