The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-31
War News of the Week.

Ohio Railroad.
War News of the Week.
The most exciting event of the week in
the way of war news has been the repulse
of Gen Banks from the Valley of the
Shenandoah: and the big scare, in conse.
quence, at Washington. We noted, in
last, that Gen. Rhield's division, and other
troops had been withdrawn from Gen.
Banks and sent to reinforce Gen. Mellow
ell. This left Banks with but abont 5000
men, with whom he fell back from his
advanced position near Hamsonburg to
Strasburg, there to await rcinforcements.
But while at Strasbur. his outposts were
attacked by a manifestly superior force,
upon which he hastily retreaten Win.
cqester, the enemy close upon his heels.
At Winchester he was again attacked,
when he continued his retreat to Harper S
Ferry and thencedto Williamsport, where
he found safety by crossing the Patomac.
The retreat appears to have been managed
|
of 500 wagons to take care of. of which he
lost but about 80; and although his rear
guard was constantly fighting with the
advance Of the enemy, he lost but about
800 men in the retreat.
The sudden temperance Of Banks on
the Potomac with Jackson's whole army
Of $1,000 to 10000 men on his heels,
caused the most intense excitement::and
alarm at Washington, WHARF report said
the whole army was advancing to take
| the capital. The President hastily called
on Pennsylvania, n. York, Massachusetts,,
DC, for 30 days men to defend the capital
and all the scenes, with intensified ex
element of April last were renewrd at
the capital. The secess,onsts at Baltimore
| at the same time had their hopes revived,
and began to grow insolent leading to
series of mobs in which they were roughly
dealt with. More authentic reports day
or two later, however, quoted the alarm,
and the President countermanded his call
for the militia from the eishboring states
Jackson appears to have advanced no
further in pursuit of Banks than Martins
burg, when he turned about and has re-.
treated about as rapidly as he advanced
And well he may, for Mcdowell has start
ed from Fredericks burg straight for Staun-
ton to head him off, while Banks, rein
forced to $1,000 men, is getting in his
rear. We have have no idea, however,
that as slow coach as Mcdowell Will
catch the fast Jackson.
The news from McClelan's army before
Richmond is cheering. He has taken
possession of both Richmond & Freder-
icksburg and the Virginia Central Rail-
roads, thus cutting off Sackson's retreat
from the north, and closing out supplies
supplies for their army from the richest
part of TIE state. In skirmish between
McClellan's right wing and the enemy at
killed and wounded, to some 900 on our
side This also had depressing influence
on them. The rebel army appear to be
drawn up on the Chickahominy, about
miles north of Richmond. WHARF. ~-.i.-,ai-
ed from variously from $4,000 to 100000
strong, they seem determined to make
their last desperate stand, while General
Mcclellan is gradually but surely tight
enins his cords around them, so that if
they do stand, it will be all day with them.
There are reports of some successes, as
there were last week, of Fremont's forces
over the rebel guerillas in Western Nir
ginia, and that species Of banditti appear
to have been roughly handled In that
quarter.
Gen. Halleck, at Corinth, is progressing
slowly but surely as ever IN pushing the
siege of Corinth. He is now within two
miles of the enemy, and has some guns so
planted as to command their works. But
very little really is known of what Hal |
leck is doing, for all civilians for week
or two have been excluded from his camp, |
while the lines are also closed to the |
egress of the military. When he gets /
ready, doubtless, he will let the world
have the news.
Nc iateSL dUtucutiC hS"S hSAA SoAi-
modore Faragut to the 10Th, when he was
before Vicksburg, and had given that city
"a hours to surrender or remove their
women and children. AS the city has not
been bombarded, we infer that it has sur
rendered, and hence we are daily expect
ing to hear of the arrival of our feet at
Memphis. which is but 400 miles above
Vicksburg.