Sunday, January 26, 2014

Skirmish in the Shenandoah Department

WASHINGTON, May 17.

The following is extracted from a dispatch to the Secretary of War:


RECTORTOWN, Va., May 16.

A company of infantry of my command was yesterday ordered to Linden, to remain stationary there.  A detachment of seventeen men, guard to the company wagon, reached there a short time before the main body of the company, which was on a train.  They were attacked by a body of cavalry, variously estimated at from 300 to 600, coming upon them from four directions. – Our men resisted them, keeping up a sharp fire under shelter of the depot, which was riddled with bullets.  My men were overpowered.  One was killed and fourteen taken prisoners, three of whom were wounded, when the enemy hastily retired under fire, and I am informed that a portion of Gen. Shields’ command had a skirmish with them.

(Signed,)
JNO. W. GEARY,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 2

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