| Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9, 1862. Parts of the 2nd
and 3rd Army Corps. Jackson crossed the Rapidan at Barnett's ford on
Thursday, Aug. 7, and advanced in heavy force toward Culpepper Court
House. At that time the Union forces under Pope occupied the turnpike
between Culpepper and Sperryville, ready to concentrate at either
place when the enemy's plans became apparent. Brig.-Gen. Bayard, with
part of the cavalry of the 3rd corps (McDowell's), was in advance near
the Rapidan at the time the Confederates crossed that river. He fell
back slowly, harassing the advance all he could and taking some
prisoners. On Friday the 1st and 2nd corps, commanded by Sigel and
Banks, respectively, and part of the 3rd corps were massed at
Culpepper, and Crawford's brigade of the 2nd was sent to the support
of Bayard. Te next day Crawford reported to Pope that the enemy had
advanced to Cedar mountain and occupied its slopes. Banks was ordered
to move out with his command and occupy the position then held by
Crawford. There has been some dispute as to whether Pope's intention
was to bring on an engagement, but there is no doubt that Banks obeyed
the order, as he understood it. He moved out on the road running to
Robertson's ford on the Rapidan, and arrived at the little creek known
as Cedar run, about a mile and a half from the mountain, between 1 and
2 p.m., one brigade of Williams' division having reached the field
about noon. This brigade (Gordon's) remained on the north side of the
run, all the rest of the troops crossing the stream and taking up a
position on the plateau on the south side. On the right of the road
was Crawford, forming the right of the line; next to him was Geary's,
Prince's and Greene's brigades of Augur's division, in the order
named. Bayard's cavalry was on the extreme right and the artillery was
stationed at advantageous points on the plateau in front of the
infantry. The total number of Union troops engaged, including the
reinforcements from the 3rd corps, which arrived on the field late in
the action, has been variously stated, but was probably between 17,000
and 18,000. Jackson's army consisted of his own division, commanded
now by Gen. Winder, and the divisions of A.P. Hill and Ewell,
numbering in the neighborhood of 25,000 men. In the formation of his
line Campbell's brigade confronted Crawford, Taliaferro was in front
of Geary, Early in front of Prince, and Hays and Trimble in front of
and extending beyond the Union left under Greene. Hill's division,
consisting of the brigades of Tomas, Acher, Stafford, Pender, Field
and Branch, and the famous "Stonewall" Brigade, commanded by Col.
Ronald, were held in reserve.
About noon an artillery duel was commenced and it continued without
intermission until 3 p.m. The Confederate line advanced, but they
moved very cautiously. Bayard was gradually forced back and about 4
o'clock a lively fire was begun on the skirmish lines. At 4:50 Banks
wrote a message to Pope, saying: "One regiment of rebel infantry
advancing now deployed as skirmishers. I have ordered a regiment on
the right, Williams' division, to meet them, and one from the left;
Augur to advance on the left and in front." Ten minutes later he
added, "They are now approaching each other." This movement was
somewhat unexpected by the Confederates and caught them at a temporary
disadvantage. Geary and Prince moved forward rapidly, delivering an
effective fire as they marched along. The front line of Early's and
Taliaferro's brigades broke, and the Federals, sweeping round in the
wide gap between those commands and the enemy's right, reached the
rear line, which also retired in confusion. A few minutes later
Crawford struck Campbell and Taliaferro's left, and for the time it
looked as though victory for the Union arms was certain. But just at
this juncture Ronald's brigade reached the field. His men, fresh and
hungry for the fray, fell upon the exhausted troops of Crawford, but
were at first met with such a withering fire that they were forced
back. Hill's division also entered the contest, the broken lines of
Campbell's and Taliaferro's brigades were reformed, and a steady
advance forced the Federals back across the run. Meantime Ricketts'
division of McDowell's corps had arrived and formed on Crawford's
right. The appearance of reinforcements checked the Confederate
advance. Jackson undertook to drive them from their position by
artillery, but the Union batteries replied with such vigor that he
gave it up. The 2nd and 5th Maine batteries especially did effective
work, continuing their fire until a late hour. Both armies rested on
their arms during the night, but at daylight the Confederates fell
back about 2 miles and took a position higher up the mountain. The
Federal pickets advanced and occupied the ground, but the battle was
not renewed. The Union loss in this engagement was 314 killed, 1,445
wounded and 622 missing. The Confederates lost 241 killed, 1,120
wounded and 4 missing. (Also called Cedar Run and Slaughter's
Mountain.)
Source: The Union Army, Volume 5, Cyclopedia of Battles A - Helena ,
1908 |