Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-10
REPORT OF GENERAL BANKS.
The Retrea, from Strasburg In witIi,m.n.

General Banks bss made report to the Secre-
tarY Of War; giving an account of bis retreat ffom
Sirasb1rg to Wlliamsporr, Md. He states that
when Colonel keBly was attacked at Front oval
on the 23t uitmD, he immedi lately sent him rein
fJrcementS; but his recOnnotering parties
brought him accounts Of 80 large force, that
he Could do no less than order a retreat; and sup-
posing the enemy's plan 10 be the securing OF
Winchester, and be (the enemy) having aipe.
ricr force, General Banks cor sIdered that to re-
main al StrdSburg was 10 be surrou ndes. In move
over the mountain was to abandon his train at
the outset, and TO subject his command TO Asnk
attacks, without possibility OF succor; and 20 at
.lek the enemy In snfh overwhelming force
could oCly result IN certaia destruction Il was.
therefore, determined to enter the Isis with the
t5SI.;Y IN race or battle, as he should choose,
for the possession OF Winchester, the kew OF the
Ths report continues:
At three O'Clock a. N /, the 2ith instant, the re-
iDfercements sent to Coz KenIY, were recalled,
and soon after nine o'clock the column was on
the marCh-COl. DOnRslly In front, Col Gordon
in the centre, and Gen Hatch in the rear -
The column had passed Cedar creek, about
three miles from StraSburg, with the exception
OF the rear guard, still In front OF Strasburp
when Information was received from the front
that the enemy had attacked the train and was
in full possession Of the road at Middletown.
IL being apparent now that our immediate dam
ger was N front, the troops were ordered 10 the
head Of the column and the train to the re1r, and
In view Of possible necessity Of our return to
Stasburg, Capt Jas w AbsTt, Typographical
Corps, who associated with him the Z5uayes
D'Atrlque, Capt. Coils, was ordered TO prepare
Cedar creek bridge fJr the flames in order 10 pre-
vent pursuit in that direction by the enemy. In
the execution of this order Capt Albert and the
ZOuaves Were cut of ON the column, which
they Joined at WilliamspOrt They had at Strss-
burg a very sharp conflict with the enemy In
which his cavalry suffered severely.
The mrs; conflict took place at MIddlefown, 10
miles from WinchestsT, and was commenced by
the isih f,nnsE.yania regimeHt, Col. KnlPe. sup
large force Of Tebcls. After n while the 2s.h
New York, Lieut. Cot. Brown was brought M
and the enemy were driven back more than two
miles from the pike Thisafair saved the column
Cot BrOdhead, OF the LIST Michigan cavalry was
the first TO enter Winchester, he having been
ordered to cut his way through and occupy 1t. In
this affair Oae m IN was killed
IHE SECOND COMBAT
When Ii was frat reported that the enemy had
pushed between US and Winchester, Gen. Hatch
was ordered to advance with all his available
cavalry from Strasburg, leaving Col De Forrest
20 cover the rear and destroy stores not provided
with transportation Major Vought 5th New
fcTk cavalry, had been previously ordered to re-
C1nnoItre tie Front ROYAL road TO ascertain the
position OF the enemy, whom he encountered In
force neer Middleiown, and was compelled TO fall
back, followed BY tie enemy la this affair i've
OF our men were killed and several wounded
The enemy's loss is not known.
After several Intellectual attempts, the 5th New
York, Colonel De Forres;, and six companies of
COlenel TOmrkins's Isi Vermont Cavalry al
length fell bacs-tO Strasburg, where they found
the ZJuaves Q,Afrique. The 5,h New York
falling to efeA junction at Winchester, and
also At Martinrburg, came In at Clear Spring
with a train Of thirty two wagons and many
stragglers- The lSt Vermont, Colonel Tompkins
Joined US at Winchester, with six pieces OF arrl.
IetY, and PernclPateo In the fight Of the next
Prom this point the protection of the rear of the
column devolved upon the forces under Colonel
Gordon.
The THIRD COMBAT
The guard having bsen separated from the col
umn, and the rear Of the train having been
attacked by an increased force near the bridge
between Newtown and KearnstOwn Colonel Cor
don was directed to send back the ID Massachu-
setts, Lieut. Colonel Andrews commanding; the
2ld Indiana, Colonel Colgrove; and the 2Sth
New York, Lieut.. ColOneI Blown, TO rescue the
Of the train and hold tie enemy in check
They found him at Newtown, with strong force
ofinfantry, artillery aud cavalry.
Large bodies Ct the enemy's cavalry passed
upon our right and Left, and the Increased vigOr
of his movements demons nstrated the rapid ad-
vance of the msin body. A cavalry charge made
upon our troops was received In 90 uares on the
right and on the rCad and IN the line Of the left
which Tepelled his assault and gained time TO
reform the train, 10 cover It's rear, and to burn
the disabled wagons This affair occupied sew
eral hcurs-the regiments having been moved to
the rear about six O'Clock, and not reaching the
tOwa until after twelve.
The FIGHT AT WINCHESTER.
The strength aud purpose Of the enemy was 10
unknown VIXEN we reached Winchester, ex
cept upon surmise and vague rumoTs from Front
Royal. These TumoTs were strengt thened by the
yigOT with which the enemy had pressed our
main column, aud defeated at every point Efforts
OF detachments 70 effect junction with the main
column.
We, however, received reliable Information
shat the force consisted Of IS 900 or 80 600
Our troops had taken up their positions on enter
Ing the town after dark without expectation of a.
battle, and were al disadvantage az compared with
the enemy. ....
The rolling OF musketry was heard during the
latter part Of the night, and before the break Of
day sharp engagement occurred at the outposts
Soon after four O'Clock the artillery opened lis Are
which continued withC Ut Cessation till the close
Oithe engagement
brigade, Cot George Gordon commanding
Tue regiments were strongly posted, and near
the eentef covered bJ stoae walls from the fre Of
the enemy.
Their iafsntry opened on the rieht, and soon
both Iinss were under heavy 6re
The left was occupied by the Third brigade
Col DIdley DOnnelly c1mma ading.
The line was weak, compared with that Of the
enemy, but the troops were posted and patiently
awaited as they nOoly improved their coming
opportunity The earliest movements Of the
enemy were on our lsft. Two regiments being
seen 70 move as with the purpose Of occupying a
position In hank or rear, Gen. Hatch sent de-
taehment OF cavalry TO intercept this movement,
when II was apparently abandoned. The enemy
suffered very serious loss from the nre of our in.
fantry, on the left One regiment Is represented
by persons present during the action and after the
field bad been evaCuated az nearly DESTROYED
The forces engaged were greatly Unequal In
disposed 70 accept the early rOmOns CONCERNING
tue enemys sden! ", reported the Department
that u was about 1000. IL is now conclusIyely
shown that not less than q, 900 were In posi-.
uon and could have been brought into action
On the right and left their great superiority OF
numbers was plainly felt and seen, and me signal
omceo from elevated positions were enabled 10
count regimental standards, indicating a strength
equal 70 that above stated
My own command consisted Of two brig ades Of
less than 600 men all told, with $40 cavalry, ten
Parrou guns and one battery OF g. Founders smooth
DOre c4nRoR. To this snolid be added the IOth
Maine regiment Of infantry and i've cOmpant les
OF Maryland cavalry, Stationed Winchester
which were engaged In the action. The loss OF
tue enemy was treble that OF ours In killed and
wounded In prisoners ours greatly exceeded
theirs rT
Omcers, whose word | cannot doubt, have
stated as the result Of their own observation that
our men were nted upon from private dwellings
in passing through Winchester but | am credi.
bly, Informed, and gladly believe, that the atroci-
ties said TO have been perpetrated upon our
wounded soldiers by the rebels are greatly exag.
gerated or entirely untrue ia
Oar march was turned IN the direction Of Mar
tinsburg, hopinS there 70 meet with reinforce