The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-26

i
| Banks.
The unweicome news yesterday Of an ~
tack upon the reduced army OF Gen. Bank
at Winchester, Va, by an overwhelming rebe
force under Generals Jackson and Ewell, ans
the retreat Of our forces down the valley to
wards Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry, crea
ted Sabbath-day sensation in this city O
astOnishment and alarm even greater thar
that resulting from the first intelligence o.
tho destructive onslaught Of the Msrrimat
upon our wooden war ships In Hampton
Roads.
The public mind instantly concluded thai
Warrington was in danger, from the facts OF the
overwhelming rebel force before which Gen
Banks was falling back towards the Potomac
and that between him and Washington he was
the chief impeachment to the continued march Of
the pursuing rebel army into our nj. '.sal
capital-nsarly all our troops lately there hsv-
ing been drawn or by Generals Mcclellan and
Mcdowell. This apprehension was strength
ened by tho very scanty particulars furnished
Of the attack upon General Banks and its con-
sequences, and BY the accompanying reports Of
the excited condition Of secessionists and
UnioRists at Baltimore. These things wero
thought to be suggestive Of : great disaster and
Of very great danger to our federal city, from
this terrible descent Of the rebels upon Win
chester.
Our readers, however, will remember that on
the preceding Sunday we had lively little
panic over the mysterious first report Of tho
repulse Of our gunboats at Fort Darling on the
James river. 1t was supposed to be dreadful
affair in q military view, until subsequent in
telligence reduced it to its proper dimensions
So. we doubt not, this alarming descent Of the
rebel guerillas down the valley of Virginia will
turn out to be nothing more than rebel raid
for provisions and the military supplies and
stores Of our army In chat quarter. That Jack
son and Ewell have any idea Of attempting the
passage of the Potomac into Maryland we
think no man of ordinary intelligence upon
military affairs can for moment believe.
II is matter of very serious regret, how.
over, that the fertile valley Of Virginia, which
had been cleared Of the ar ned forces of the
rebels for . hundred miles they should now
be enabled, even temporarily. to recover. be-
cause of the reduction Of the army Of General
Banks to such an exten. a. to invite this rebel
raid against him, and for bis provisions and
munitions of war. Many Of the citizens Of that
valley we fear, from the late avowal Of their
Union sentiments aud sympathiss, will now be
made to feel the vengeance Of the rebels.
There il no necessity, however, for allowing
the rebels to hold that valley another week.
The government, without drawing upon Gene
raj Mcdowell, Wool or Mcclellan. can instant
ly muster troops enough to carry General
D&uhs OdSh aSNlh w AiaiA iocAoutk VI w asauu-
ton, and this we hope will be done.
AZ cunning bird, when its nest is approached
by an unwelcome visitor, prctends to be Grip
pied, and iutters along the ground to draw the
nterloper off, so the rebels, In this sudden raid
upon Winchester. would like to call back or
weaken our army which is in front Of Rich
mond But this movement. beyond the nero
object Of provisions aud powder. practically
amounts to nothing, aud is too transparent and
shallow TO cause . moments unessiness, ex.
cept Tor the suffering people lately seeking our
protection. but now LETT 70 the mercy Of tho
hangr, and INSCRIPTIONS rebel enerllas OF
Jackson and Ewol. The prompt reinforce
meut OF General Banks, to the extent OF twenty
thousand men, will soon repair the misfortunes
of this retreat and this force wo hope, will he
furnished by the government
Tor EupN,u F,FET I'M OUR HApBoR---The