FRONT ROYAL, Engagement 'at. Front Royal, Va., is 12 miles east of Strasburg, and is the key to Luray Valley. On 23 May 1862 it was held by Colonel Kenly with nine com panies of the 1st Maryland infantry, two corn panies of the 29th Pennsylvania, a company of the 28th New York, and a section of Knap's battery, under command of Lieutenant Atwell, in all about 900 men. Soon after noon of the 23d °Stonewall') Jackson, moving down the Luray Valley to cut off Banks' retreat from Strasburg to Winchester, pushed through the town, driving in Kenly's pickets and advance guard. Kenly made a stand on a ridge about a mile nosth of the town, where he was joined by about 100 men of the 5th New York cavalry, but was soon flanked and pushed across both branches of the Shenai.doah, and failed to burn the bridges behind him. When across the river he drew up on its north bank and, with artillery and musketry, resisted for some time all efforts to cross; but Jackson's cavalry forded the stream, both above and below the bridges, thus flanking his position, and Kenly fell back to ward the cross-road leading to Middletown, closely followed by Confederate cavalry. He
had gone four miles when his cavalry rear guard was stampeded, and his infantry fiercely attacked, the resistance continuing until his force was cut to pieces and captured, with At well's two guns and the entire supply-train. Nearly all the New York cavalry escaped. The Union loss was 18 killed, 56 wounded and 718 captured; the Confederate loss was 11 killed and• 15 wounded. Jackson pushed on after Banks, leaving Colonel Conner with the 12th Georgia and a battery at Front Royal. On the 30th the 1st Rhode Island cavalry, the advance of McDowell's corps, dashed into the town, sur prised Conner, and captured 156 officers and men and one gun, the loss in the cavalry being 8 killed and 5 wounded.