October 21, 1861. The Unionists, under Schoepf, defeated the Confederates, under Zollicoffer. Union loss, 4 killed and 21 wounded; rebel loss, unknown. Wilderness. (See Grant's Report.) Wilks. (See Mason.) Williamsburg, Va.-The advance of General McClel lan's army overtook the rear of the Confederates at this place May 5, 1862, when a fight ensued. The battle raged furiously all day. Toward night General Hancock succeeded in turning the rebel left, when they broke and retreated under cover of the night. Union loss, 455 killed, 1,411 wounded, and 388 missing; rebel loss, about 3,000. The town was evacuated by the rebels during the night, leaving more than 1,000 wounded men in the hospitals. The place was occupied by the Federals next day. The rebel cavalry were repulsed here September 9. The Union cavalry fell into an ambush here February 7, 1863, losing 40 men. The rebels attacked the place March 29, but were repulsed, with considerable loss; the same action was repeated April 30. Williamsport, Md. (See Pennsylvania Invasion.) Williamsport, Tenn.-Several fights occurred at this place August 11, 1862, between guerrilla and Union forces, in each of which the rebels were defeated, with considerable loss. Wilmington, N. C.-The forts at this place were seized by the State authorities January 2, 1861. This soon became notorious as a haven for blockade-runners, and so continued until the taking of Fort Fisher. (See Fort Fisher.) January 18, 1864, General Paine reconnoitered in force from Fort Fisher toward Wilmington, and, after some skirmishing, fell back to his intrenchments. This was repeated several times. General Terry, on the 11th, advanced, with two divisions, from Fort Fisher toward the city, the fleet co-operating, carried the rebel outer-works at the south end of Myrtle Sound, and intrenched close up to their main line, 12 miles from Wilmington. General Schofield now co-operated with General Terry and the fleet and he, on the 18th, advanced from the land side, while Porter shelled the works from the boats. Fort Anderson was evacuated on the 19th, the rebels retiring toward Wilmington, the Unionists following, and next day took 2 guns and 340 prisoners. The Union forces, on the 21st, reached a point on the opposite side of the river from Wilmington, when the bridges were burning; the rebels, seeing this, burned 1,000 bales of cotton and 15,000 barrels of resin, and prepared to evacuate, which they did that night, the Union forces entering on the morning of the 22d. The entire rebel works in and about Wilmington and all the way down the river, 19 forts and batteries in all-being, perhaps, the strongest fortified harbor in the world-thus fell into Union possession. Three locomotives and a dozen cars were left in the railroad shops uninjured; 1 ram and 2 transports escaped up the river. The Union loss, in all, since the capture of Fort Fisher, was about 200. Wilson's Creek, Mo. (See Lyon.) Winchester, Va., was the scene of a skirmish and Union victory March 11, 1862, and also on the 22d. The Union army that night slept on their arms. Next morning at sunrise, the Confederates, 12,000 strong, under Jackson, attacked General Shields, with 10,000, at Kearnstown, near Winchester, Virginia. The fight was continued till noon, when a charge drove the rebels back half a mile. They rallied, and in turn drove the Unionists back. General Shields ordered the left flank turned, which was done in gallant style. Both sides fought desperately until 3 P. M., when a panic seized the rebels, and they fled toward Strasburg. Union loss, 115 killed and 450 wounded; rebel loss, 869 killed, wounded, and missing. General Banks, in his retreat, occupied the town May 24. The town was again taken by the Federals December 3, who captured 140 prisoners. The Unionists, in a skirmish here May 19, 1863, captured a few prisoners. (See Grant's Report, and Pennsylvania Invasion.) Winnsborough, S. C., was occupied by Slocum's forces February 21, 1865. The town was fired and a great part of it consumed, having caught from the cotton belonging to a rebel woman, who fired it herself. Winton, N. C., was burned by Burnside's gun-boats February 20, 1862. Woodbury, Ky.-Colonel Burbridge, with 250 mén and two pieces of artillery, attacked a body of 400 rebels in camp at Woodbury, routed them, and burned their camp October 29, 1861. Woodbury, Tenn., was the scene of a severe fight and Union victory August 28, 1862. There was a skirmish here January 24, 1863, lasting an hour. Union loss, 9 wounded; rebel loss, 100 prisoners. The Union forces, under General Hazen, marched to attack the rebels at this place April 2, but being apprised of the movement to capture them, they fled. The cavalry had a running fight for three miles. 15 rebels were killed and wounded, and 30 captured; 50 horses and a quantity of ammunition were also taken. Union loss, one wounded. Woodburn, Tenn., was the scene of a skirmish and Union victory May 2, 1863 The depot at this place was burned by guerrillas August 20, 1864. Woodville, Miss., was occupied, and the public buildings burned, by Union troops, August 15, 1863. World. (See Daily News and Bogus Proclamation.) Worthington, Va.-Colonel Crossman, September 2, 1861, with two companies, attacked a superior force of Confederates at this place, but were compelled to retire, losing two men. Wytheville, Va., was occupied by Unionists July 15, 1863. They cut the line of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad; 120 prisoners, 3 pieces of artillery, and 700 small arms were captured. Rebel loss, about 75 killed and wounded; Union loss, 65 killed and wounded. (See Saltville.) Yazoo Pass Expedition. This movement was undertaken to flank Vicksburg, cutting it off from supplies, but proved a failure. It cost both parties a vast amount of time and material, and was about equally disastrous to each. It occupied from February 22 until about May 25, 1863, including the other moves taken in connection with it. Yellow Bayou, La.-During Banks's retreat from the Red River country, the rebels attacked him at this place May 18, 1864. They were met by Generals Mower and A J. Smith, who checked the rebels, with some loss. Yellow Creek, Mo.-The rebels, under Poindexter, were scattered here August 13, 1862. York, Penn. (See Pennsylvania Invasion.) Yorktown, Va.-McClellan arrived in front of this place April 5, 1862. The rebels opened fire, which was returned. Union loss, 6 killed, 16 wounded. The rebels again, April 18, made a night attack, which was repulsed. The rebels left the city May 3, leaving all their heavy guns, large quantities of ammunition and camp equipage. McClellan occupied the place next day. Young's Point. (See Vicksburg.) Youngsville, Ala., was occupied by General Rousseau July 16, 1864. He burned four warehouses filled with corn and bacon. Zollicoffer, Tenn., was the scene of a brisk but indecisive engagement September 20, 1863. |