NEW YORK, May 25 – Herald’s correspondent from Banks’ Division writes that 7,000 men had been added to the rebel force in the Shenandoah Valley, and that the whole force was said to number from 18,000 to 20,000 with 34 pieces of artillery, one of which was a 24 pounder rifled gun. On the 9th of May he said there was a large rebel force in the mountains in their vicinity but that Gen. Banks had enough men to keep them in check but it appears that on the 15th both Gen. Shields and Gen. Geary were withdrawn from Gen. Banks’ command and their troops transferred to McDowell.
In a letter of the 17th we find these Generals and their forces had left to join McDowell that the day previously a union had been effected between the commands of the Rebel Generals Johnson, Jackson & Ewell and that they were marching upon the divided and reduced forces of Banks.
The telegraph now bring us the intelligence that Gen. Banks has fallen back before a superior force of the rebels who are occupying the whole of the Shenandoah Valley, which has cost us so much trouble to rescue from their clutches.
(Times Special.)
We have passed a very exciting day in Washington. The intelligence received last evening to the effect that Gen. Banks has fallen back from Strasburgh to Winchester, was understood to indicate rather a precautionary measure on his part than the result of any immediate movement of the enemy. The tidings of this morning the occupation of Winchester by Jackson, the withdrawal of Banks after an engagement of six hours, in the direction of Martinsburg and Harper’s Ferry, placed matters in a new light and aroused serious apprehensions not only for the safety of his little command but for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the city of Baltimore, and even the capitol.
Later in the day, the reports of the rioting in Baltimore, and of the route of the entire force of Banks by the quick march and overwhelming numbers of Jackson greatly intensified the excitement.
The secessionists sympathizing with Jeff Davis were too greatly elated to conceal their joy and openly expressed their belief that the hosts of Jeff Davis will overrun Maryland and the district within 24 hours.
The reports of the riot in Baltimore are doubtless greatly exaggerated, and have given the enemies of the Union here increased boldness this evening. At no time since the disaster of Bull Run have they been so vaunting and defiant among loyalists.
The feeling is one of regret that by some body’s blunder our cause in the Valley of the Shenandoah should have been so seriously set back and the enemy given such a decisive advantage.
Great sympathy is expressed for the Union men of Winchester and Vicinity.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 4
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