Www. W. Rowley to R. Morris Copeland, May 29, 1862

Sig: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with your orders, on Saturday, the 24th day of May, I packed all my luggage, camp and galTison equipage, into the wagons, and started them for Winchester early in the motning I also, under orders, established signal stations along the route from Strasburg toward Winchester, so as to keep communication from the rear to the front. I plaved Lieutenant Halsted with 2 men upon the station nearest to Strasburg, with orders to abandon it when General Hatch came forward with his cavalry. Lieutenant Spencer occupied the next station near Middletown, with the same instructions for leaving as I gave Lieutenant Halsted. Lieutenant Wicker occupied the next station, Lieutenant Miner the next, Lieutenant Larned the next, at Newtown.

All had the same orders to remain upon their respective stations until General Hatch came up with the rear guard. I left Strasburg about 10 o’clock a. m., and upon arriving in the vicinity of Middletown I found a general stampede with the teamsters, many turning about, driving pell-mell, causing for a few minutes the greatest consternation. Many wagons were upset, while many were left standing with the teams unhitched and taken away. In a short time quiet and order were restored, and the trains moved on quietly. As near as I could learn, the cause of the stampede was occasioned by the appearance of some rebel cavalry in their front, who fired, or threatened tw fire, upon them.

I then went on with the advance guard to Newtown, where I saw a small party of cavalry of the enemy running from the town toward the woods on the right of town. Our advance guard moved on through the town and proceeded about a quarter of a mile, when some rebel cavalry was seen moving toward our rear upon our right. The cavalry halted until the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, Colonel Knipe commanding, came up to the town, when the Forty-sixth immediately deployed to the right of the town, penetrating into some woods, followed by two pieces of artillery. The rebel cavalry was in fair sight about half a mile distant. The artillery opened upon them, driving them into the woods. After throwing afew shells the guns limbered up, and, with the Forty-sixth, proceeded to the turnpike toward Winchester.

Soon after this, about 2 p. m., Lieutenants Wicker and Harvey were forced from their station by the rebel cavalry. Up to this time the stations had worked finely, transmitting many messages from rear to front and vice versa. Lieutenant Miner followed when they joined me. After this time no signals were used during the day. Lieutenant Spencer with his three men started to join me as soon as Lieutenant Wicker left, and upon arriving at Middletown he was forced to fly to the woods upon the right of the town. A company of rebel cavalry being upon the ty.apike in front, a regiment of infantry in a field to the right of the road, and another squad of cavalry coming down upon them to the right, Lieutenant Spencer put spurs to his horse, followed by his men, and escaped to the woods, receiving only one volley from the infantry, which did no harm. He arrived at Winchester about 9 p.m. allright. Lieutenant Halsted during this time had been cut entirely off from us, so that he was obliged to take to the mountain road, arriving in camp the 27th instant, crossing the river at Hancock.

The corps encamped at Winchester during the night of the 24th, and on the 25th, as soon as the fog cleared away so that signals could be used to advantage, we proceeded to the field of battle. I was ordered to establish communication between the right and left wings of our forces. Just as I had got the stations established, and before any communication was sent, the retreat commenced, we retreating with the others, Lieutenant Wicker being among the last to leave the field. A portion of our troops retreated in considerable disorder for a short distance from Winchester, but they were soon rallied, and preserved very good order during the rest of the day.

Tho First Brigade, Colonel Donnelly commanding, proceeded in good order to the right of the road, while the Third Brigade, Colonel Gordon commanding, proceeded to the left, going toward Martinsburg. I dispatched three officers to accompany the First Brigade and three to accompany the Third Brigade, myself remaining upon the road.

We had not much occasion to use our signals during the day until after we passed Bunker Hill, when by some means the officers got detached from the First Brigade and did not come up with it again, thus preventing any communication between the two columns. While at Martinsburg the corps was employed in transmitting signals for a short time. After leaving the latter place no signaling was done until we arrived at this place, when two stations were immediately established, one upon either side of the river, where they were retained until last night, when all the troops were ordered on this side of the river. The corps arrived at this place all safe and well, losing none of our baggage, camp or garrison equipage.

I cannot say too much for the noble conduct displayed by the signal officers and men under my command, ever ready to endure fatigue and exposure upon the slightest call for duty.

respectfully, your obedient servant,