Raynors HCA 2018-10
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Union General's letter written by Brevet Major General Thomas Howard Ruger (1833-1907), as colonel of the 3rd Wisconsin Vols., 19pp. 8vo., Williamsport, Md., May 30-31st, 1862," to his wife, in part: "…I have been resting and getting things in order after the hard time we have had and the derangement of everything…on our retreat and if I must say it defeat. To be defeated…under such circumstances was no disgrace so far as not being able to whip the enemy is concerned…[Lt.] Col. Pinkney…has resigned having done so to take command of the twentieth Wisconsin Regt. He received a message from the Governor soon after we got here…he handed in his resignation shortly before the enemy made his demonstration while we were at Strasburg…I told him…we might have a fight soon & could not approve it. He said he would not wish to go at such time…we were at Strasburg from which place…from Washington the railroad had been repaired, bridges rebuilt which had been destroyed by the rebels, a telegraph put up and everything settled…Gen. Shields had previously been ordered with his force to join McDowell and had gone to Warrenton Junction. The troops under Banks were assigned the duty of holding Strasburg…Geary's command was scattered along the [rail]road as far west as Front Royal…the 1st Maryland regiment between Front Royal and Strasburg…one company of my regiment and one of the 27th Indiana…at Buckton Station about six miles east…some of the Penn. 29th…were about three miles further east. At Strasburg was…Gen. Banks command amounting to not more than four thousand…the enemy's forces were…before the attack disposed as follows. Jackson with from ten to fifteen thousand was near Harrisonburg…Gen. Ewell was up the Valley…near a little stream called Elk Run…with from ten to fifteen thousand…the problem…[Ewell] could get in our rear…between us and Winchester…while Jackson attacked us in front. Either force being more than twice as strong as ours. On the 22d…Ewell who was moving on Front Royal sent parties to the right and left who destroyed the telegraph between Front Royal & Washington…& Straburg…cutting off communications and also…attacked the small force at Front Royal which…made a desperate fight and was cut to pieces. Gen. Banks heard of it by way of Winchester…the guard of which my company was part…was fiercely attacked on the 23rd…my company lost one man killed and two wounded…I received orders to open communications with Front Royal…and join my brigade at Strasburg…started…with the wounded having buried the man who was killed…Ewell force was moving on the road to our right…almost side by side with us…a dash on the wagons caused some delay…Jackson's advance came up with our rear and from this time there was a continual skirmish between our rear guard and his advance…Mr. Medway who was in charge of the picket…says that the enemy pickets…were so near that he could hear them whisper…counted 28 regiments…our pickets were attacked [battle of Winchester] early in the morning. The bullets were flying when I moved the regiment into its position…the shells falling in our rear. The enemy succeeded in turning both flanks of our army…were ordered to fall back to the next ridge…I moved back in line of battle…to some stone walls just in the edge of the town and opened fire…a battery opened with shells and canister…the troops on our right did not make a stand…fell back into the town the left wing going by one street and the right by another…if the regiment had stayed much longer it would have been lost. We were fired on by the citizens…they fired through the windows. Ladies fired pistols…threw bottles filled with powder or other explosives…and even tried to throw hot water on the men. One of my men was shot …within fifteen feet of me…[May 31st 1862]…after getting clear of Winchester we formed those of the regiments that had been kept together…there was no panic…the [Potomac] river was not crossed except by the sick & wounded…if the enemy had pouched after us…the army most inevitably have been mostly lost…their advance is not far from Harpers Ferry. Tis said that Shields & Fremont are to close in on the enemy's rear…McDowell is pressing up from Front Royal towards Winchester…the killed, wounded and missing of my regiment is about one hundred. As we did not keep the battle ground it is impossible to tell how many of the missing are killed & wounded or even prisoners…your affectionate husband, Howard…". The original triple stamped postal cover addressed: "Mrs. Thos. H. Ruger, care Henry R. Moore, Beliot, Wisc." Near fine.
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