Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-06-16
LATEST FROM LVNCOLNDOM.

Through the courtesy of friend have been placed
n possession Of copy of the New York Herald of the
lOh inst 1, ia unusually barren of and contains
no: ore line Of report FROM Fremon. who routed by
Gen. Eael, on the S.h inst.
GIN BANKS OFFICIAL RIrOET.
TIE Herald publishes Gen. Banks Official Report Of
the Wlrch Of the Frs; Division. Fifth Corps dArmee,
from Strssburg Va, 70 Wlliausport, Nd, on 24h and
25 h days of May, 1862" The report is dated Head
quarters Dept Of the Shenandoah, Nay Sls" aud is
addressed to Hon E. N. Stanton, Secretary Of War"
We copy the following extracts from which the reader
will perceive tha: Gen. Banks is no! whit behind his
c3mpesrs, Halieck Mcclellan 4 Co., in the Yankee
comolshment of duplicity;
sR: Information was received on the evening of May
% that the enemy in very large force had descended
. Q guard n. Front Royal Col. Kenly, First Maryland
regiment, coumlrdirg 0uru the bridges and driving
our troops towards SssbuIg NIth great loss. Owing
shlt was deemed eItravagant statement OF the ene
ny's strength, these reports we're received with some
disrust but regiment Of infantry, With strong de
'schmsut OF cavalry and section Of arl ry were i'm
meds,ely sent 20 reinforce Col Kenly Later In the
evening Dispatches Iom ilgtivts Who bad cecapod 10
Winchester Informed that Col ksulys force had ben
9,rovsd With but few exceptions, aud tho enemy, l5.
900 or 20 900 strong advancing by rapid marches
o. Winchester.
Ofders were Immediately given to halt the reinforce
nens sent 10 Front Royal which had moved BY differ
ent routes and attachments Of troops under expert
enced officers were sent il every direction 10 explore
the roads leading from Front Royal 10 S.rasburg Mil
ietoyn and Winchester aud ascertain the foTces posi-
tim and purpose Of this sudden movemsa, Of the
nv II vas coon found that his pickle in posses
sion Of every road and runors from every quarter
preeented him in movement, in the Of his pickes
10 the direction Of cur camp.
The extraordinary force Of the enemy could no Ion
ger be doubted L was apparent also. that there wss
more extended purpose than the capture OF the brave
.te band ct Font Royal
Th puIpos5 could be nothing less than the defeat Of
nv own command, Us POI sbe capture by occupying
Winchester; and b. this movement intsrcspiiDg sup
plio CT ren!orcsments and cutting Of all possibility Of
rCtreat.
I. was slso apparent from the reports Of fugiives,
prisoners Ulion aud our reconroitering p. ries
Tia. the hree divisions OF the enemy troops known TO
&c il the Valley, and embracing at least twenty-five
thousand mon were united and close upon az, in somC
nterprse not yet developed.
The suggestion that had lher objec, been SURPRISE
they would not have givol notice Of their spproach by
an attack On Front Rnysl answered by the fact TIA
n, only remaining point Of sttSck,he Saunton road
Gu. outposs we're FIVE miles 10 ADVANCE and daily
NC l1ces made for distance of Twelve mica towards
Wo0Cs eek.
L der this Interpretation Of the euemy's plans, our
D, iiion Gemsuded INSTANT DECISION and action Three
u-sss were open TO ~: Nrst, retreat ac:oCs Lie
18th Mountain 20 the Potomac river the SC
C-.d so attack Upoa tho entmys n,Ik or the Font
Roy road ,h,Fd, rapid uovemen: dire. upoa Win
hester with view 10 aau-'pse his occupation Of the
lo~n b. stiTng OuTsplvcstlu plicug my Command
in CO nnuuolton With original O. operations in
the ine e rsisforcemens By HSrpe''5 Ferry and Mar
tngbI-- ard securing safe rerea: ia 81 disaster
To remain at Suasburg Sai 70 IN surrounded to move
over the mountains TO 6bsnton Our train sc the cut
se' ard 10 ct my command 10 hlok attacks without
possibility OF succor; and 20 attack ibo enemy being In
such overwhelming force could oay result in certain de-
s,rucon therefore dsterm ned 20 enter the lists
vita the euemJ in & = bGttle-as he should
choose-for the possession OF Winchester the key OF tie
valley aud for Us the position Of safety.
The report then proceeds to describe, in dea the
march the orders for which we're executed with in
credible CELEBRITY"
"he column lad passed Cedar creek abou: three miles
from Suashurg with the exception of the guard,
still 10 the rear Of the town, when information ro
reiyed from lie rout that tho enemy had attacked the
ain I'D was ia full possession of the road q; Middle
;laa Tais repor o)ahcned By the return Of fugi
iye' reu os and SagOIs which came tumb!ing to the
rear il fearful cOn!usiOl.
Omitling for Of specs, the details Of tie skir
m.hug along tho route OF tie retreat which hicky
inte Ldod With u!somO prl Of Ysnk tic,rs, and in.
g,nious table,, We copy the fllO"ing account of
rHE FIGHT AT WINCHESTER
The strength aud plrposa OF the enemy to
kno sn when reached WlEchester exccp; upon unc
ain reports and unsS1aotory Our us
PIGEONS we're strengthened ~ the vgoE with which the
enmy had pass d our main column and defeated a. ev
ery point tho tJrs OF deiacnments 70 C.ct jurcioa
with the main body.
At Winchester, however, ell suspense was relieved on
that subject All classes-scessionsts, zion mon, re-
ugees iugves aud prisoners agreed that the eaeoys
force II or near Winchester was overwhelming, ranging
from twenty FIVE to thirty ;hou:and. Rebel ci;ers, WHO
came into our camp with entire urcOGcern, supposiug
that their troops occupied the town. and were cap
tued confirmed these statements, and added that an
tack would be made upon us at dayo!cak determined
20 test the substance and strength OF tho enemy BY &C.
tuAl collision and promptly taken TO pre-
pare cur troopa 10 meet them. They had taken up their
positions on entering the town after dark without e1
pec,ations of Il battle aud we're a. disadvantage as
compared with the enemy
Toe rafting of usketry heard during the latter
part Of the ngd and before the ortak OF DAY s9trP
engagement occurred at the outposs Soon after four
o'clock the artillery opened its FIRE, which was continued
Uuhou. cessation til the close Of the engsg ment.
The right Of our line occupied by the Third bri.
gads, Col. G orge II. Gordon commanding The regi-
mens rongly posted and near the centre covered
bv stone walls from the fire oil the enemy
Tneir infantry opened on the right, and soon both
lines we're under heavy fire.
Toe left was occupied by the Fret brigade Col. Dad.
ley Donntly commanding.
The line weak compared with that oil the enemy;
bu. the troops we're well posted and patiently awaited,
a. hey nobly improved their coming opportunity. The
earliest movements Of the enemy were on our le two
regiments beil 10 move as with the purpose OF
occupying = position in faux or rear. Gen. Williams
ordered detachment Of cavalry TO intercept this move
msut, when il was apparently abandoned. The enemy
suffered merry serious loss from the FIRE of our infantry
on the left. 0le regiment Is represented by persons
present during the action and after the ed was evscu'
ated, Ss nearly destroyed
The main body OF the enemy Was hidden during the
early part of the action by the crest Of the hill and the
woods in the rear.
Their force vas mASsed apparently upon our rgh and
their lyres indicated purpose to turn % upon the
Berryvle road where, 1t appeared sequsnty, they
had placed considerable forcs, with view Of prevent