Banks's retreat from Strasburg.
details of Thursday's operations — the battles at Front Royal and Winchester — the three days operations.From the account of the New York World's correspondent we make the following abstract:
Friday's fighting.
Hagerstown, Md. Sunday, May 25.
--The Maryland First had been sent from Strasburg to Front Royal, a small village twelve miles distant, just beyond the Massanuten range, which commences its course just at this point, and upon the eastern bank of the Shenandoah, over which is the large bridge of the Manassas Gap Railroad, which has now, again, for the third time, been destroyed by the rebels.
Yesterday they were known to be in danger, and so much had our apprehension for them increased before night, that the commanding officers were ordered to remain at their posts to await instruction.
At midnight, word came to the different brigades that the ‘"news from Front Royal was very unfavorable,"’ with orders to prepare to march immediately.
Col. Kenty, the lamented officer of the Maryland First, received notice of the approach of the enemy only by the surprise and capture of some of his pickets.
No intimation of their coming had been received, and it was, therefore, impossible to have supported him in season to have prevented the sad havoc which succeeded.
But he defended himself through the entire day with an ability and energy which speak loud praises for him in the hearts of all his loyal countrymen.
With scarcely a thousand men in his command, he was compelled to sustain himself against the three full brigades of General Ewell, who had abandoned his camp, fifty miles above in the Valley, for the purpose of making this descent upon a regiment of loyal Marylanders.
Three o'clock, and a detachment of cavalry, one hundred men, Companies B and I, of the Ira Harris Guard, commanded by Major Vought, arrived from Stresburg, and reported immediately to Colonel Kenly, who ordered him at once to charge the enemy.
The cavalry obeyed the order, charging upon them with great force, though greatly inferior in numbers.
Wm. H. Mapes, commanding pioneer corps, arrived and reported to Colonel Kenley, who gave orders immediately where they should be stationed, and they continued with the remainder of the little force, doing noble service, and holding in check successfully not less than six times their number.
Seeing the danger of their position, the commander of the brigade gave the order to retreat, which they did in excellent order, across the Shenandoah.
Mapes was then ordered to burn the bridge, which was accordingly fired, by placing upon it piles of fence rails, but was not destroyed.
The rebels came on so closely and hotly that they were driven away, and did not succeed in the attempt.
They soon arrived at and crossed the bridge on the north branch of the Shenandoah, which they succeeded in firing and destroying, but not, however, in detaining the rebels, who, cavalry and infantry, plunged in and forded it, and were soon upon the other side.
Soon was received the unwelcome news that the enemy had surrounded them, flanking them with superior numbers both by right and left.
Our men, undaunted, dashed upon them with such vigor as to effect their escape, and cut their way out from the coils of the rebels thrown around them, not however, without being again surrounded and so effectually beset on every side, behind and before, with the most insurmountable superiority, both in the numbers and freshness of the rebel troops, that they were completely destroyed or captured, together with their noble Colonel and other field officers.
The severity of the fight beggars all attempts at description.
The forces engaged upon our side comprised eight companies of the Maryland First, two companies of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, two companies Ira Harris Guard, two pieces artillery of Capt. Knap's Battery, and Capt. Mape's Pioneer Corps of fifty men.
One gun, which was carried off the field and brought to within a few miles of Winchester, was abandoned necessarily, and was captured by the enemy before the following morning.
A considerable number of the Maryland Regiment have come in.