HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, SHIELDS' DIVISION,
Strasburg, Va., March 27, 1862.

SIR: I regret very much that I made no mention of the Signal Corps, under Lieut. W. W. Rowley, who rendered such valuable assistance on the field in signaling orders and reports. Lieutenant Rowley and the officers and men under him deserve the greatest praise, and by their vigilance and efficiency have made the Signal Corps an indispensable arm of the service. I desire to make favorable mention of Lieutenant Rowley, his officers and men, and especial mention of Private Temple, flagman for Lieutenant Taylor, who was wounded in the arm and had his horse shot from under him while in the discharge of his duty on the field.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NATHAN KIMBALL,
Colonel, Commanding.

Maj. H. G. ARMSTRONG, A. A. A. G., Shields' Division.

No. 13.

Report of Lieut. Col. William Harrow, Fourteenth Indiana Infantry.

CAMP FOURTEENTH REGIMENT INDIANA FOOT VOLS.,

Near Winchester, Va., March 26, 1862.

SIR: During the severe engagement with the enemy commencing on the evening of the 22d instant near Winchester, Va., and terminating in a brilliant victory to the Federal forces and complete rout of the enemy on the evening of the 23d instant, the Fourteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers bore a conspicuous part. At 5.30 o'clock p. m. on the 22d they were formed at their camp, nearly 2 miles in the rear of Winchester, and moved rapidly forward beyond the town 2 miles out on the turnpike road leading to Strasburg, and there remained under arms upon the left of our batteries during the continuance of the enemy's fire that evening. This regiment lay upon their arms that night, and early next day, while preparing to establish their camp near that point, were again called out by the enemy renewing the attack in force. Remaining at this point near an hour and a half as a support to two batteries of artillery in position on the left of the road, they now were ordered rapidly forward toward the enemy, and proceeding about 1 mile received orders to hasten to position to support, if necessary, the Eighth Ohio Regiment, Colonel Carroll, who had gone forward and were engaged with the enemy's skirmishers, who were reported steadily approaching. Having proceeded to a point favorable for the accomplishment of that purpose, they were formed in line of battle across an open meadow on the left of the road and directly in front of the enemy's guns, when for thirty minutes the enemy fired upon them rapidly with shot and shell, many of their missiles bursting almost within our ranks. Colonel Sullivan's command having by this time formed in our rear, and Colonel Carroll having withdrawn for the time his line and deployed his command upon our extreme left, I received an order from you to look well to the left for any attempt of the enemy to turn that flank. I then moved the regiment to the left of Colonel Sullivan's command and occupied a space between his line and Colonel Carroll. We there remained in position, the enemy continuing to fire shell at our lines until by your order the regiment was moved across the road and was halted near the battery on the hill in your immediate presence.

Remaining in this position one and a half hours, the enemy were dis covered moving in force to our right flank. Almost immediately thereafter the collision occurred between the enemy's infantry forces and that portion of our own troops occupying the extreme right. The fire becoming general along our whole right, the Fourteenth Regiment was ordered forward at a double-quick step. Having formed themselves, they eagerly pushed through a slight skirt of timber and crossed an elevation covering the enemy, during the execution of which movement a continuous fire was kept up upon our lines from one of the enemy's batteries. Having crossed a depression in the ground and coming up to the summit we immediately received a terrific fire from the enemy's infantry. At this point several of our men fell wounded and 1 killed. On our right the Fifth Ohio and Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Regi ments were hotly engaged, when the Fourteenth Indiana rushed forward, cheering at the top of their voices, our right being extended so as to form a connection with the troops in that direction, the left moving directly forward toward a line of stone fencing connecting with a heavy line of timber in our front. At this point of time a portion of our right wing, under the immediate direction of Lieutenant Catterson, acting adjutant, attacked and silenced the enemy's gun, having first received a fire from grape or canister shot at a distance short of 100 yards. This gun the enemy hastily removed under cover, with a loss of 5 or 6 cannoneers killed. The enemy's infantry then rose from their ambush in front and commenced a rapid and murderous fire upon our entire line. This part of their forces, I have since been informed, was the rebel brigade known as General Loring's command. Their fire was promptly, rapidly, and gallantly returned, and for more than an hour the roar of musketry upon each side was terrific, almost beyond conception; during which time Captain Kelly and Second Lieutenant Slocum, of Company K; First Lieutenant Lindsay, of Company I; Captain Martin and First Lieutenant Beem, of Company H, and Sergt. Maj. Thomas C. Bailey fell wounded while bravely sustaining and urging forward their respective commands. During this period also our national and regimental color-bearers each fell wounded, when their places were promptly supplied. The bearer of the regimental colors, who had seized them when the first was wounded, being also wounded, both standards were seized and for a time held up by a private of Company E.

Lieutenant Catterson, being my only mounted officer, became a conspicuous mark by his presence and activity immediately before the enemy. He had his horse killed under him, the animal receiving six balls, two of which barely escaped killing that officer. This escape from instant death is truly wonderful. The smoke from the enemy's guns and our own, together with the lateness of the evening, prohibit any mention of officers or men, if indeed such discrimination was possible when every officer and man engaged performed his duty to himself, his regiment, and country so nobly. Night closing in, the rout of the enemy became general, and another brilliant victory has been chronicled and another hard blow to rebellion has been struck. The entire command lay upon their arms during the night, and for the two days next succeeding pursued the retreating enemy till a point 3 miles beyond this camp was reached, but was unable to overtake them. All of which is respectfully submitted.

WM. HARROW,

Lieut. Col. Fourteenth Regiment Indiana Vols., Commanding. Col. N. KIMBALL, 14th Ind. Vols., Comdg. 1st Brig., Shields' Div.

No. 14.

Report of Col. Samuel S. Carroll, Eighth Ohio Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH OHIO INFANTRY,

Camp at Strasburg, March 26, 1862.

SIR: In accordance with instructions from your headquarters I have the honor to make the following report, viz:

On the 23d instant, about 10.30 a. m., I received orders from brigade headquarters to move my regiment forward from camp near Winchester, as skirmishers, on either side of the turnpike toward Newtown and feel the way. Immediately I marched the regiment out, and when about half a mile from camp detached Lieutenant-Colonel Sawyer, with Companies B, H, and E, on the right of the pike; I took Companies F, K, A, and G on the left. Both wings were deployed as skirmishers. Companies C and D were on picket duty on the right of the road, and joined Colonel Sawyer's command soon after it deployed. Company I was on picket near Winchester, and remained there. About the time we deployed, the rebels opened one battery on us. We kept advancing, and the battery fell back to the woods ahead of us and reopened their fire. When about 2 miles from our camp my wing came upon a body of the rebel infantry of five full companies, with a reserve of about 100 cavalry. They were masked behind a stone wall at the edge of a wood, and opened on us about 50 yards distant. My wing replied briskly, and, moving forward, routed them in fifteen or twenty minutes.

We kept-on advancing and driving them before us for three-quarters of a mile, when, finding that we were entirely unsupported, I halted my wing. In the mean time Company B had joined us, and Colonel Sawyer's command gotten so far off to the right as to be out of sight.

So soon as I saw support coming I moved forward until the shells from our own batteries fell immediately in front of us, when I halted. not thinking it prudent to expose my men to the fire of our own as well as the rebel batteries. We remained nearly in that position during the remainder of that day and night. In the afternoon, about 3 o'clock, the enemy tried to move a battery on our extreme left flank. I detached one company to deter them, and they were charged upon by about 125 of the rebel cavalry, led by Colonel Ashby. I sent two more companies to their support, and they drove the enemy back and prevented their moving the battery on our flank.

On the morning of the 24th, before daylight, all my regiment joined me except Company I, and Colonel Sullivan ordered me to move forward and support a battery that he wished to get in an advanced position. We did so, and after moving forward three-quarters of a mile the battery finally halted, and I moved forward and continued in the advance until halted by your orders this side of Newtown.

Our loss in the engagement of the morning of the 23d was 2 killed and 9 wounded. The loss of the enemy, killed and wounded, could not have been less than 50, mostly infantry. We had 1 wounded and 2 taken prisoners in the engagement in the afternoon. The enemy left 7 killed and wounded on the field and 5 dead horses, and took away several wounded with them.

Inclosed is Colonel Sawyer's report of the loss in his command.