Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-29
yhe Rntland 4erald.
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1862.

THE ADVANCE OF THE REBELS
The news from Gen. Banks operations in
the Valley of the Shenandoah is Of the most
asnfcant and exciting character. 1t seems
hat the rebels have concentrated an over
towering force,-how large is lie only to
conjecture, - with the purpose of driving
Gen. Banks out Of Virginia, and of entering
Maryland at two points, namely, Harper's
Ferry and williamsport. The attack was
Grst made upon detachment of troops IN
der Col. Henley at Front Royal, town on
the Manassas Gap Railroad, some ten miles
east of Strausburg, at the latter of which
places Gen. Banks had bis headquarters.--
After most gallant resistance, and several
brilliant and effective bayonet charges by
the gallant Maryland Regiment, under Col.
Henley, in which they covered themselves
with glory, our forces, which we're far out
numbered by those of the enemy, were over
powered. The enemy Immediately pushed
his success by following up the retreating ar
my of Gen. Banks, and having overtaken it
at Winchester gave battle, fifteen thousand
strong against four thousand troops under
Gen. Banks, On the morning Of the 2sth inst.
After a resistance of six hours, Gen. Banks
retreated with his whole force to Martinsburg
and from thence to Harper's Ferry and Will
Transport, at which points he reports having
crossed the Potomac, with all his ammunition
artillery, supplies, &c. The enemy is report
ed to be constantly receiving re-enforcements,
and it is believed, will enter Maryland
Meantime, Gen. Banks seems to be still re-
treating, saying IN his last dispatch, dated
Harper's Ferry, that he intended making a
march of Muty:fre miles. ....
This singular ard unlocked for diversion
of the enemy created the most intense ex-
sitement at Washington and throughout the
country. Rumors, possibly of the most ex-
aggerated character, are afoat concerning
the, movements and designs of the rebels
1t seems to be credited in some quarters that
the main body Of the rebel army has left
Richmond for the purpose Of making grand
foray in Maryland, with the design of cap
turing Washington and Baltimore, and car
rying on an aggressive war
The President has issued proclamation
taking military possession of all the Railroads
in the country; and the Governors of Penn
sylvania and New York have ordered the
militia Of their respective States to proceed at
once to Washington, and several regiments
have already left, while others will soon fol-
low; and the most active military operations
are everywhere observable.
OF course We have not enough of detail of
operations to form correct judgment. But
we are not, as yet, inclined to be much alar-
med. 1t seems to us that this is most des-
perate and hazardous movement for the enc
my We regard the invasion of Maryland
and Pennsylvania by the rebels in their pres
ent condition, as almost a physical and mill
tary impossibility. They could not hold
their ground in either of those States sim
gle week. They would be surrounded, cut
Of from their supplies and annihilated. A
million of men in the free States would
leap at once to arms to drive the invaders
back
For the present we shall regard this extra
ordinry rebel movement as simply spasmod-
ic, blind effort of dying confederacy.
Meantime Gen. Met lellan is pusbidg stead
lily on towards Richmond, gaining important
positions day by day, and drawing nearer
to the doomed city. We also have the cheer
ing intelligence that Gen. Curtis with bis en-
tire command has formed junction with
Gen. Halleck at Corinth. We now breathe
freer in regard to the fate of our brave army
IN the West