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The Battle Of Cedar Mountain

The Battle Of Cedar Mountain image
Parent Issue
Day
22
Month
August
Year
1862
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

HïADQÜARTKW AKitY Of VlRGI.VIA, 1 Ceuah Mocmaix, Aug. 13-5 M. ƒ To M&jor-General Ualleck, Commander in-Chief ■ On Thursday morning the encmy crossed the Kapidan at Barnett'g Ford, in heavy foroe, and advanced strong on the road to Calpepper and Madison Court House. I had estublished my whole foroe ou the turnpike between Culpeppcrand Sperryville, ready to concéntrate at either place as soon as the enemy'a plans were developed. Early on Friday it became apparent that the move on Madison Court-House was merely a feint to deeeive the army corps of General Sigel, at Sperryville, and that the main attack of the enemy would be at Culpepper, to which place I had throwu forward, part of 13anks' and McDowell's corps. Major General Bayard, with part of the rear of McDowell's corps, who was in the advance near the Rapidan, feil slowly back, delaying and embarrassing the enemy's advance as far as possible and capturing somej of his men. The forces of Banks and JSigel, and one of the divisions of McDowell's corps, were rnpidly concentrating at Culpepper during Fiiday and Saturday night, Banks' corpa being pushed forward five miles south of Culpepper with Rickett's división of McDowell's corps three miles iu his rear. The corps of Gen. Sigol, which had marched all night, was halted in Culpepper to rest a few hours. Ou Saturday the enemy advauced rapidly to Cedar Mountain, the side of which they occupied in heavy force. Gen. Bank's was inslructed to take up din position on the ground occupied by Crawford's brigade, of liia oommand, which had buen thrown out the day previoua to observe the enemy's movemenla. He was directed not to advance boyond that point, and if nttuckrd by the enemy to deferid his poition and send back timely notice. It wns my desire to have lime to give the corps of General Sigel all the rest possiblü after their inreed march, nud to bring forward a!l the foroe at my disposal. The artillery of the enemy opened eurly in the afternoon, but he made no advïince untilneurly 5 o'clock, at which timo a few gkirmishers were thrown forward on each sido. Under covpr of the heavy woods in which his forcee wero conoealed, the encmy pushed fórward a strong force in the rear of his skirmishers, and Gen. Banka advanced to the attack. The engagement did not f'airly open until after G o'clock, but for an hour and a half was furious and unceasing. Throughoul tho cannonading, which was at tirst desuhnry and directed mainly ogainst the cavalry, I had continued to rectivo reporta from General Banks that no attack was apprehended, and that no considerable infantry force of the enemy had come forward, vet tovvnrd ovening the increase in the artiilery tiring, having satified nio an engagement might be at hand, though the lateness of the hour rendered it quite unlikely, I ordered General McDuwell to advance Rickets' división to stiDPort Gen. Banks and directed Gen. Sigel to bring his men on the ground as soon as possible. I arrived personal!}' on the field at 7 P. M., and f'ound the actionmging huiously. The infiintry fire was iruessiint and severe. I found Gen. Banks holding the peeition ha took up early in the rnorning. Ris loases were henvy. liioketts' división was immediately pushed ferward and occupied the advance of General Banks, the brigade of Geu Gordon being directod to change their position Irom the right and mass themselves n the centre. Belore this changu could be effected, it was quite dark, though the artillery continued nt short range without intermission. The fire at night by the Second and Fifth Maine Butteries io Sickles' división ol Gen. McDowoll's corps, was most destructivo, as was readily observable the next morning in the dead men and horses and broken carriages of the enemy's batteriea, which had been advanced against it. Our troops rested on their arras during the niglit in line of battle, a heavy ehelling being kept up on both sides antil mid night, At daylight the next morning the enemy feíl back trom our front and still highe'r up the mountain. Our pickets at once advanced and ocoupiecl the ground. The fatigue of the troops Irom long marches and excessive heat made it impossible for either side to resume the action on Sunday. l'he men were. thercfore, allovved to rest and reoruit the whole day, our only active operation being that of cavalry on the enemy's flank and rear. Ik'ondoy was ppent in burying tho dead and in getting off the wounded. The 6laughter was severe on both s;des, most of the fighting being handto hand. The dead bodies oi both annies wern found mingled together in masses over tl.e whole prronnd oi fliut. The burying of thedead was not uompleted until dark on Monduy, the heat being so terrible that severe work was not posnible. On Monday night the enemy fled Irom tho field, leuving many oi nis dead unbnriud and his vvounded on the ground and along the road to Ornuga Oourt House. As will be seen from Gen. Buford'a diepatch, a cavulry and artillery force undor Genenil Buford was iminedmtfly thrown lovward in puranit and folfowed tho enemy to the Rapidan over which he passed with his rear guard by 10 o'clock in the moi-ning. The behavior of General Banks corps during the engngernent was very fine. Nogreatcr gfilluntry and daring could be exliibited by nny troopc cannot speak too higbly "f the coolness and intrepidity of Gen. Banks himself during the whole nf the engagement. He was in front, and exposed as much ua nny rr.an in tho command. Hi exampie was of tho ?reatest bonefit, and ho merite and shouid rec.-iva tho com. mendation of bis government. General Willium?, Augur, Gorrión, Crnwford, Prince, Green and Geary behavedwith oonppiGiiotiB gallantry. Augur nd Geary were severe'y woir.ided, and Prince. by losing his wV in the dark while passinor from one flank to the otber.fell into tbo hncds of the enemy. I desire to pubücly expres roy np prpo'ation ol tha prompt an'l KfHfiil and Sigel brought forward tlieir respectivo commands nnd established tliem on the field, and of their cheerful ind hearty oo-operatinn with ma from ;he beginning to the end. Brig. Gen. Roberts, Ohief of Cavnlry of Ihil army, was with tho advunue of our forcea on Fiidny and Sattirdny, nnd was conspicnous for his galUntry and fnr tlie valunble aid ho rendered to Gens. Banks nnd Crawford. Our loss was aboutone thnuaand 6ve hundred killed, wounded and missing, of whmn two hundred nnd ninety were tuken prisoners. As might be expected from the character of the engagement a very larga proportion of these were killed. 'l'he encmy's loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners we are now satiisfiñd i much in exeass of our own. A full list of casuiilties will be tranmittedBs soon as possible, together with a detailed report in whieh I shall undeavor to do justice to all. (Signei) JüHN POPE. Major General Commaoding. GEN. BUFORD'S REPORT. Headqi'abters Cavalry Brioade,) Second Uoeps Akmy or Virginia, August 13. ) Geo D. Ruggles, Chief of Staff. I hiive the honor to report that in obedience to instruclions from the Major Genend commanding the army of Virginia tliis niorning, I proceeded in the direction of Orange Court House, a ith the First Michigan, Oolonel Brodhead, Firrt Vermont, Colonel Tomp kins, First Virginia, Lieutenant Colonel Richmond, Fifth New York, Colonel DeForest, and four pieces of nrtillery. About tlireo or four milea from your headquarlers I toundpicketsof the eneiny, !ind soon altor tvvo hirge bodiöE of cuvalrv nnd the woods filled with lootn.en. " A strong line of skirmishers was thrown out who soon drove in tho pickets. When in range of the encmy n few sfaelU wero thrown which soon (lisjersed him in uil direotions. The footmcn kept in the woods and fled by tha Itupidun station. The cavalry fled down the Orange Court Houee road. I pursued them cautioasly, fearing an ambuscadfi, to Crooked River, wbicb had awollen to sucb on extetit that rr.y artillery cnuld not cros.s. Part of the Fir3t Verraont and First Virginia Cavalry swani the river and cont'umed the pursuit to Rubiníon llivcr, which was so full and turbulent as to bc extrernely dangcrous ín the pursuit a good raany prisoners wounded on Saturday were found almost abandoned. Maj. Anderson, Chief of Artillery to Oen. JacksoD, was fuund badly wounded at .Crooked lliver in charge of au Assistant Surgeon. The flight of the enemy after tíaturday's figlit was most precipítate and in great confusión. His old camp was strewn witb dead men, liorscs and arnis. His Hac of truco yestcrday to bury his dead aiiorded sorae more time for hia escape The enemy to day bas the benefit of a hard rain wllioh put high waters betwecn ua. I am. rcspectfully , your obedUnt servant. (Signed) JNO. BUFORD, Brigadier General.

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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus