The national Republican., 1862-08-15
Gen. Pope's ,OAcial Report Of tho
Battle Of Slaughter's Mountain.
HrADQUAnrsR's ARxY or VIRGINIA,

Battle Of Slasshter's Mslntain.
HrADQuAnrsR's ARxY or VIRGINIA,
Cedar Mountain, August IL pm.
Major General HAIIkCK, 0eaall II Chisf:
On Thursday morning the enemy crossed the |
Rapidan at Bsrnetts Ford, q heavy force, and |
advanced strong on the roed 70 Culpepsr and
Madison Court House. had estaolished my |
whole force ON the turnpike between Culpeper |
and Sperryville, ready 70 concentrate at either |
oped. Early on Friday Il became apparent
that the move on Madison Court House was
merely felnt to detain the army corpsof Sigel
1t Spefryville, and that the main attack Of the
enemy would be at Culpeper, 70 which place !
had thrown forward part Of Banks's and Nc
Brig. Gen. Bayard, with par. Of the rear Of
McDowell's corps, which was In advance near
the Rapidan, fell slowly back, delaying and
embarrassing the enemy's advance as far as
possible, and capturing some Of his men. The
forces Of Banks and Sigel and one Of the divis-
ions Of McDowell's corps, were rapidly con-
centrated at Culpeper during Friday and Fri.
@ ward i've miles @ south Of JSipepsr Viz s Ricketts,
division Of McDowell's corps, three miles In
bis rear. The corps Of Sigel, which had marched
all night, was halted In Culpeper TO rest few
hours.
On Saturday the enemy advanced rapidly
to Cedar Mountain, the sides Of which they oc.
cupied In heavy force, and Gen. Banks was
instructed TO take up his position on the ground
occupied by Crawford's brigade Of bis COM
mand, which had been thrown out the day
previous 10 observe the enemys movements.
He was directed not to advance beyond that
point, and II attacked BY the enemy 70 ds6snd
bis position, and send back timely notice. II
of Sigel all the rest possible after their forced
march, and to bring forward oil the forces at
my disposal.
The artillery Of the enemy was opened early
In the afternoon, but be made no advance until
nearly s O'Clock, at which time few skirnish-
ers were thrown forward on each side, under
cover Of the heavy woods in which bis force
was concealed. The enemy pushed forward q
strong force in the rear Of bis skirmishers, and
Gen. Banks advanced the attack. The engage
ment did not fairly open until after O'Clock,
but for one and o half hour was furious and un.
ceasing. Throughout the cannonading, which
at first was desultory and directed mainly
against the cavalry, l had continued to receive
reports from Gen. Banks that no attack was
apprehended, and that no considerable infantry
force OF the enemy had come forward; yet to.
wards evening the Increase In the artillery flr.
ing having satisfied me an engagement might
be at hand, though the lateness Of the hour
rendered 1t unlikely, ordered Mcdowell TO
advance Ricketts's division 10 support Banks,
and directed Sigel to bring bis men upon the
ground ss soon % possible.
arrived personally on the field at 7 p. m,
and found the action raging furiously. The in.
fantry fire was ince@ant and severe. found
ku hn11f0ox fho ho s,,
the morning. His losses were heavy. Rick.
etts division was Immediately pushed forward,
and occupied the right Of Banks. The brigades
Of Crawford and Gordon being directed to
change positions from the right and mass them
selves In the centre. Before this change could
be effected It was quite dark, though the artil-
lery fire continued at short range without In.
termisslon. The artillery fire at night by the
Second and Fifth Maine batteries In Ricketts,
division Of MoDowell's corps, was most des.
tructive, as.was readily Observable the next
morning 10 the dead men and horses, and bro.
ken gun carriages Of the snemy's batteries,
which had been advanced against Il.
Our troops rested on their arms during the
night 10 line Of battle, the heavy shelling being
kept up on both sides until midnight. Atday.
light The next merning the enemy fell back
two miles from our front, and still higher up
the mountain. Our pickets at once advanced
and occupied the ground. The fatigue of the
troops from long marches and excessive heat
made II impossible for either side TO resume
the action ON Sunday. The men were allowed
to rest and recruit the whole day, our only
active operations being Of cavalry on the en-
emy's flank and rear. Monday was spent In
burying the dead and in getting OF the
wounded.
| The slaughter was severe on both sides, most
i Of tho 60htiun ha1nn han "a ham, Thol Il. \
bodies Of both armies were found mingled to.
gether In masses over the whole ground of the
conflict.
The burying Of the dead was not completed
until dark on Monday, the heat being 90 terri.
Bile that severe work was not possible. On
Monday night the enemy fed from the field,
leaving many Of bis dead unburied, and hii
wounded on tho ground and along The road "a
Orange CourtHouse, as will be seen from
General Buford's dispatch.
| A cavalry and artillery force, under Gen
Buford, was Immediately thrown forward In
pursuit, and followed the enemy to the Rapidau
river, which he passed with his rear guard BY
10 o'clock In the morning. Parts Of our infan.
try followed; the remainder moved forward
In the morning.
The behavior Of Banks's corps during the
action was very lne, no greater gallantry and
daring could be exhibited by our troops. ]
cannot speak too highly Of the intrepidity and
coolnsss Of Gen. Banks himself, during the
whole Of the engagement. He was In the front
and exposed % much as any man In bis com.
mand His example was of the greatest benefi,
to bis troops, and be merits and should receive
the commendatisn Of bis Government.
Generals Williams, Augur, Gordon, Craw.
ford. Prince, Green and Geary behaved with
conspicuous gallantry. Augur and Geary were
severely wounded, and Prince, by losing bis
way In the dark while passing from one flank
Of bis command to the other, fell into the enc
my's hands.
desire publicly to express my appreciation
Of the prompt and skillful manner in which
Generals Mcdowell and Sigel brought forward
their respective commands and established
them on the field, and Of their cheerful and
hearty cooperation with me from the begin.
ming to the end.
Brig. Gen. Roberts, chief OF cavalry of this
army, was with the advance OF our forces on
Friday and Saturday, and was conspicuous for
his gallantry and for the valuable aid 10 rem.
dered 10 Generals Banks and Crawford. Our
/ loss was about fifteen hundred killed, wounded
and missing, Of whom two hundred and ninety
were taken prisoners. As might be expected
from the character of the engagement, a very
large proportion Of these were killed.
The enemy's loss In killed, wounded and pris.
oners, we are now satisfied, Is much In excess Of
our own A full list of caSuRlties will be trans.