From Banks Division

WASHINGTON, April 18.

The following has been received at the war department:

HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEP’T OF THE SHENANDOAH,
April 17th, 9 P. M.

To Hon. E. M. Stanton, Sec’y of War:

Our troops occupy New Market to-night. There has been some artillery skirmishing but no loss on our side. We have many prisoners.

Signed,
N. P. BANKS,
Major Gen. Commanding.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
April 18.

In the engagement on Wednesday between the 3d Vermont and the enemy, 32 of our men were killed and 90 wounded – 10 probably fatal. The regiment behaved with great gallantry, driving a superior number of the enemy from their fortified position, but the rebels being reinforced they were obliged to retire.

Our artillery mowed the rebels down by acres.

Lieut. B. B. Wagner, topographical engineer lost an arm yesterday by a shell striking a table in front of him on which were his papers. His arm was amputated, but he will probably recover.

About 1 o’clock this morning the enemy in force attempted to cross down in front of our lines, with a view of capturing a battery of our reserve force. Our infantry opened fire on them, forcing them to retreat, leaving their dead and wounded on the field, which they succeeded in recovering by daylight. Both parties opened with artillery, which is continued to the present time. Nine of our men were killed.


SPARTA, Rockingham Co., Va.,
April 18.

Gen. Banks’ advance column arrived here this noon, driving the enemy from the hill with artillery and cavalry charges. 6,000 of Jackson’s troops passed through town a short distance beyond, last night.

It was currently reported that Jackson was to be largely reinforced between here and Stanton.

A body of our cavalry came upon two squadrons of Ashby’s cavalry drawn up in line of battle. The latter suddenly broke ranks and his artillery opened upon our advance. Our Cavalry in line of battle waited for artillery, which arrived and scattered the rebels. Last night Ashby encamped near New Market. During the night Gen. Banks occupied the town in force. At 8 this morning, Ashby being threatened by our artillery, set fire to his camp and retreated in great hasted leaving 30 butchered beeves on the ground, doing what he never did before, burning every large and small turnpike bridge south of New Market.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette. Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 21, 1862, p. 1