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VIEW FROM BANKS’S FORT, NEAR STRASBURG, ACROSS TO FISHER’S IIILL.FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1885.
passing Luray, hurried toward Front Royal . He sometimes made thirtymiles in twenty-four hours with his entire army, thus gaining for his infantrythe sobriquet of “Jackson ’s foot cavalry.” Very early in the afternoon ofMay 23d he struck Front Royal . The surprise was complete and disastrousto the enemy, who were commanded by Colonel John R. Kenly . After afruitless resistance they fled toward "Winchester, twenty miles distant, withJackson at their heels. J A large number were captured within four miles bya splendid cavalry dash of Colonel Flournoy and Lieutenant-Colonel Watts.
News of this disaster reached Banks at Strasburg, by which he learned thatJackson was rapidly gaining his rear toward Newtown. The works Banks had constructed had not been made for defense in that direction, so heabandoned them and set out with all haste for Winchester; but, en route , nearNewtown (May 24th), Jackson struck his flank, inflicting heavy loss, andmaking large captures of property, consisting of wagons, teams, camp-equipage, provisions, ammunition, and over nine thousand stand of arms,all new and in perfect order, besides a large number of prisoners. J*
Jackson now chased Banks ’s fleeing army to Winchester, where the lattermade a stand, but after a sharp engagement with Ewell’s division on the 25thhe fled again, not halting till he had crossed the Potomac , congratulatinghimself and his Government in a dispatch that his army was at last safe inMaryland. General Saxton, with some 7000 men, held Harper’s Ferry , 32
) Colonel Kenly, in his report, says that he was point his men were run down by overwhelmingattacked about 2 p. M., and that he maintained his numbers and captured in detachments.— Editors.position in front of his camp until nearly 5 o’clock, & Banks reports on April 30th, as present forwhen he found that he was flanked. Retiring, he duty, 9178 ; and on June 16th, 7113,— being amade a stand at the river in his rear, and again at reduction of 2065. Jackson reports the capturethe cross-road leading to Middletown. At the last in all of 3050 of Banks ’s men.— Editors.