Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-30
RETREAT OF GEN. BANKS.


Light is beginning to break on the unex-
pected repuse of Gen. Banks. While the
country we're resting in comparative ease as
to the safety Of his division, it now appears
that ten thousand Of his troops we're taken
from him two weeks since, and sent to rein
force Gen. Mcdowell, leaving him with only
about six thousand men to maintain an adj
vanced position near the very heart Of re-
belious State, and where the rebels could at
the shortest notice concentrate an overwhel-
ming force that must COMPEL him to a retreat
or an inevitable capture. Besides the reduc-
ing Of his force, he had left on his hands all
Of the forces which had been taken from bin,
rendering it next to impossible to retreat even
without leaving behind more or less of his
sick and wounded, and doubtless some of his
stores and artillery, to fall into the hands Of
an inhuman and revengeful enemy. The tele-
graph gives us but few Of the particulars Of
the retreat, but when the truth shall have
been told and the ground thus lost shall have
been again reoccupied by the Union army. we
may expect new chapter in the barbarties
and crueties that have everywhere been ex-
hibited by the rebel army. The people of
the Shenandoah Valley, also, who we're be-
ginning to realize their exemption from the
tyranny OF the rebel army, and to acknowledge
their allegiance to the old flag, are unexpected
/ ly thrown into the very jaws Of death. 1t is
not strange then that the people are asking,
as does our correspondent in another column,
why arc the things suffered to be so and who
is responsible for them The conclusion is
inevitable that somebody has blundered. 1t
may not be so, but it certainly seems so to
candid lockers on, and the sooner somebody
can clear up the mystery the sooner will com
plete confidence be restored to the people.
As throwing little light upon what the
telegraph censor evidently is laboring so bard
to conceal we append the following extract
from an appeal to the men of Massachusetts
by Mai Copeland Of Gen Banks staff anc
when reading it we can but "thank God tn,
disaster is no worse" But who is response
Bile for it The people are anxious to know
and have right to know. viii somebody
tell US who is responsible for this apparently
magnificent blunder
% For three months Gen. Banks has been working a
every disadvantage reclaim 70 the lovely valley
Virginia strengthen those who for and 90 sub
due and govern enemies. Three weeks ago to-dal
he was, with lG 900 men, az Harrisonburgh 100 mile
from his pre- position. holding twenty thousand Of
the enemy al bay, ready loo day more 20 move sud
denly their flank aud crush them. Fremont ready
20 occupy stanton, whtnce fifty thousand men wou,
have rushed victorious upon hirhmnud. The day for Zoe
movement 90 commence our death kncll was sounded
10 20 men tcre ordered FROM him for Cen Mcdowell d
Protect ashngton and Banks with GOO back N
miles to sraahurRn-a little handful Of men TO face 20,
OJ0 Slowly tell back aud most reluctantly, disputin
the road with the enemy u the great mergen
cy but ready die protect the people who had learn
ed 10 trust Ia us-wih the enormous duty Of PROTECTING
railUad seventy miles long between Suasburgh an
Manassas and the great Baltimore and Ohio lntDad.
Cumbered with the sick and baggage OF the 10 O)1 ~
dered away. with train Of miles long
which had been necessary for u.s. who eere lines
railroad. navgohls rivers 10 furnish supple.
have slowly yielded to the flrce Of circumstances.
was sent to Washiugton and Baltimore 70 ask tor aid
meagrey and tardny granted, because our troops az
nearly all In the field, and this incoming have the sa
knowledge that this three months Of labor Of the cxten
Of which you cannot conceive, Is und0nc. That hum
atod, snrTow bat courageous and earnest sti WE hay
been COMPEL cd return TO Maryland 20 leave traiiOruu
men and stony hearted exultaht the sa
sight lhay have they hoped the backs Of Ii
YANKEES
DO you wonder that under all these disadvantage
Major General Banks with his handful o 90 nav
o. had G. retreat before 2j,0l0 Of the enemy
l. It strange that De is dvcn back What could hay
been expected Thank God the disaster worse"