Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-06-10
OFFICIAL DESPATCH
FROM GENERAL BANKS

Md, on III 24th and 25th days Of May, 1862.
Hon. Il NJ. STANToN Secretary Of War;
Information was received on the evening OF May
23l that the enemy, in very large force. had de-
scended on The guard at Front Royal, Col, Ken
ly. st Maryland regiment commanding. burning
the bridges aud driving our troops towards
Strasburg with great loss Owing to what was
deemed an extrayagant statement Of the enemy's
strength these reports were received with some
distrust; but regiment Of intautry, with u
strong detachment Of cavalry and II section Of
artillery, were Immediately sent 20 reinforce Col.
Kenly. Inter in the evening, dispatches from
fugtlyes who had escaped TO Winchester inform.
cd us that Colonel Kenly's force had been de-
stroyei with but few exceptions, and the enemy,
l5 900 or 20 900 strong, were advancing by
rapid marches upon Winchester.
ORDERS were Immediately given to halt the re-
nforcements sent to Trout Royal which had
moved by different routes, aud detachmcnts OF
troops under experienced officers were sent in
every direction to explore the roads leading from
Front Royal to Strasburg, Mddletown, New
town and Winchester, and ascertain the force,
position and purpose of this sudden movement
Of the enemy. 1t was soon found that his pick
cts were in possession OF every road and rumots
from every quarter represented him in move
ments in renr OF his pickets, in the direction Of
our camp.
The extraordinary force of the enemy could
that they had more extended purpose than the
capture of the brave little band at Front Royal
This purpose could be nothing less than the de
lCnt Of my couiHand, or its possible capture by
occupying Winchester, and by this movement
nercepdng supplies or renforeemen's, and
cutting uH all possibility Of retreat
| II was also apparent from the reports of fugi-
tiyes, prisoners, Union men, and onr own re-
connoitring parties, that tho three divisions of
the encmyH troops known 10 be in the valley,
nnd embracing at least -, 900 men, were united
and close upon us-in some enterprise not yet
developed.
The suggestion that, hal their object been II
/ surprise, they would not have given notice OF
Their approach by an attack on Front Royal.
was answered By the fact that on the only re
maiuing point OF assault--the Slaunton road
our outposts were five miles ia advance, and
daily reconnaissance made for distance of twelve
miles towards Woodstock.
/ Under this Interpretation of the enfmy's plans.
/ our position demanded instant decision and ne.
tion. Three courses were open to us ls, A
retreat across Little North Mountain to the po-
tJmac river ON the west. "a. An attack upon
| the rnemy's tank On the Front Royal road. 49,
| Sd, A rapid movement direct upon Winchester,
with view to anticipate his occupation Of
| tIe town 10y se2ing 1t ourselves, thus plrcing my
command in communication with its original
base of operations, in the line of reiuforcements
| by flarper's Ferry and Martinsburg, and sccur-
| ing n safe retreat in case of disaster.
To remain al Strasburg was TO be surrounded:
/ to move over the mountains was to abandon our
train at the outset, and to subject my command
to flank attacks, without possibility of succor /;
and to attack the enemy IN such overwhelming
| force could only result in certain destruction 49,
1t was, therefore, determined TO enter the lists
with the enemy in race on battle, as he should
choose. for the possession of Winchester the key
of the valley. and for us the position Of safety.
THE MARCH,
At o'clock A. NJ, the 9th instant, the rein
forccmcnts, iniuntry, artillery aud cavalry, scai
to ColOuel keny, were recalled; the advance
/ guard Colone Donncly s brigade, were ordered
10 return to Srasburg; several hundred disabled
men, loft in our charge by Shields DIVISION,
were put upon the march, and our wagon train
ordered forward u Winchester, under escort of
cavalry and infantry General Hatch, with
nearly our whole force of cavalry aud SIX pieces
Of ARTILLERY, WAS charged with the protection Of
| the rear column, aud the destruction Of any
stores fer which transportation was not provided
with Instructions TO remain in front Of the town
aa long ny possible and hold the enemy in
check, our expectations of attack being in that
| direction All those orders were executed with
incredible aacrity, und soon after nine O'Clock
the column was on the march, Colonel
| Donuey in front, Col. Gordon in the centre aud
/ Gen. Hatch in the rear.
The column had passed Cedar Creek, about
three miles from Strashurg, with the exception
of the rear guard, still in front OF Slras6ure,
when information was received from the trout
that the enemy had attacked the train, and was
in full possession OF the road to Middletuwn. -
This report was confirmed by the return of fu-
gitives, refugees and wagons, which came tumb.
| ling to the rear in fearful cJnfusiOn.
1t being apparent now that our immediate
danger was in front, the troops were ordered to
the head of column, aud the train to the rear,
and in view of possible necessity of our return
to Strasburg, Capt, James NJ. Albert, Topograph.
ical Corps who associated with him the Zounyes
d Antique, Capt. Collie, was ordered to prepnre
Cedar Greek bridge for tho flames, in order to
prevent pursuit in that direction 10y the enemy.
ln the execution Of this order, Capt Albert aud
the Z uaves were cut of from the column, which
they joined 1T Wiliamsport. They had ut Stras.
bufg very sharp conact with tue enemy, in
which his cavalry suffered severely. An inter
esting report Of this affair will he found in tile
reports oil Capt. Albert and Capt Coils
THE FIRST coArLIcr
The head of the re organized column, Colonel
Do0nelly commanding, encountered the enemy
in force ut Ahddletown, about thirteen miles
from Winchester. Three hundred troops had
been seen ia town, but it soon appeared that
halted, aud the doth Pennsylvania, Col. Knipe,
was ordered to penetrate the woods on the right,
and dis0dge the euemy's skirmishers. They
were supported by section of Cochrans N. Y
battery. Five companies Of the enemy's cavalry
were discovered in an open field in rear of the
the woods, aud our artillery, masked at first by
the infautry, opened fire upon them.
They stood fire for while, but at length,
retreated, pursued by our skrmishers.-
The 28th New York, Lieut. Col. Brown, was no "
brought up, and under Il heavy fire Of infantry
and artillery, the enemy were driven back more
than two miles from the pike. Col. Donnelly,
being Informed at that point by citizen, in
great alarm, that 1000 men were in the woods
beyond, the men were anxious to continue the
fight; but as this would have defeated our oh
jec by the loss of valuable time, with the excep-
lion of n small guard, they were ordered to re-
sumo the march.
| This affair occurred under my own obserya-
l lon, aud have great pleasure IN vOuching for
the admirable conduct of officers and men We
lost one man killed ana some wounded The
loss of the enemy could not he asoertainGd.
J This episode, with the change of front, occu-
/ pied nuarly an hour, hut it saved our coumn.
Had the enemy vigorously attacked our train
while at the head Of the column, it would have
heen thrown into such dire confusion as to have
+ made successful continuation Of our march
impossible Pending this contest, Col. Brod
d head, Of the LIST Michigan cavalry, was ordered
e to advance, and, if possible, to cut bis way
\ through and occupy Winchester. 1t was the
Q report of this engetic officer that gave US the
first assurance that our course was yet clear
and ho was the first Of our column to enter tho
town.
THE SECOND COMBAT.