The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-05-31
WAR NEWS.



Destruction Of the First Maryland Regiment.
General Banks has recently fallen back from
his advanced position to Stransourg and
Winchester, with detached forces holding
different points along the SHENANDOAH
Front Royal was held by the First Maryland
Regiment, Colonel kcnly, with three com
panlcs of Pennsylvania regiment, and
| section Of knapp's battery. the whole being
under command of Colonel Kcnly. At this
! point the attack was commenced on Friday
! by an overwhelming force Of Rebels. The
| Maryland Regiment, with the small support
| ing force acted with great bravery. and
under the gallant leading Of Colonel Kenny.
for four hours sustained an unequal and from
the first nearly hopeless fight. Col. Kenly
was wounded early in the engagement, bur
| continued to lead his men, He was subsG-
! quenlly sabred, and report says finally killed
whilst in an ambulance. OF his death there
seems to be no doubt. His force finding it
| impossible to maintain their position, Tell
back across the Shenandoah and then
attempted to retiet. They were surf oundcd
in overwhelming force by the enemy, and
with the exception of small fragment either
! killed, wounded or captured.
| The following is an account of the fight at
| Front Royal, 10y Capt Geo. Smith, of the LIST
Maryland Regiment, who succeeded in effect
ing his escape:
About one O'Clock on Friday afternoon. a
! negro, mounted on horseback. came daShing
| into camp, crying out the srcbels are com
| ing in great numbers, and they will surround
| You and cnt you OFF,
At first the men laughed at him. stating
that they had waited too long for them, and
| they did not believe a word Of it. AS soon
| however, us Colonel Kcnly saw the man, he
| became satisfied of the rebels approach -
| The long. roll was beaten, the men responded
| springIng hastily to their arms, and forming
| in line 10y company, and very soon the rebels
made their appearance.
Strange to say, not single gun was fired
by the pickcts OF the regiment. 1t may have
been that in consequence of II sudden turn OF
| the road they were surprised and captured
Company WAS o. dered to depoy as Skin
miShcrs, and support a section Of Knapp's
Pennsylvania Battery, which mustered about
10 men.
In the meantime the lieutenant colonel
Of the 10Th Infantry, with small detachment
of his men. who had been acting as a pioneer
corps, also formed and prepared to receive
| the enemy.
Our battery was soon engaged, and dis
charged shot and shell for nearly two hours.
until their ammunition had almost been ex-
pended. The fire was spirited, and there is
no doLbt Of its efficacy.
Unable, however, to withstand such an
overwhelming force. the order was given to
retire, which was DONE and the entire column
moved over the Shenandoah river, the retreat
being covered by Il company of the 9TH New
York cavalry, about eighty strong.
Whilst passing over the bridge, the captain
distinctly saw the rebel forces there was Il
very strong column of cavalry-Say four
sTnadrons of eight companies and five rcgi-
ments of infantry.
| or this force two regiments of infantry and
two Of cavalry We're fording the stream, the
water being very low.
The order sdou5le quck'' was given, and
the Union troops took to the pike, where
another stand was maze, Colonel kcny
addressing the men and telling them that
their only chance was to stand and fight to
the last, especially a, the rebel cavalry were
fast pushing on and displaying a black flag.
Captain Smith states that he did not see
them display the white flag, as was reprcsetcd
lin previous account.
A second stand was made. and many shots
exchanged. when the New York cavalry, who
were still in the rear of the column, broke and
rc'rcated, riding pell-mcll through the ranks
OF the infantry.
party Of the Maryland command retreatcd
to a wheat field, and there made still another
stand, firing rapidly and with deliberate pre-
cison.
| Presently on came the rebel cavalry, cut
ting right and left, and yelling terribly like
Indians.
In some instances neither the diving nor
wounded were spared. and in two instances
the captain saw the rebels draw the ir
pistols and shoot them in the head, whilst
lying on the roadside.
The captain told the men they had better
return to the pike, and escape as they best
could. He had not proceeded far before a
| cavalry officer made II n n him and dor p1.I
his sword and pistols, which he threw upon
| the ground, the rebc at the same time draw
ing pistol upon him.
In the confusion, however, he succeeded in
regaining his pistol, and, observing rebel
shoot one OF tho Ist Maryland Regiment, he
drew it and shot him, and succeeded, with
the assistance of Lieut.. Camphor, in securing
| the rebels horse and riding off.
| After proceeding about two miles they
| came across the ambulace in which Colonel
kenly lay, attended by Surgeon Mitchell, Of
the regiment. The vehicle was passing along
| the pike, and had been repeatedly fired into
by the rebel cavalry.
Finding themselves closely pursued, they
abandoned the horse, and leaping several
fences, took to the woods, where they man
aged to conceal themselves, and the enemy
gave up the search.
There We're but six companies OF the Mary
| iaHu regiment engaged IN the ngnt, the
remaining four being on picket duty, and
acting as the provost guard at Front Royal.
THE FIGHT AT Observation-Disclosures OF GEN.
| BANKS.
This sudden appearance of the rebels
directly in bis 'front.' backed by strong force
hurrying forward, canscd Gen. Banks with
his little band to fall back to Stransburg, and
finding himself pursued, from Strausburg to
| Winchester, where the enemy, in hot pursuit,
attacked him on Sunday, and after six hours
fighting. he was forced to retreat to the
Potomac.
! G,.n.I y Banks in his dospateS Of that dav