Such was the battle of Kernstown, in which over 1200 men were killed and wounded, the half of them Confederates.  Two or three hundred prisoners fell into the hands of the Federals.  Nearly one-fourth of Jackson’s infantry was hors de combat, and he had lost two guns.  His troops were undoubtedly depressed.  They had anticipated an easy victory; the overwhelming strength of the Federals had surprised them, and their losses had been severe.  But no regret disturbed the slumbers of their leader.  He had been defeated, it was true; but he looked further than the immediate result of the engagement.  “I feel justified in saying,” he wrote in his short report, “that, though the battle-field is in the possession of the enemy, yet the most essential fruits of the victory are ours.”  As he stood before the camp-fire near Newtown, wrapped in his long cloak, his hands behind his back, and stirring the embers with his foot, one of Ashby’s youngest troopers ventured to interrupt his reverie.  “The Yankees don’t seem willing to quit Winchester, General!” “Winchester is a very pleasant place to stay in, sir!” was the quick reply.  Nothing daunted, the boy went on:  “It was reported that they were retreating, but I guess they’re retreating after us.”  With his eyes still fixed on the blazing logs:  “I think I may say I am satisfied, sir!” was Jackson’s answer; and with no further notice of the silent circle round the fire, he stood gazing absently into the glowing flames.  After a few minutes the tall figure turned away, and without another word strode off into the darkness.

That Jackson divined the full effect of his attack would be to assert too much.  That he realised that the battle, though a tactical defeat, was strategically a victory is very evident.  He knew something of Banks, he knew more of McClellan, and the bearing of the Valley on the defence of Washington had long been uppermost in his thoughts.  He had learned from Napoleon to throw himself into the spirit of his enemy, and it is not improbable that when he stood before the fire near Newtown he had already foreseen, in some degree at least, the events that would follow the news of his attack at Kernstown.

The outcome of the battle was indeed far-reaching.  “Though the battle had been won,” wrote Shields, “still I could not have believed that Jackson would have hazarded a decisive engagement, so far from the main body, without expecting reinforcements; so, to be prepared for such a contingency, I set to work during the night to bring together all the troops within my reach.  I sent an express after Williams’ division, requesting the rear brigade, about twenty miles distant, to march all night and join me in the morning.  I swept the posts in rear of almost all their guards, hurrying them forward by forced marches, to be with me at daylight."* (* O.R. volume 12 part 1 page 341.)

General Banks, hearing of the engagement on his way to Washington, halted at Harper’s Ferry, and he also ordered Williams’ division to return at once to Winchester.