On May 25, 1862, General Stonewall Jackson and 16,000 Confederates defeated General N.P. Banks and 6,000 Federals at Winchester. On May 24 at Middletown, 12 miles south, Jackson attacked Banks’ army as it withdrew toward Winchester, cut off the rear guard, and captured or destroyed a large number of wagons. Jackson began his attack on Winchester at 5 a.m. on May 25, where Colonel George Gordon’s 3rd Brigade contested the thrust. General Dick Taylor’s Louisiana Brigade, reinforced by the 10th and 23rd Virginia, flanked Gordon on the west while troops of Jackson’s division pressed Gordon’s center and left. On the southeast approaches to Winchester, General R.S. Ewell saw his first attack repulsed, then called up reserves and moved against Colonel D. Donnelly’s Union Brigade. By 8 a.m. all Federal positions had been taken and Banks’ army fled north through town, though Confederate pursuit was hindered by lack of cavalry.
