, 1862-06-12

Gen. Banks las sent to tie War Department
his official report Of his rctreat from Winches-
ter to Wil1iamsport. We make synopsis of
The report, our room not permitting Its pub
Gcation in full. He recei1ed information Of
the advance Of the enemy on the esd Of May,
and Immediately sent to reinforce Col Kenly,
Of the lst Maryland regiment, who guarded
Front Royal. Later in the evening, however,
additional information was received, to the ef-
feet that kcnly's force had been oyerpowered,
and that the rebels were advancing On Win
chester, whercupon the reinforcemcnt6 were
.eca}led and detachments we're sent to explore
the reads and ascertain the strength of the
hostile forces. The general says of the re-
suits Of this reconnaissance:
The extraordinary force of the enemy could
TO longer be doubted. 1t was apparent, also,
1hat they had more extended purpose than
the capture OF the brave little band i. Front
Royal.
This purpose could bc nothing less than the
Ge!eat OF my own command, or its possible
capture by occupying Winchester; and by
this movement intcrccpting supplies or rein
i furcemeDts, anu cutting off Ill possibility Of
retreat. 1t was also apparent from the reports
Ut tuglttFcs, prisoners, Union men, and our
! own accommodating parties, that all the three
; divisions Of the enemy troops known to he
J IN inc valley, and embracing at leas. q. 600
+; mtn. were united and close u1.on us, in some
enterprise not yet developed.
! the suggestion that, had their object been
| q sl1rprise they would have given notice Of
! their approach hy an attack On Front Royal,
WAS answered hy the fact that On the only re-
j manning point Of attack-tle Stanton road
| our outposts were five miles in ADVANCE, and
i daily reeonnoissanees made for distance of
/ twelve miles toward Woodstock
Gnocr tlts Interpretation Of the cne1ny's
plans, our position demanded instant decision
and action. Three courses were open to US
; first, retreat across Little North Mount in
/ 10 The Petomac River on the west; second,
I an attack upon the enemy's flank on the
/ Front Royal road; third, a rapid movement
! upon Winchester; with view to anticipate
his occupation of the town by Bcszing it our
! eclVes-!hus placing my comm md in c3ul-
munication with its original base Of opera
tions, In line OF reinforcemcnts by Hrpers
Ferry and Afartiusturg, and securing a safe
retreat in case Of disaster. To remain at
SfTasburg was to be surrounded; 10 move
over the mountains WAS to abandon our train
at the outset, and subject my command to
flank attacks without possibility OF succor;
aud TO attack, the enemy being in such over
vhclmiEg tuTc:. could only result in certain
destruction. It was therefore determined to
| cutter the lists with the enemy in race OF a
battles be should choose-tor the posses
sion OF Winchester. the key Of the Wiley,
and for Us the position of safety.
4 STAMPEDE.
The column had passed Cedar Greek, about
three miles from Stfasburs,, with the excep-
ton Of the rear guard, still in front OF Stras-
! hurG, when information was received from the
iront that the enemy had attacked tho train.
and was in full possession OF the road at Mid
dlttown- The report wns confirmed hy tue
return ot fugitiyes, refugees aad wagons,
which came lumbliug to the rear in fearful
confusion.
1t being apparent ROW that our immediate
danger was In front, the troops were ordered
10 tie head OF the column and the train to the
rcar.
TIE FIRST CONFLICT.
The head Of the re~organfzcd column. Cal
Donnel]y commanding, encountered the enc
nly in furce at Middietown, about thirteen
lilies from Winchester. 500 troops had
bttn seen in town, but it soon ap-
pared that larger forces were in the rear
The brigade halted, and the 46th Peunsylyauia
Col. kn'pe, vas o7dvrcd to penetrate tue
woods on the right and dislodge the enemy 8
sk'rnishtrs: They were supported BIZ a sec
tion Of CothTan's New York battery Five
companies of the encmy's cavalry were dis
covered in an open field in tbs rear Of the
woods, aud our artillery, masked y. first by
the 1nlantry, opened fire upon them. They
ftood fire for awhile, but at length rctrcated,
! pursued by our ekirmishers.
The 2S;h New 0rk, Lieut-Co1 Brown, was
low brought up. and under heavy fire OF
infantry and artillery, the enemy were driven
back more than two miles from the pike.
. Tbie episode, with the change Of front, &C.
! euricd nearly IN hour, but ii saved our col.
| umD. Had the eucmy vigorously attacked
CUR train while at the head Of the column. i,
would have been thrown into such dire con.
! fusion IS to hare made successful continu !,
, tion Of our n,nrch impossible. Pending this
l contest, Col. Brodhead of the 1st Micnigau
t cavalry was ordered to advance, and, If posi-
: bic, to cut his way through and OCCUPY Win
! chester. It twa6 the report Of this 9nergesi.