Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-11
Gen. Baulks' OmciaI RepOrt---His 1Iasterly
RetreuG.

full of greatest interest but its great
length procludes its publication in full
Every event Of the march is detailed with
graphic terseness, for Gen. Banks is no
less master of the pen than the sword.
First referring to the attack upon Front
Royal, in which our troops were driven
back TO strasburg, the general thus speaks
of the purpose Of the enemy, and his ar
rangements for frustrating il:
"This purpose could be nothing less than
the defeat Of my own command, OF its pos
sible capture by occupying Winchester
and by this movement intercepting sup
plies or ro-enforcements, and cutting off
all possibility Of retreat. II was also ap-
parent from the reports Of fugitives, pris-
oners, Union men, and our own reconnOi-
tering parties, that all the three divisions
Of the enemy troops known to be in the
valley, and embracing at least %, 900 men,
were united and close upon us, in some en-
terprise not yet developed.
The suggestion that had their object
been a surprise, they would have given no
tice Of their approach by an attack on
Front Royal, was answered by the fact that
on the only remaining point Of attack--the
StauntOn rOad-Our outpOsts were FIVE
miles in advance, and daily reconnOisances
made for distance Of twelve miles toward
Woodstock.
Under this Interpretation Of the enemys
plans, our position demanded instant deci-
sion and action. Three courses were open
to us-frst retreat across Little North
Al
west; second, an attack upon the enemy's
flank on the Front Royal road; third, a
rapid movement direct upon Winchester,
with a view to anticipate his occupation of
the town by seizing it ourselves-thus
placing my command in communication
with its original base Of operations, in the
line of re-enforcements by Harper's Ferry
and Martinsburg, and securing a safe re-
treat in case Of disaster. To remain at
Strasburg was to be surrounded; to move
over the mountains was to abandon our
train at the outset, and to subject my COM
mand to flank attacks without possibility
Of succor; and to attack, the enemy being
in such overwhelming force, could only re-
suit in certain destruction. It was there
fore determined TO enter the lists with the
enemy in q race or q battle-as he should
choose-for the possession of Winchester,
the key of the valley, and for US the posi-
ton of safety"
At o'clock, A. NJ. Of May oath, orders
were issued for preparations for the march;
at o'clock the column was in motion,
Col. Donolly in front, Col. Gordon in the
centre, and Gen. Hatch in the rear. Of
the first conflict, at MiddletOwn, thirteen
miles from Winchester, in which Col. DON
ely encountered the enemy, Gen. Banks
says:
"This affair occurred under my own OBJ
servation, and have great pleasure in
vouching for the admirable conduct of the
officers and men We lost one man killed
and some wounded.
This episode, with the change of front,
occupied nearly an hour, but it saved our
column. Had the enemy vigorously at
tackled our train while at the head of the
column, it would have been thrown into
such dire confusion as to have made sue
lcessfUl continuation Of our march impossi-
BILE Pending this contest, Col. Brodhead,
of the lst Michigan Cavalry, was ordered
to advance, and, if possible, to cut his way
through and occupy Winchester. 1t was
the report Of this energetic officer that gave
US the first assurance that our course was
yet clear, and he was the first Of our col
umn to enter the town."
Of the second fight, at Newton, he says:
"Nothing could surpass the celebrity and
spirit with which the various companies Of
cavalry executed their movements, or their
intrepid charges upon the enemy. NI.l ~
Gen. Hatch deserves great credit for the
manner in which he discharged his duties
as Chief Of Cavalry in this part of our
march, as well as at the fight at Winches-
ter, and in covering the rear of our column
to the river; but especially for the spirit
infused into his troops during the brief
period Of his command, which, by confess
sion of friend and foe, had been equal, if
not superior, to the best Of the enemy's
long trained mounted troops"
A third fight was had near the same
place, in which our infantry gallantly sus-
tanned the cavalry charges Of the enemy.
The further plans of the enemy were un-
known until the army reached Winchester
The General says:
aAt Winchester, however, all suspicion
was relieved on that subject All clas ses
-Secessionists, Unionists, refugees, fggi-
tives and prisoners-agreed that the enc
my's force at or near Winchester was over
whelming, ranging from $4,000 to 10000
Rebel officers, who came into our camp
with entire unconcern, supposing that their
own troops occupied the town as q matter
of course, and were captured, confirmed
these statements, and added that an attack
would be made upon us at daybreak. de-
termined to test the substance and strength
Of the enemy by actual collision, and meas
ures were promptly taken to prepare our
troops to meet them. They had taken up
their positions on entering the town after
dark without expectations Of battle, and
we're at a disadvantage as compared with
the enemy"
Having given the details of this battle,
Gen. Banks thus reports the forces engaged
and the subsequent march to the Potomac:
The forces engaged were greatly une-
quail. Indisposed to accept the early ru-
mors concerning the enemys strength,
reported to the department that it was
about 5000. It is noW sonClusively
shown that not less than 25,000 men were
in position, and could have been brought
into action. On the right and left, thCir
great superiority Of numbers was plainly
felt and seen, and the signal officers, from
elevated positions, we're enabled to count
the regimental standards, indicating a
strength equal to that have stated.
Ny own command consisted of two bri-
gades Of less than 1000 men, all told, with
! 500 cavalry, ten PARROT guns and one
battery Of 6-pounders, smooth-bore cannon.
| To this should be added the 10th Maine
Regiment Of infantry, and ave companies
Of cavalry, stationed at Winchester, which
were engaged in the action. The loss Of
the enemy was treble that of ours in
killed and wounded. In prisoners ours