The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-27
sHsou uSt~Ss No yleIuB 10
LATEST FROM GEN. BANKS ARMY.
His Forces Safely Across the
River.
~~~~~~~~~
TIE ENEMY NOT YET In SIGHT.
Details Of the Attack on the First
Maryland Regiment,
&es, &e.s Aes

AAS AioIhy iohoWou us idos 1i6ht VI "ua mhSus Sus
has no, made his appearance this morning The news
Of your movements South has unqusstionahy caused
them lock for their safety. Your despatch was
read to the troops this morning amid the heartiest
cheers.
Mp. BANKS, MAJOR General Commanding
Despatch from General Banks to the Pre-
sidcnt.
eAFE PASSAGE OF THE RIVER BY HIS ARMY.
WASHINGTON, May %, 1862.
The following received at the War Department st
eleven p. NJ
wnuAxsroRr, May 2o-lsP. n.
10 THE PRESIDENT
Ihavs the honor report the safe arrival Of my COM
mand at this place last evening at ten O'Clock and the
passage Of the Fifth corps tho river to-day with
comparatively little loss. The loss Of in killed.
wounded and missing the different comtats in which
my command has participated since the march from stras
burg, the morning of the oath inst. am unable
report, bat have great satisfaction In being able to
represent that, although serious it s much less than
might have been anticipated considering the very great
disparity OF forces engaged and the long matured plans
Of the enemy, which aimed at nothing less than tho
entire CAPTURE Of force. detailed statement will
be forwarded as soon as possible
Ny command encountered tho enemy In q oonstant
succession Of attacks and In well contested engagements
st strasbarg, Mddletown, Newton; at point also
between these places, and at Winchester The force of
No enemy estimated at from Is 600 70 900 men,
with very strong artillery and cavalry supports. Ny
foros consisted Of two brigades-ess than 1000
strong, all told 300 cavalry, ten Parrot guns and
smooth borss. The substantial preservation Of the
entire supply is OF eradication 1t numbered
about Ave hundred wagons on q forced march
Of hftythres miles, thirty-nve Of which were
performed in ono day, subject 10 constant
setack in front, rear and flank, according to
" position by the enemy in full force. The panics of
seamsters and tho instances Of river passage Of more
than 300 yards with slender preparations for ford and
ferry, lost not many more than fifty wagons. ful
statement Of this loss will be forwarded forthwith
very great commendation 10 due to CaptanJ B. Hola
bkd Al Q, NJ, and Captain l. G. Breckwth for the safe
~ Of tie train =
Our troops arc In good Spirits AID occupy both sides
q The river. N. P. BANKS,
Major General Commanding.
M The Dcfeas At Front Royals.
BALnMoRs, May 20, 1852.
The following n see abatement Of Capt. George Smith,
f the First MsrSand regiment who succeeded in effect
aag his ESCAPE from the fight at Front Royal
About O'Clock in the afternoon q negro. mounted
Spon horseback. dashing into camp, crying out
that "The rebels coming in great numbers, and
ny win surround you and cut you o." Al asss
- men laughed at him. stating that they had waited
teo long for thsm they did mot believe word VI It.
soon as Colonel Kenny. however the he became
satisfied or their approach. The long roll beaten
ana the men responded, springing hastily 70
Nms, and forming in limo by companies
Very soon the rebs;s made their appearances,
and, strange TO say, not single gun fred by the
ptcksts OF the First Maryland regiment It may have
been that consequence Of suddsa turn Of the road
shey were surprised and captured. Company was
ordered dspoy s<irmtshers msd support seoton
IT Knapp's Pssasylvania battery, which mustered
sboos forty In the meantime the Lieutsnant
Coiose Of the Twenty ninth Infantry with small de-
s.ohnent OF his men, who had bsen acting pioneer
CORPS also formed and Jared to receive thu enemy
ne battery engaged and discharged shot and
so for nearly hours, un.a rly all tsr amnuni-
sAon had been expended Tbs firing spirited. and
there is no doubt Of Its sdicaey Unable,
However, 70 withstand such an ovsrwhslm-
Ing force, the order was given 70 retire
which done. and tho entire ouun moved over the
Bhsuandoah river, the retreat being covered BY
pany OF the Fifth NeU York cavalry, about eighty
strong. While passing over tho bridge the Capsair
distinctly saw the rebel forces. There was
vsry strong column OF cavalry, say four squad
rsus (eght c'mpancs), and Ave regiments OF infant
~ OF this force two regiments OF infantry and two
squadrons Of cavalry fordug tbs stream tho
being very low. Ths order double quick given,
ne Unonists took the pike, where another rtsnd
made, Colonel Kenny addressing the men and telling
hsm that their oniy chance and dr.
,st especially the rebel cavsry fast pushing
asd displaying back flag. Captain smith sstss lha
- did not see them display tho white flag.
second stand vas made, and my shots exchanged
whsn the New York cavalry (stiu In the rear OF the
eslmn) broke, and resatsd, riding pellrnsD througl
the ranks Of the infantry.
part Of tho Ma yand command retroasd 20 wheat
esd and ;hcro made still another stand, aring rapidly
and with deliberate precision Presently tb,
rebel cavalry cutting right and left. and terribl,
ysiling like Indians In Instances neither tn,
dying nor wounded spared aud In Thu
Captain saw ths rebels draw thsir pistols and shoo
them in tho head whilst lying on the roadside. TIT
Captain told the they had better the pix,
and escape as thoy best could.
II. had not proceeded far bessre cavalry officer rod
up 70 binr and demanded sword pistsl which b,
threw upon the ground the reo~i at time drawing
pistol upon hun IN tho cunrusieu o the occasion, how
ever. hc succeessd in rsgainng his pistol end, sbserv
ing rebel shoot OF tho First Mary and, he drew
hh pistol and xhot hin, aud succeeded, with Lou
.tAnant Camphor, In securing tbs rebels horse ane
rsding on After proceeding about two miles thu
came the sutb ancs Nsksch Colonel Kenly lag
s,tsnded by Surgeon Mitchell, q tho reginent. Tho
vehicle was passip! along The pise and had been 70
psatsdly red nto by the rebel cavalry Finding Thorn.
selvss closely pursued they abandoned the horse aud
eap,ns several ssnces, took tbs woods whore the,
man god TO conceal themselves uni the enemy gave ur
he search
There we're but six companies OF the First Narylsns
regiment engaged IN tho fght the remaining four being
- picket duty and as provost guard at Front Royal.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1862.
Up 70 this afterrson despstches 70 the War Depart
men, report that three hundred Of Colonel xeneys res
~ent had come IN. #9t S. tN
Tie foresight OF william Prescott, smith, Master o.
Transportation Of the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad
savsd from capture by rebels q vast amount Of
government stores and .odtco which would otherwise
.savs been within their reac b at Mlrtinsburg
Newspaper Account.
- 49,