The New York herald., 1862-04-13

S"to. N AOW ththuecn outy uid tnoy otohu w ~o-
when they turned dsnaysd and fed in disorder leaving
in possession Of the field the killed and wounded,
three hundred prisoners guns four caissons and
thousand stand of small Night alone saved him
from total destruction The enemy retreated above i've
miles, and Judging from his camp Gres took up new
position for the night Our troops wear'ed and exhaust
with tho ftgues Of the day, threw themselves down
TO rost on the ield
Though the battle had beon won still I could not
have believed that Jackson would have hazarded a
decisive engagement at such a distance from tho
main body without expecting renforcemsnts. SO, to
be prepared for such a contingency, | set TO work
during tho night to bring together all tho troops within
my reach. sent an express after williams dvision
requesting the rear brigade, twenty miles distant
10 march all night and join me in the morning Iswept
the posts and route in my rear of almost all their
guards hurryipg them forward by forced marches TO
be with me at daylight. gavo positive orders also to
the forces in tho field to open fire the enomy
as the light of day would enable them to point their
guns and to pursue him without respite and compel him
TO abandon his guns and baggage cut him to peces
These orders implicitly obeyed far possible.
IT now appears that had rightly OWNED the intentions
of our crafty antagonist On tho morning of the 23d
reinforcement from Luray Of 1000 reached Front Royal
on their way to join Jackson This reinforcement
being followed by another body Of 600 from Sporry
Uut, toSout ibus uaFue ronuoteu ttc
river impossible, they found themselves compelled to
fal back without being able effect the proposed juno
ton At daylight the morning of the cath artil-
ery again opened the enemy HSentsrod upon his
retreat in very good order considering what he had suf
cred Goneral Banks hearing Of engagement on bis
way to Washington, haod at Harpors Ferry, and with
remarkable prompttude and sagacy ordered back Will
ams whole division so that my express found tho roar
brigade already route to join Tho General himself
returned here forthwith. and, after making mo hasty
visit assumed command Of the forces in pursuit OF the
enemy The pursuit kept up with vgor. energy and
activity until thoy reached Woodstock, where the enc.
my's retreat became fight, and the pursuit aban-
doned because Of the utter exhaustion of troops
The killed and wounded in this engagement cannot
yet be accurately ascertained Indeed my command has
been so overworkcd that it has had but litto
time ascertain anything. The killed. as reported,
103 and among them have deplore the loss o.
the brave Colonel Murray, Of tho Eighyfourt Penn
syvania Volunteers, who fell at the head OF his
regiment while CALAMITY leading it in the face of the
my. The wounded are AL many Of them slightly, and
the missing tweny -four. Tho enemy's loss 10
difficult ascertain than 270 round dead
the battle field Forty buried by the Inhabitants
Of the adjacent village, and by cacuaton made by the
number of graves found both sides Of the valley road
between here and Strasburg, their loss in killed must
ilVo oe0u dUout auu III WouAueu 1bVVV. Auo
portion between the killed and wounded Of the enemy
shows closeness and terrible destructvensss Of
Hrs--ncarly half the wounds being fatal. Tho enemy
admit loss Of between 900 and 500 killed and wound
ed Our force in infantry, cavalry and artillery did not
exceed 1000 That OF tho enemy must have exceeded
IL ,O00 jackson, who commanded tho field had, in
addition to his stone wall brigade, Smiths Gar
netts and Longs,reets brigades Generals Smith and
Garnett hero in person. The following regiments
were known TO have been present, and from each Of
them wore made prisoners the feld:-The Second,
Fourth, Fifth, twenty first, Twonty-third, Twenty
seventh, Twenty Thrty-third, Thirty.sevsnth
and Forty second Virginia; First regiment Provisional
Army, and Irish battalion. None from the reserve
made prisoners. Their force in infantry must have
been 1000 The cavalry Of the united brgades amount
cd to 500 Their artillery consisted Of thirty-six
pieces. We had 900 infantry and cavalry force OF 75O
and twenty four pieces Of artillery.
I cannot conclude this report without expressing
thanks and gratitude TO officers and soldiers OF my
for their valuable conduct this trying
day. It worthy Of the great country whose
national existence they have pledged their lives
to preserve. Special thanks duo 10 Colonel
Kimball commanding First brigade and senior officer
in the field. His conduct was brave, judicous and
efficient. He executed my ordeps, in every instance,
with vigor and fidelity and exhibited wisdom and saga
city in the various movements that necessarily
trusted to his direction: Colonel Tyler commanding
Third brigade has my admiration by his fearless in
trepidity. His brigade s worthy Of such an intrepid
leader This Brigade and tho regiments accompanying
it, achieved the decisive OF the day They drove
the forces Of the enemy before thom the left flank
and by hurting this flank back upon tho
mated this glorious action High praise duo Colonel
Sullivan, commanding Second brigade for the
which he contributed to the first repulso Of the enemy in
the morning To him and Colonel Carroll of the Eighth
Ohio volunteers, who commanded the skrmishors, is h
credit due Of forcing back the right wing Of the enemy
and Of ntimdating and holding him in check left
during the Of the day The chief of artillery Lieut.
Col Daum, deserves high commsndaton for the skilfu
in which he managed his batteries during The
gagsment. This skfu management prevented the enemy
doubtless from using eectually his formidable artillery
Tho cavalry performed its duty with spirit this engage
ment and, with its gallant officers, exhibited activity
which paralyzed the movements Of tho enemy. The
OF regiments also entitled TO especial
mention but sufficient justice cannot be done them this
report must therefore, refer you this head to tho
report of the brigade commanders. The officers Of my
staff have my thanks for the fidelity with which
they discharged the trying duties that devoved upon
them Thoy had to penetrate the thcksst Of the fight
bring me intelligence Of tho state Of tho field and per-
formed their perous duty throughout the day with cheo
full alacry It affords pleasure IL is my duty to
recommend all tho officers whose names have specially
mentioned to the consideration of the government.
have the honor TO be your obedient servant,
JAS. SHIELDS, Brgader General Commanding.
NEWS FROM GENERAL BANKS ARMY.
EDEyBuRG, Va, April IL, 1862.
hrtd ado M to