New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-31
GENERAL BANKS'S RETREAT.
THE BATTLE AT WINCHESTER.
Lists Of Killed, Wounded, and Kissing.

forces consisted only Of seven infantry regiments,
few squadrons Of cavalry, and an imperfect supply
OF artillery. The particulars of the surprise Of Col
Kenly and his Maryland regiment ut Front Royal
have already been given. We have to day further
intelligence concerning the conaic. at Winchester in
which the whole Of Gen. Banks's available troops
were engaged.
At the time of the attack on Front Royal Col.
Donnely's Brigade, consisting Of the 18th Pennsy-
vauia, the 2sth New York, and the 9Th Connecticut
Regiments, was stationed Elk miles south.wes; Of
Strasburg Upon learning the news Of our disaster,
orders were issued to fall back to Winchester
Early on Saturday morning this brigade reached
Strasburg, where was joined by that Of Gen. Cor
doa, commanding the I'd Massachusetts, 29th Penn
sylyania 9th Indiana, and 81 Wisconsin Regiments.
Ma Gen. Williams directed the two brgades, the en-
tire command being under Gen. Banks, who assumed
control at Strasburg. On reaching point six miles
north of S,rasburg, the colnmn was intercepted BY
force of Rebel cavalry, which burst upon it from
woods at the side Of the road. The 4th Pennsyiva-
mia, which was in advance, at once charged upon
tho enemy, and drove him ahead for four miles,
after which lie took to the woods again and disap-
peared leaving two killed ard one wounded. From
| that time until Winchester was reached there WAS
no interference.
Saturday night, Donnelly's brigade bvouacked on
the Front Royal road while Gordons held the SIas-
burg road, little outside the town. The Rebels
were hot in pursuit, and their skirmsherv came up
coon after our troops. There contests between
the pickets all night. On Sunday morning the pom
ton of our troops was taken az indicated in the
companying map, this map will be found on our
eighth page-Ed. Gordon holding the right and Dom
nelly the left The Rebels attacked az Al o'clock.
Our signal officers counted % infantry regiments Of
the enemy, to which we could only oppose seven.
The first desperate struggle was between North
Carolina regiment and the 10th Pennsylvania, the
latter being surprised by the Rebels who were how.
ever driven back with great mpetuosity. The entire
left wing held its own against overwhelming odds,
until the right wing wss forced to give way. A
bayonst charge was made by more than twice
our eutire numbers upon Gordons brigade. Three
of it's regiments stood firm, but the 9Th Indiana
broke and ran, sfter which our flank was exposed.
Our artillery also retreated in great haste, whether
by order or not, does not yet appear. Gen. Banks
was in fact, nearly surrounded Stuarts Rebel cav
airy had charged through Winchester, in the rear Of
our force and had reused the inhabitants 10 take part
against us. After fighting four hours, Gen. Banks
gave at 81 the word retreat. In passing through
Winchester, men were fired upon by the popu-
lace from almost every house. Women and children
Joined in the onslaught. Gen. Banks narrowly es-
capped being shot from an open doorway. Our rear
guard was pursued by the enemys infantry at a dis.
lance of only 200 yards. short distance north Of
Winchester however, the pursuit was relaxed, and
the Rebels allowed distance Of about two miles 10
be put between themselves and u.s. With this slight
Intervening space they followed o. sheling ourlroops
continuously until within three miles Of Martins
burg. They then, about o'clock on Sunday after.
noon, halted, while Gen. Banks pushed onward,
reaching the banks of the Potomac by nightfal. In
the me rnipg they crossed in feryboats TO Williams
port.
The entire retreat, Of 65 miles, was performed in
two days, including the time occupied in battling
the enemy. Daring all those hours our men were
unprovded with rations, the commissary stores
having been destroyed south Of Strasburg. Their
only subsistence was what they could gather at
hazard by the way. The heJoism Of the action has
not been surpassed during this Much was due
to the resoute and undsuned spirit of the officers.
Gen. Banks was perpetually in the thickest of the
engagement. During the retreat be was always at
the rear, and he Of the last party to the
Potomac into Maryland. Incidents of individual
herosm are recounted of every regimeut-almost Of
every company engaged. The circumstances Of the
battles fought were peculiarly perilous. The
smallness of Gen. Bankss command prevented the
possibility of holding force in reserve. Every
regiment was actually engaged, and there is no
record of any iinching, except in the case of the
9th Indiana and part OF the cavalry engaged.
The conduct of Gen. Bankss body-guard, the Zoa.
ayes d'Afrilue, little company of some 20 men,
under Capt. Coils, unequaed for bravery.
They were separated from the rest of the army from
the moment of leaving Strasburg, aud they fought
their way free, losing only three killed and one
wounded. They bad been left at Strasburg on Sat.
urday to destroy the bridges in OF necessity but
late in the afternoon, hearing heavy eaunonadng in
advance, Capt. Coils abandoned the idea of burning
the bridges lest our own troops should have 10 re-
tire and pushed on toward Winchester. At Middle.
town, SIX miles north of StIasburg, they were at
tackled by three entire regiments, with cavalry.
They sheltered themselves behind stone wall ard
held the Rebels at bay for time until they
were auked on both Sides and compelled to retreat
the way they had come, which they did in perfect
order, four abreast doublequek, without the slight
est show Of alarm or panic.
Tie ensuing events are thus told by Tie Pkiladei-
plia Inquirer:
After having fallen back about nile they disoov-
cred Hsmpton's Pennsylvania Battery of four guns
coming to their relief. This their salvation So
ralying on the guns, Capt. Hampton placed them in
battery, and opened upon the advancing enemy, who
had now formed in line OF battle, seven regiments
strong This was only temporary cneck, however;
on they came ana the retreat continued to Siras-