Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-27
W O CE S T f r:
TUESDAY,, MAY "a, 1899.
The Repulse of Gen. Banks.

The news that the rebels had advanced down
the Shenandoah VALLEY and driven Gen. Banks
from Winchester into Maryland, has caused
4 very great excitement all over the country.
Reports that the rebels were crossing the Puto-
mac and marching On Baltimore or Washing
ton, heightened this excitement. There has
been hurrying to and fro; and in obedience t.
sudden orders, the volunteer militia ofthc north
are moving towards Washington from all direc-
lions, or getting ready to start. Thousands
OF them will be there before the week is out.
Probably they will be used chiefly to relieve
the drilled troops now on duty at the military
stations in Maryland and near Washington,
those troops being wanted for active service
in the field.
This excitement is wholesome. 1t shows
that there is no abatement of the detcrmina-
ton to crush the rebellion, and that nothing
but the conviction that such a demonstration
is necessary to success is required TO make
the roads of New England, and of all the 10y
al states swarm with armed patriots rushing
to the conflict. But, in our view, there is no
SOpu ItilSul 1OI dldili' Ht ICDClS W ilO AT
tackled Gen. Banks cannot succeed in any at
tempt to capture Baltimore or march on
Washington. We do not believe they would
venture to cross the Potomac. even ifthc passes
should be left unguarded and we feel very
sure that if they shonld cross they would not
get back again. Unless their force in the
Shenandoah valley is thrice as strong as seems
possible, they will hardly venture to remain
long at Winchester, and expose themselves to
be cut off by flank movements of Generals
Mcdowell and Fremont. They have done
their worst, and this raid may cost them dear
before they are through with it
This sudden rush of powerful. rebel force
down the Shenandoah valley was undoubtedly
planned at Richmond. The purpose was to
capture the little army under General Banks,
and thus create diversion. General Banks
however, behaved SO admirably that it did not
wholly succeed He withdrew his men from
the overwhelming force that seemed to have
them in its grasp, and retreated across the
Potomac, saving the whole of his large bag
gage train. For this he deserves great
praise. 10 withstand his assailants was
impossible. His force was too small. and
it is remarkable that he was able to fight
them six hours at Winchester, and thus en-
able his train to retreat safely. 1t was not
well to take Gen. Banks men from him and
leave him to the danger of making such
fight with less than 1000 men. Two thirds of
the men with whom he went up the valley
had been taken from him to reinforce
General McDowell; and the rebels. see
ing his weakness, made haste to fall upon
him. We repeat that he deserves praise for
the skill with which he baffied them so far as
to withdraw his men and save his stores.
His repulse, however, is disaster; but it is
likely to awaken such an increase of energy
against the rebels as will soon lead to impor-
tant and decisive results. 1t will not save
Richmond, nor occasion any relaxation Of the
irresistible pressure that is crushing the re-
helion TO death. On the contrary it will
bring to the Union forces such reinforcemcnts,
and such renewal of vigor and determine
as will make the utter defeat of rebellion
more immediate and decisive.