FIGHTING JACKSON AT KERNSTOWN.

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In the afternoon of the 17th, a force of the enemy with cavalry and artillerywas met at Fisher’s Hill, near Strasburg, where brisk skirmishing was com-menced and continued until toward the close of the day, when Shieldsordered the advance of the Second Brigade, the enemy retreated, and Shields’sdivision encamped for the night in possession of the positions which had beenheld by the enemy.

On the morning of the 18th, General Shields pushed forward — meetingwith but little resistance—as far as Woodstock; then, halting with his infan-try, he sent his cavalry forward, followingthe enemy to Mount Jackson, where, hav-ing crossed the Shenandoah, he had dis-appeared. General Shields here discontin-ued the pursuit, and, returning, encampedagain on the night of the 18th at Fisher’sHill and Strasburg. On the morning ofthe 19th, waiting until the arrival of hiscavalry,— at 10 o’clock,— he marched forWinchester, where the command arrivedlate in the evening without loss, and with-out being followed by the enemy.

General Shields reported to GeneralBanks that Jackson had fled with hisarmy from the valley, leaving only a smallforce under Ashby for observation, andthat he had driven this force beyond theShenandoah at Mount Jackson.

General Banks , now satisfied that Jack-son had abandoned the valley, or that his brigadier-general Frederick w. lander.force was too small and he too cautious

to return to attack, and in compliance with orders previously received,removed all of his forces from Winchester (excepting Shields’s division) eastof the Blue Ridge.

On the morning of the 22d, the last of his troops having moved, GeneralBanks departed for Washington, leaving the division of Shields, the onlyforce at and around Winchester, as the guardians of the valley. The enemymeantime had not been idle, having been kept well informed, daily andhourly,— by his friends and emissaries,— of every movement made by ourforces, and also of the number and positions of the troops remaining underGeneral Shields. Stonewall Jackson now returned, intent upon victory, therecapture of Winchester, and the possession of the beautiful valley.

At 4 p. m., March 22d, Jackson announced his appearance in our front bythe guns of Ashby’s artillery. Ashby, advancing from the direction of Stras-burg, forced our outposts back upon their reserves, and attacked them withhis cavalry. At the sound of the first gun, General Shields hurried to thefront with reenforcements, returned the fire of the enemy with artillery andmusketry, and, advancing his line, compelled the enemy to retire. Upon start-