The national Republican., 1862-05-26
roslrlOH OF sEaEs.AL sAaKs,

Letters from Strseburg, written just before
the recent rebel attack upon Front Royal, rep
resented II to be the universal expectation
among our forces there that, for the present,
they would continue TO hold Strasburg, a. 10
advanced position for the protection Of the
Valley Of Virginia and Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, and make no forward movements until
decisive results we're achieved al Richmond
Our soldiers, however, II seems were not long
to be subjected to an inaction of which they
complained, but were compelled to retreat on
Saturday, upon Winchester and Hsrper's
Ferry. They reached winohesteI at five O'Clock
on Saturday stsrnoon. "a ~ ~ .sa 7rN = I,
The retreat vas caused BY the capture oI
Front Royal on Friday, and BY the appearance
in front Of forces large q to give rise 70 reports
that some dstscbments from Richmond had or
rived, and to The supposition that the defence Of
thslsttse bad been abandoned BY the rebel lead.
ers 10 favor Of an offensive movement upon Her.
pers Ferry, Maryland, and even Washing
On. ...-- .,.f.
General Banks force at and near Strssbure
wss about tso thousand nen. Hh supports d
Winchester and Martinsburg were very small
but the available force on the llss Of The Bal
timore aud Ohio railroad b 20 large that any
advance Of ths enemy into Maryland can be
prevented. -. -rs. 4 .-,a
Front Royal ia 20 situated In respect to roads
that an enemy in possession Of IL, could march
directly upon Aartinsburg and Harper's Ferry
The los Of Front Royal, therefore, seriously
threatened General Banks rear. -, a. .
A psymsster 10 the army, who arrived here
last evening from Harper's Ferry, says that he
started from Martipsburs 70 Winchester or
Saturday morning, 10 complete the payment o.
the Tenth Maine regiment when be was pre-
vented from proceeding BY the cosdition oi
Affairs. Early In the morning the wives of some
Of our officers stationed at Winchester, came
isto harrisburg, having been sent away In
consequence Of 40 apprehspded attack. Latal
in the same morning few fngitives got In
stating themselves to be the only ones Of ON
whole force al Front Royal who had escaped
being killed or taken prisoners. They reported
that the neht there lasted seven hours Oul
informant says that II was Afterwards ascer
tained thst very few others escaped. ONLY
one wagon was brought oil, and that an smpt,
one. Our Informant thinks that the force .
Front Royal was about one tbourand men
Great excixpent, Of eourss, existed at Mar
tinsburg, Winchester, and Harper's Ferry, sh
ssosasionisu being very insolent, and threaten
ing vengeance upon the Union men.
We saw last evening another gentleman,
csptsin in one Of the Maine regiments, who let
Manassas Junction on Friday morning to pro.
ceed 10 Strasburg. His train vas stopped be
low Front Royal, BY learning the condition o
thing thsss, and finally returned 10 Nsnsns
Junction. He says the fight lasted from one 4
eight o'clodk In the evening Of Friday, but b
could learn no particulars. Unien refugee
from Front Royal, however, reported the al
tacki.g force ct Eve thousand men.
It may be doubtful II forces have recent
gone up from Richmond into the Valley Q
Virginis, but It Is certain, ss We observed th
other day, that the statements made, that th
enemy is concentrating his whole strength a
Richmond, are not true. lie surely exhibit
large numbers, a. well as enterprise, at MANI
other points In Virginia.
How strong Ia he ct Richmond. A Nexical
would answer, qsien sabe and that Is about o
good IN answer ~ anybody can make.
A correspondent of the New York Post, writ
Ing from Meadow Bridge, MAY 2l,) says: ~
Everything indicates that we march to III,
gatss Of the doomed capital By ensy spprosohs