The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-10
NEW YORK HERALD TUESDAY, JUNE To- l8s2-TRPLE SHEET


This engagement held the enemy in check nearly five
The forces engaged wero greatly unequal. Indsposed
TO accept the early ruInors concerning the enemys
strength, reported TO the department that IL was
ABOUT 900. Is shown that not less
than rs 900 In position, and could have been
superiority of numbers plainly felt and seem and
the signal officers from elevated positions were enabled
70 count tho regimsnia Standards indicating strength
equal t. that have stated.
Ny own command consisted OF two brgades OF loss
than 1000 mon, all told, with nine hundred cav.
airy ten Parrott guns and battery OF six pound
smooth bore cannon To this should be added the Tenth
Maine regiment OF infantry, and five companies OF Mary
land cavalry, stationed ~ Winchester, which
gagged In tho action The LOGS OF tho enemy was treble
that OF ours IN killed and wounded In prisoners ours
greatly exceeded theirs.
the result OF their own observation that men were
fred upon from private dwellings in passing through
lsve that the atrocities said 70 have been perpetraed
upon wounded soldiers by the rebels grsstly
exaggerated or entirely untrue.
Our march turned In the direction Of Martnsburg,
hoping there TO meet with renforcaments-the troops
moving in three parallel columns each protected by an
efficient rear guard. Pursuit by the enemy was prompt
and vigorous but our movements were rapid and with.
out loss
few miles from Winchester the sound Of the steam
whistle. heard in the direction Of Marnsburg, strength
ensd the hope OF and stirred the blood OF
the men like trumpet Soon after two squadrons Of
They thought TO DO tho advance OF the anticipated
support. and received with dsafening cheers.
aa 70 b. IKE
Witchky, sent out In tho morning a. train
guard. Hearing ths guns they had returned
Of this stirring incident to reorganize our CO.
lumn and the march continued with renewed spirit
and order. At Marnsburg tho column halted two and
half hours-,he rear guard remaining until seven in
the evening in rear Of the town-and arrived at the
river at SHUTDOWN eight hours after the nrs news
OF the attack on Front Royal. II march Of nifty
three miles, thirty five OF which performed in one
day The at the river whom the guard arrived
was OF tho most animatng and exciting description
Thousand camp fires were burning on the hillside,
thousand carriages Of every description crowded
upon the banks and the broad rolled between tho
exhausted troops and their coveted rest.
Tho ford was too deep for the teams to in regular
succession Only the strongest horses, after few un
successful experiments allowed essay the pas
sage Of the river before morning.
1he single ferry was occupied BY tho ammunition
trains, the ford by tho wagons.
The cavalry was SECURE IN its own power Of crossing
The troops only had transportation Fortunately the
train had sedulously guarded served in turn
Several boats belonging TO the pontoon train which we
had brought from Srasburg launched and devoted
exclusively their service II is seldom that river
and there mover were more grateful hearts in
the same number OF men than when, at midday Of the
Goth, stood on the opposite shore.
My command had not suffered attack and rout It
had accomplished premedtaed march Of nearly sixty
miles in the face OF the enemy defeating his plans and
giving HIM battle wherever he was found.
Our loss stated in detail, with the names Of the
killed. wounded and missing in the full report Of Briga
dior General A. $. Williams, commanding DIVISION to
The whole number OF killed is thirty eight wounded,
one hundred and fifty tive missing seven hundred and
eleven. Total loss, nine hundred and FIVE.
II is undoubtedly true that many the missing will
return and the entire loss may be assumed as not
exceeding seven hundred u is also probable that the
number Of killed and wounded may be larger than that
above but the aggregate loss will not BE- changed
thereby.
All our guns were saved.
Our wagon train consisted Of nearly 500 wagons. or
this number fifty five lost. They not, with
but few exceptions abandoned the enemy but were
dunon he all 0f orr yqra
thus saved. The stores at Front Royal Of which had
no knowledge until my visit to that post on the 2lst
inst and those 1t Winchester OF which considerable
portion was destroyed by our troops are not embraced
In this statement
The number Of sick men in the hospital at Stras.
burg belonging to General Williams division 1885,
l25 of whom lett in hospital at Winchester, under
charge Of Surgeon Lincoln r. Stone, Second Massachu
setts six yfour Left in hospital at Strasburg. in
GLIDING attendants, under charge OF Surgeon Gillespie
Seventh Indiana and Assistant Surgeon Porter United
States Army.
Eight OF the surgeons of this division voluntarily
rendered themselves to the enemy in tho hospitals and
the field for the Of the sick and wounded placed
above named, Brigade Surgeon Peale, at Winchester;
Surgeon Mitchell First Maryland ut Front Royal; Sur
geon Johnson sixteenth Indiana and Surgeon Francis Lo
land, Second Massachusetts,. on the field
1t is seldom that called upon to make greater
sacrifice OF comfort health ahd liberty for the benefit OF
those entrusted to their charge Services and sacrifices
like these ought to entts them 10 some important
recognition or their devotion public duty than tho
mere historical record Of the act. The report
OF the medical director Surgeon W. s. King exhibits the
disposition Of nearly 900 sick and disabled left
by Gen. Shields DIVISION upon removal
to the Rappahannock valley.
Ny warmest thanks are due 70 the officers and mon
of my command for their uninching courage and the
unysldng spirit exhibited the march and its atten-
combats, and especially Brigadier General A. s.
Williams commanding the division under whose general
directions the movements were executed; General
George s. Green and General L. w. Crawford, who had
for duty but were yet unassigned 10 separate
They all accompanied the column through
out the march, and rendered me most valuable assist
ance
sly thanks also due to the gentlemen OF my staff
Major ID. d. Perkins, Chief Of staff Capt. James W.
Albert, OF the Typographical corps; Capt. VIM.
Shenen Capt Frederick Munthur and Capt Frederick
DE Hautc ville-for their arduous lAbors.
IL gives me pleasure also TO commend the conduct
Of Col Donnelly and Col. Gordon, commanding
the two brigades Of Williams division. l would
also respectfully ask the attention OF the de-
partmsnt the reports OF the several officers
mandug dctachments separated from the main
Williams IS worthy OF commendation for msritorious
conduct
The signal corps, Lieutenant W w. Rawlsy command
ing rendered valuable assistance the Geld and
the march. There should be some provision for the
prompt promotion Of officers and brave and
ful those composing this corps. The safety OF the
and supplies great degree due to the dscrs-
Holabird and Captain T. 9. Beskwith, United States
Amy.
have the honor to be, with great respect your ODE
dent servant,
n P. BANKS, Major General Commanding.
THE PRISONERS.