Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-12

Herald =
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 1862.
The most desperate fight for the numbers
engaged since the war commenced, occurred
yesterday at Cedar Mountain, eight miles
south of Culpepper Court House, Virginia,
between Gen. Banks corps d'armee of Gen
Popes forces and the rebels under Stonewall
jackson in person. Gen. Pope had sent Gen.
Banks command to the front early in the
morning, and the divisions of Generals Augur
and Williams took position a mile or a mile
and half this side the ground of the skirmish
of the day previous.
In the afternoon Crawford's brigade of Gen.
Williams division, composed of the forty
sixth Pennsylvania, tenth Maine, fifth Con-
necticut, and twenty eighth New York reg-
ments, with Best's battery of regulars, moved
forward to a piece of high ground between
Cedar Creek and Crooked river, some four
miles north of the point where the Culpepper
and Gordonsvile turnpike crosses that stream.
To the south of this point, distant about three
fourths of mile, rises the Cedar Mountain,
a spur of the great thorOughfare range.
No sooner had our troops emerged from
the timber on the north, and crossed Cedar
Creek, than battery Of heavy guns, located
in the thick timber half way up the mountain
side, opened upon them with shot and shell,
and another, of smaller guns, from point of
timber about three-eights of mile to the
westward Best's battery of Parrott guns was
Immediately planted on the crest of the HILL
and began replying to the two, while the in
fantry was posted in line OF battle to the right
of the battery, The enemy kept up a con-
tinuous fire from both batteries some half an
hour, which was rapidly returned by Captain
Best, when three additional rebel batteries
opened from as many different localities
AT about five O'Clock the rebel infantry was
discovered in strong force upon our right and
in front supporting the rebel batteries, when
word was sent back to the main body stating
the fact. Immediately Gen. Auger's division,
with the remainder of Gen. Williams division,
were thrown forward and posted upon the
right of Gen. Crawford andfronting the dense
timber where the rebel infantry were posted.
Gen. Banks now rode on to the field and d.
rected the operations Gen. Geary's brigade
of Gen. Auger's division had the advance and
maintained it admirably. Gen. Geary's brig
ade consisted of the fifth Ohio, seventh Ohio,
twentyninth Ohio, twenty-eighth Pennsylya-
mia, and Snaps battery.
No sooner had these troops taken their
places than the rebels opened musketry fire
upon them from two sides and in front, aided
by the batteries before mentioned. The bate
ries on the mountain also kept up most de-
structive fire, but the federal troops never
faltered or even WINGED. At half past five
the battle became general, artillery replying
to artillery, and infantry to infantry, and des-
peration was the order of the day. The fight
continued until darkness put stop to the
carnage. | have witnessed many battles dur
ing this war, but have seen none where the
tenacious obstinacy of the American charac-
ter was so fully displayed.
Our troops fought with the valor of veter-
ans. No sooner did volley of musketry or
a discharge of artillery NOW down the ranks
of a regiment than the gaps were closed up
and new front presented. Regiment We'd
with regiment, and brigade with brigade, in
deeds of valor and few instances, indeed,
were there where even individuals faltered
The eight and twelfth regulars, attached to
Gen. Banks corps, led by Capt, Pitcher, did
excellent service. Capt Pitcher was wound
ed severely, though not dangerously, in the
knee by musket shot, but he kept the field
until the end.
With the setting in of darkness the firing of
musketry ceased, but the artillery upon the
mountain kept up random firing until near
midnight. At dark our troops withdrew to a
small copse Of wood, about half a mile to the
rear of their first position, where they were
joined soon after by the corps of Generals
Mcdowell and Sigel who formed in their
rear. At nine o'clock in the evening the hum
Va O'N'AAN@
relieved by portions of McDowelPs command,
and fell back a half mile: resting on their
arms in a pleasant clover field. The night
was unusually lustrous, and all prominent
objects were as plainly distinguished as in the
bright daylight. Thoroughtare mountain
doomed up to the west, a rebel signal light
now flashing through space, and our long col
umns standing by their musketS stretched up
and down all the slopes and fields, were dimly
I Il. IL. l.. Al.
Crawford's brigade, which had borne the
brunt of the fight, threw themselves, almost
exhausted, upon the moist grass, and talked
over the adventures of the battle. Some of
the men incautiously made fires, and this re-
vealng our position, the enemy commenced
Smelling us. Their firing was generally eX-
celent, the shells bursting among trains, am
e balances and horses, soon compelling our
soldiers to move back toward Cnlpepper. A
panic was very nearly occasioned at this time,
as the regiments took to their heels to get out
of range, and seeing many men retreating,
others that had not reached the field also
started to run and soon the roads were
crowded with frightened people, who added to
the existing misfortunes by telling wild sto-
ries of repulse, loss and discontinue.
Soon the provosts guards were thrown
across the roads and fields, stopping stragglers
and suffering only the wounded to pass. The
wounded came in on foot in great numbers,
aud the ambulances were promptly on the
spot to carry off those unable to walk The
scenes that made the morning light terrible
were the comcomitants of all battle fields
but the unusually heavy loss of field and line
officers was remarkable. Most Of our wound
ed are wounded in the lower limbs.
At o'clock in the afternoon Gen. Pope
and staff went upon the field, and were greet
ed with the most vociferous cheers. The gem
eral rode to the extreme front in the thickest
of the fight and came near getting into a rebel
ambuscade, but he discovered his danger in
time to avoid it. We took several rebel pris-
oners. from whom | gained some information.
1t is certain that the rebel general Winder is
killed. Gen. jackson is wounded slightly in
the hand Gen. Saxton is mortally wounded
The rebel force engaged in the battle was from
10000 to $4,000.
Gen. Augur's wound is not dangerous. 1t
is a flesh wound in the hip Gen. Geary is
severely wounded in the arm Gen. Banks
had his horse killed under him, as did also the
chief of General Popes staff, Col. Kuggles.
Large numbers of hospital tents and stores
were sent from Washington to-day to the
scene of action.
Culpepper is one vast hospital, though most
of the wounded will be sent on to washington
for treatment. Two pieces OF artillery ana
large number of small arms were captured
from the enemy.