The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-26

THE SITUATION.
The attack of the rebel generals, Jackson and
Ewell, in great strength on the forces of General
Banks at Winchester, which caused the latter TO
fall back towards Martinsburg, aud finally cross
the river at Wsmsport. is the leading feature of
the news to-day. The absolute necessity Of the
rebels procuring food and munitions Of war no
doubt compelled them to make this dash to reco.
YER foot held in the fruitful valley of the She
oandoah. With prompt reinforcement. which will,
Of course, be furnished to General Banks, the
ground lost By this raid of the rebels may be won
back. Nor were we entirely unprcpared for such
that vicinity, who have been for some Nme
past rendered desperate for want Of provisions
We publish to-day . number of letters from our
speciM correspondent with General Banks
column, that have been in our possession for
several days past, and which we have kept back
u consequence Of their containing news concern.
ing the movements oEportions'ot that corps. II Is
asw plainly manifest that the rebels are perfectly
,onversant with those movements doubtless
through their guerillss and spies-therefore we do
aot consider that we infringe on the orders from
the War Department by now publishing the docu-
uents. Our readers will perceive that in the letter
Of May (. our correspondent states that seven
thousand men had been added to the rebel force in
he Shenandoah Valley and tina. the whole force
thousand. with thirty four pieces Of arsAery, enc
Hwhich was twenty.four pound rifed gun. On
The 9th Of May he said there was large rebel
force 10 the mountains in shciF vicinity;
but that General Banks had enough
mon to keep them in check: bat Il appears that on
the 18th both Gen. Shields and Gen. Geary
were being withdrawn from Gen. Banks' com.
mand and their troops transferred to Gen.
Mcdowell. In the letter of the 18th We find that
these generals and their forces had EFF 20 Join
MCDOWELL that two days previously union had
,an effected between the commands Of the rebel
no,.r.,. 'rhnson, Jackson and Ewell. and tina,
shey were marching npon - '"u ie'ucsu
forces Of Gen. Banks. We next hear y me ae
feat OF Col. kenly's command at Front Ro,hl By
. rebel attack In force upon the position; asa the
Telegraph now brings the intelligence that Gen.
Banks has fallen back upon Martnsburg before
ssuperior force Of the rebels, who reoccupying
she whole Of the Shenandoah valley which has
cost as 90 much trouble 10 rescue from their
~. ur,th
great interest, az showing the gradual working
out OF the events which have just transpirsd. Our
map Of the locality, also, will form an object Of
much Importance ct this moment.
Tho official report Of General Banks, dated at
Martinsburg, 10 given In another column. Later
reports state that his army has rscrossed the
Potomac Al wiIliamsport in good order, and is
now on the Maryland side Of the river. His forces
fought calamity for six hours, and only numbered
four thousand against fifteen thousand OF she
enemy.
much sensation In the city yesterday, As might be
expected, the pabic being accustomed TO hear Of
oothIng Of late but the victorious. advances Of our
armies everywhere. Rumors we're circulated that
tho whole State militia were ordered for mime
date service A. Washington; and IL will
DO seen by our dispatches from Albany that
Governor Morgan has ordered the Fifth artillery
and the Seventh regimen, FROM this cityto proceed
20 Washington today. The Eighth, Eleventh
Tnr,y.seventh and seventy.frst Of New York city
and the Twenty-6ah regiment Of Albany, together
with several other regiments, will follow without
delay. The report that the rebels were evacuattn,
Richmond 10 march on Washington forms part Q
the curr4it news Of tho day; bat Cen. Johnston !
either 100 good or too bad soldier to make an
such movement, leaving General McClsllan's vas
army In his rear. However, in case of.energency
Il Is no Marin 70 take precautionary measures
call for . meeting Of the Seventh and seventy0
regiments, issued by their respective Colonies
I,sferts and Martin 10 published Ia our columns Ia