The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-30

The loyal North was thrown into state
of intense excitement on Monday, by the in
teligence of the defeat Of Gen Banks. 1t
seems t. at for week or two previous to last
Friday the command of Major General Banks
was rapidly reduced by the withdrawal of his
best troops for the support Of Mcdowell eav-
ing less than 5000 effective men under
Banks command. On Friday he was at
tackled by the rebels, 10000 strong, under
Ewell and Jackson, at Front Royal, Va,
where he had arrived after a succession of re-
treats from Harrisonburg, closely pressed by
therebes. lie encountereda constant series of
attacks after leaving From: Royal, until he
arrived at Williamsport on the Maryland
side of the Potomac, having accomplished a
retreat of over 80 miles, 80 of which were
made in one day, losing only so out of
train of 500 wagons, Notwithstanding the
fact that an overwhelming force Of the enemy
was constantly attacking him. Gen Banks
loss is not yet known. The particulars Of
this disaster are still involved in obscurity Z;
but it is clear that some one has Numbered.
We have one victory to record amid so
much saster. Col Crook and 1900 men, Of
Gen Fremont's command, whipped 5000 reb-
els under Col Heath at Lewisburg, Va, last
Friday. Our loss was ten killed, and As
wounded and missing; the enemy's loss was
much greater. We took four cannon, two
hundred stand of arms, and one hundred
prisoners.
Nothing of special importance has occurred
in the Southwest since last week. Consider
able skirmishing has been going on in Hal
leck's department. Beauregard is getting
uneasy at the passage of our feet up the Mis-
sissipp towards Memphis, but has made no
attack yet. Gen Curtis has joined his force
with that under Gen Halleck before Corinth.
As Halleck has excluded all news reporters
from his lines, our information from that
quarter is quite limited, but the contending
hosts are very near each other, and battle
may be expected at any time.
There is not much change in the state of
affairs on the Mississippi. There was ru-
NOR last week that the rebels had evacuated
Fort Pillow, but it proved to be groundless,
and our fleet is still in Lacquer there. There
is fair prospect now that the L. S. feet
sailing up the river will reach Memphis be-
fore the one sailing down. The fleet from
New Orleans is reported on rebel authority
to be off Vicksburg, Miss, and it is said that
the commander had ordered all the women
and children out of Vicksburg.
Gen Mcclellan has crossed the Chickahom
inv, and at latest accounts was within live OF
six miles of Richmond. On the 9th ht
captured Hanover Court House, losing bu
few men. The enemys loss was considera
BILE in killed, wounded and prisoners, and ont
cannon. There is no news from the gunboa
fleet which is still up James river. McClel
lan's advance is now necessarily slow, but
decisive result cannot be far distant. Opin
ions of we'll informed men differ as to wheth
er the rebels will make a stand at Richmond
or not.
Gen McDowell's division has at last cross
ed the Rappahannock, and his scouts hav'
penetrated fifteen miles beyond Fredericks
burg without finding any signs Of rebels
The rebels had previously burnt the bridges
There is no evidence that the rebels hav'
been in any force in front of Gen Mcdowell
and it is now hoped that he will move on t.
Richmond, or somewhere.