The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-29
DISASTER OF THE SHENANDOAH.

w AStflN01ORs may 2U -IH0 lUliOWlHS Was
received at the War department at II P. M:
WILLIAMsPORT, 4 P. M.-Io the President
Il have the honor to report the safe arrival of
my command at this place last evening, at ten
O'CLOCK and the passage of the fifth corps across
the river to-day, with comparatively little loss
of men, in killed, wounded and missing in the
different oombats in which my command has
participated since the march from Strasburg on
the morning of the oath.
am unable now to report but have great |
satisfaction in being able to say, although seri- |
Gus, our loss is much less than might have been |
anticipated, considering the very great disparity
of forces engaged, and the long matHred plans |
of the enemy which aimed at nothing less than
the entire capture of our forces.
A detailed statement will be forwarded Gs |
soon As possible Ny command encountered |
the enemy in constant succession of attacks, |
and in well contested engagements, at Stras-
burg Middletown Ncwtown, at a point between
these places, and at Winchester
The force of the enemy was estimated at from |
$4,000 to 10000 men, with very strong artillery
and cavalry supports. My own force consisted
of two brigades, less than four thousand strong
all told, fifteen hundred cavalry, ten Parrot
guns and six smooth bores.
The substantial preservation Of the entire sup
ply train is q source of qualification. 1t mum
bered about 500 wagons on forced march Of SIS
miles, 80 miles of which was performed in
one day, subject to the constant attack in front
rear and flank according TO the position of the
enemy in full force, the panics of the Transfers
the mere chances of river passage of more
than 800 yards with slender preparations for
foIding and ferry.
! lost not many more than fifty wagons Our
troops are in good spirits, and occupying both
sides of the river.
[Signedl N. P. BANKS.
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
BALTIMORE, May 26-The following is the
statement of Capt George Smith, of the First
| Maryland regiment, who succeeded in effecting
his escape in the fight at Front Royal:
"About one o'clock in the afternoon, negro,
mounted upon horseback, came dashing into
camp, crying out that "the rebels were coming
| in great numbers, and they will surround you
and cut you off. ~ At first the men laughed at
him, saying they had waited so long for them
that they didn't believe word of it. AS soon,
however, as Col, Kenly saw the man his became
satisfied of their approach The long roll was
| beaten, and the men responded, sprinZing hasti-
ly to arms and forming into line accompanies.
Very soon the rebels made their appearance,
and, strange to say, not single gun was fred
by the pickets Of the lst Maryland regiment
| 1t may have been in consequence Of sudden
| turn of the road. They were surprised and
captured Company was ordered to deploy
as skirmishers, and support section OF Knapp's
Pennsylvania battery, which mustered about 10
men. In the meantime, the Lieut.. Col. of the
| 10Th infantry, with small detachment of his
men, who had been acting as a pioneer corps,
also formed and prepared to meet the enemy
| The battery was soon engaged, and discharged
shot and shell for nearly two hours, until nearly
all it's ammunition had been expended The
firing was spirited, and there is no doubt of its
| efficiency.
| Unable, however, to Withstand such an over
whelming force, the order was given to retire,
which was done, and the entire column moved
over the Shenandoah river, the retreat being
covered by a company of the 9Th New York
cavalry, about eighty strong. While passing
over the bridge, the Captain distinctly saw the
| rebel force.
| There was a very strong column of cavalry
say four squadrons, eight companies, and five
regiments Of infantry. Of this force, Two regi-
ments of infantry and two squadrons af cava-
ry were fording the stream, the water being
very low The order "double quick was
given, aud the Federals took to the pike, where
another stand was made, Col Kenly addressing
the men, telling them that their only chance
was to stand and fight to the last, especially as
the rebel cavalry were fast pushing on and dis
playing a black flag Captain Smith states
that he did not see them display the white
flag. ..r
second stand was made, and many shots
exchanged, when the New \ ork cavalry, still
| in the rear of the column, broke and retired,
riding through the ranks of the infantry.
part of the Maryland command retired to
wheat field, and there made another stand FIR
ing rapidly, and with deliberate decision.-
Presently on came the rebel cavalry cutting
right and left, yelling like indians In some
instances neither dying or wounded were
spared. and in two instances, the captain saw
the rebels draw their pistols and shoot them i'll
the head whilst lying on the roadside. The
captain told the men they had better escape as
best they could
HEADQUARTERS BEYOND MARTINSBURG,
May 25-5:45 m.
A prisoner captured this p m. says the rebel
force in our rear is to be strengthened; that
their purpose is to enter Maryland at two
points Harper's Ferry and Williamsport. He
confirms all we have heard in regard to the re-
bel force here We all passed the Potomac
safe--men, trains, and all after making a march
of thirty five miles.
(Signed,) N. P. BANKS, Major General
New YORK, May 2G.-The Heralds cores
pondence from Banks division writes that T.
600 men had been added to the rebel force in
the Shenandoah Valley, and that the whole
force was said to number from $4,000 to 10000
with thirty four pieces Of artillery, one Of which
May he said there was q large rebel force in the
mountains i'll their vicinity, but that Gen Banks
had men enough to keep them in check; but
it appears that on the 18th, BIO th Gems. Shields
and Geary were withdrawn from Gen. Banks
command and their troops transferred to Nc
Dowell's. In letter of the 18th we hEd tn at
these Generals and their forces had left to Join
McDowell-and that two days previously un-
ion had been effected between the commands of
the rebel Generals johnson, jackson and Ew-
ell, and they were marching upon the divided
and reduced forces OF Banks. The telegraph
now brings the intelligence that Gen. Banks
has fallen back before superior force of the
rebels, who are occupying the whole of the
Shenandoah Valley, which has cost US so much
trouble to rescue from their clutches.
The New York Times special from Washing |
exciting day iii Washington. The intelligence |
received last evening, to the effect that Gen |
Banks had fallen back from Strasburg to Win |
chester, was understood to indicate rather |
precautionary measure on his part than the re-
suit of any immediate movement of the enemy |
The tidings of this morning, Announcing the |
occupation of Winchester by Jackson, and the |
withdrawal of Banks, after an engagement of
six hours, in the direction of Martinsburg and
HarperS Ferry, placed matters in a new light
and aroused serious apprehension not only for
the safety of his little command, but for the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad the city of Balti-
more, and even the Capital.
Later in the day the reports of the riotng in
Baltimore and of the rout of the entire force of
Banks by the quick march and overwhelming
numbers of Jackson, greatly intensified the ex-
element. The secession sympathizers, too
greatly elated to conceal their joy, openly ex-
pressed their belief that the hosts Of JEFF Da.
Wis woDld overrun Maryland and the District
within "a hours. The reports of rioting in Bal
timore, doubtless grossly exaggerated, have
given the enemies of the Union here increased
boldness this evening. At no time since the
disaster of Bull Run, have they been so vaunt-
ing and defiant. Among the loyalists the feel
ing is one of regret that by somebody's blunder
our cause in the Valley of the Shenandoah
should have been SO seriously set back and the