Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-28


are now occupying the whole of the
Shenandoah valley, which has cost us so
much trouble TO rescue from their clutch
es.
HEADQUARTERs BEYOND MARTNsBURa)
May %, $40 p NJ.
A prisoner this morning saws the reb-
ell force in our rear is TO be strengthened,
and that their purposes is to enter Mary
land at two points--ilarper's Ferry and
Williamsport. He confirms al we have
heard in regard TO the rebel fierce there.
We have passed the Potomac safe, men,
trains, and all, after making a march of
30 miles.
N. P. BANKS, Major General.
WAsHNGToN, May 25.--We have pass
ed very exciting day in Washington.
The intelligence received last evening to
the effect that General Banks had fallen
back from Strasburg to Winchester was
understood TO indicate rather a precau
tionary measure on his part than the re-
suit of any immediate movement of the
enemy. The tidings Of this morning
announcing the occupation of Winchester
by Jackson, and the withdrawal of
Banks, after an engagement Of six hours,
in the direction of Martinsburg and
Harper's Ferry, placed matters in a new
light, and aroused serious apprehensions
not only for the safety of his little com.
mand but for the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, the city of Baltimore, and even
the capital. Later in the day the reports
of the rioting in Baltimore and of the
rout of the entire force of Banks by the
quick march and overwhelming numbers
of Jackson greatly intensified the ex-
citement The secessionist sympathiz-
ers, too greatly elated to conceal their
JOY, openly expressed their belief that the
hosts of Jeff Davis will overrun Mary
land and the District within twentv-four
hours.
The reports of riots in Baltimore are
doubtless grossly exaggerated here, and
the enemies of the Union have greatly
increased in bOldness this evening. No
time since the disaster of Bull Run have
they been so Wanting and defiant. A.
mong the loyalists the feeling is one of
regret that by somebody's blunder our
cause in the valley of the Shenandoah
should have been so seriously set back,
and the enemy given such decided ad-
vantage Great sympathy is expressed
for the Union men of Winchester and
vicinity.
BALTIMORE, May &c.
The following is the statement of Cant
George Smith, OF the first Maryland reei
mont, who succeeded in effecting his escane
in the fight Front Royal
About one clock =. M, negro mounted
upon horss back came dashing into camp.
crying out that 1.-THE rebels were comiup In
great NUMBERS, aud they will surround YOU
and cut you I, f."
AT first the men laughed at him. saving
they had waited long for them; that they
did not believe VOID of It.
AS soon, however, as Col. Henley saw the
man, ne became satisfied of their approach
The long roll was beaten and the men re.
sponded by springing.hastily to arms and
forming line by companies.
Very soon the rebels made their appear
ance, and strange to say. not single gun
wos tired by the pick9ts of the First Mary.
lard regiment. 1t may have been in con
sequence OF the sudden turn Of the road.
they were surprised aud captured. Com.
pany A. was ordered to deploy as sklrm.
ishers and support a section of Knapp's
Pennsylvania battery, which mustered about
forty men.
Ia NE m anime the Lieut. Colonel Of the
29th iniauuy, vita detachment OF his men.
who had been acting as pioneer corps, al
50 formed aud prepared TO receive The enc.
my. The battery was soon engaged. and
discharged shot aud she'll for nea " two
houls, until nearly all its ammunition had
oeed expended. The firing was spirited, and
there is no doubt Of It's efficiency. Unable.
| nah tFg B. Il.
force, the order TO retire was gwen which
was done, and the entire column moved
over the Shenandoah river, The retreat beng
covered by company Of he 5,h New York
cavalry, about so strong.
Whilst passing over the bridge The Cap
tain distinctly saw the rebel forces There
WAS very strong column Ct cavalry, say
/ four squads, eight companies, aud i've regi-
ments OF this force two regiments OF in
! hntry ard TWO squadrons OF cavalry were
| iUrdiug t1e stream, The wafer being very
! low. The trder double quick" was given,
/ and the Federtls took TO tne pike, when 0n-
| other stand was made, Col. Henley address,
| lag the men and telling them that their on.
! ly chance was to stand and fight TO the
last, especially as the rebel cavalry we're
last pushing on and displaying q black
flag.
Capt, Smith states that be did not then
display The VIII lie dag
A second and was made and many Shots
exchanged, when the New York cavalry, stll
in the rear Of the column, broke and retired,
riding through the ranks Of the infantry, A
part of the Maryland command retired TO a
wheat deld aud there made another stand
firing rapidly and with deliberate decision.
Presently in came the rebel cavalry, cut
ting right and left, aud yelling like Indians.
In some Instances neither the dying or
wounded were spared, and In Two instances
the Captain saw the rebels draw their pistols
aud shoot them in the head whilst lying on
the road side