Three Hard Days in June: The 110th Ohio at Second Winchester

For Lieutenant Henry Rush of the 110th Ohio, the three days of fighting at Winchester in June 1863 were of such a confusing nature that little was known of the fate of his comrades. It proved a harsh introduction to war for the rookie Ohioans. 

    "Our regiment occupied the trench, fighting hand to hand, until compelled to fall back before superior numbers," he noted. "Our retreat to the main fort was under a galling fire from their infantry and artillery; and here it was that so many of our brave boys were either killed or wounded. Many of our company and of our regiment were never seen after we had fallen back. Their fate cannot be definitely known. We hope many were only taken prisoners and will yet return to the regiment." The losses sustained by some of the regiments proved debilitating. "Some of our regiments were literally cut to pieces," he continued. "The 18th Connecticut, for instance, went in with over 800 and came out with about 30 men. The 110th Ohio, which was most fortunate, has now but 308 men left.  Our company now numbers 40, including non-commissioned officers and privates."

    Lieutenant Rush’s account of Second Winchester first saw publication in the July 2, 1863, edition of the Troy Times.

 

The 110th Ohio fought in three successive engagements that constituted the Second Battle of Winchester: Union Mills on June 13th, Winchester Heights on the 14th, and finally Stephenson's Depot on the 15th. The regiment would later be assigned to the 6th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac where it would earn a solid record as a combat unit fighting in a total of 21 engagements. 

In the field near Maryland Heights, Maryland

June 20, 1863

    It is a painful duty I owe to our friends at home to inform them of our loss in the engagements of the 13th, 14th, and 15th at and near Winchester, Virginia. We first engaged the enemy on Saturday the 13th in the morning. Fighting continued with more or less vigor till after dark of that day. Part of this time our regiment was under a hot fire of infantry and artillery. The boys stood like veterans at their posts. Not a man was seen to flinch. The skill and coolness of all our field officers cannot be too highly spoken of. The friends of our Major may ever feel proud of him.

    The fight opened vigorously again on Sunday the 14th. Several successful charges were made by the infantry and cavalry. A number of prisoners were taken in these charges. About 5 p.m. a furious cannonading was suddenly opened upon our regiment which was entrenched on a hill about a mile southwest of Winchester. About 24 pieces of artillery were playing from one point upon our regiment and the main fortifications in our rear. An incessant fire was kept up perhaps three fourths of an hour by their artillery, when they charged on us from the woods in front and over a hill to our right. The charge was led by at least 8,000 Rebels. Our regiment occupied the trench, fighting hand to hand, until compelled to fall back before superior numbers. Our retreat to the main fort was under a galling fire from their infantry and artillery; and here it was that so many of our brave boys were either killed or wounded. Many of our company and of our regiment were never seen after we had fallen back. Their fate cannot be definitely known. We hope many were only taken prisoners and will yet return to the regiment.

    From about 5 p.m. there were about 30 pieces of artillery playing on our regiment and the two principal forts near our camp. Their shells fell thick about our fortifications and among our boys, but a kind Providence seemed to shield us from the exploding missiles. Our hospital was in immediate range of one of their batteries, but fortunately it was not struck a single time. The Rebel batteries had been worked vigorously for some time before ours replied, but when they did answer it was with energy and effect. Cannonading was continued on both sides till after dark. The sight was grand and awful. Soon after dark, the enemy attempted an assault upon our works at two points; but the terrible streams of fire and lead that poured into their ranks repulsed them with most fearful slaughter. About an hour and a half after dark, firing ceased from both infantry and artillery. So closed the conflict and carnage of this day. But the groans and cries of the wounded in the hospital ceased not through the weary hours of the night.

Colonel J. Warren Keifer commanded the 110th Ohio during Second Winchester and sustained two wounds during the battle, one on the 13th at Union Mill's and a second on the 14th at Winchester Heights. Keifer would survive and end the war as a brevet major general and would eventually serve a term as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

    We lay on our arms that evening until about two o’clock in the morning, when we began to move silently in long columns down the hill towards the Martinsburg pike. It soon became evident that we were about evacuating the place. And so it proved! When we had gone about three miles up the pike (being yet dark), a rapid fire was opened upon us from a woods to the right. Here followed the warmest work we had yet witnessed. We engaged the Rebels with about 3,000 men against their 15,000. The fight was incessant for some two hours. Volley after volley resounded along and through the woods. And peal after peal and blaze after blaze from their artillery added to the awful eloquence of the occasion. Three times we advanced upon them and chased them deep into the woods. But from each advance we returned with some of our noble boys bleeding and dying before the traitors; not, however, until they had done their full share in mowing down the insolent foe that stood before them. We were now growing short of ammunition and with five times our number against us and with no artillery to help us, we were compelled to fall back, which was done in good order under the lead of our brave officers. But many of our noblest boys were left behind either killed, wounded, or prisoners.

    Some of our regiments were literally cut to pieces. The 18th Connecticut, for instance, went in with over 800 and came out with about 30 men. The 110th Ohio, which was most fortunate, has now but 308 men left. The loss of officers was considerable. But I must wait until a more convenient time to give full particulars. We expect a fight here every hour. Our public communications are all cut off. Our company now numbers 40, including non-commissioned officers and privates.

 

Source:

Letter from First Lieutenant Henry Yount Rush, Co. E, 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Troy Times (Ohio), July 2, 1863, pg. 2

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