The national Republican., 1862-08-12
ONE OF THE NOxTESa CON
TESTS OF THE WAR.
THE EJs.E.MY' BE.ATE.T' OFF.
Generals Pope, Banks, sigel. an
Mcdowell on The Field.
St0ssesC0Ii Jacks0ss aud Escell Ia
COsnsss0nd or the Rebels.
The Rebel Force Fifty Thousant
~ StrOmg!
THE LOSS HEAVY ON BOTH SIDES.

Corrsspoadenee Of the Associated Press
CuLPEPPER, August 9.-Last night, General
Banks's corps left here TO intercept and give
fight 70 Ewell, II he attempted to force pas.
sage 10 this town. Al an earlier hour Crsw.
lords brigade, Of Gen. Williams's division,
went out seven miles, in view Of checking the
enemy's advance, till the rest Of the corps could
arrive. Hating at Cedar Creek, he learned
that Ewell was encamped for the night behind
Slaughter's Mountain, with pickets extending
10 the west slope, over which the road passes.
At an early hour, Gen. Bayard, OF the head
Of his cavalry brigade, went out to drive In the
enemy's pickets, and learn what be could Of
their strength and intentions. He returned In
ON hour, and reported the ensmy's advance 10
the crest Of lhe slope, with all his trains.
Discovering certain signs Of our proximity
Ewell withdrew his trains, concealed bis srtil-
lery and infantry In the woods Of the mountain
and ravines, leaving only few cavalry In sight
Bayard concealed bis cavalry, except the skir.
mishers and videttes, when the enemy's move
ments on the heights were bolder. Regiments
Of cavalry, and occasionally infantry were dis.
playing and man9uvering past clear places to
the right and left Of the road and up the noun.
tain slopes.
Along our left, half a mile from the road,
ron Q skirt Of dense level woods filed with
underbrush, and on our left, 600 yards from
the road, was strip Of shrub oak, backed by
wooded hill and ravine. Half mile beyond
Cedar creek the road rises over hill, extend.
low ground which intervenss between Il and
the north slope Of Slaughter's mountain. Bay
ards cavalry were stationed beyond the crest
Of the hill, with Aanking parties right and left,
A few guns were posted on the crest Of the bill
to range the country beyond.
The infantry and artillery Of the corps were
concealed in the depression adjacent 10 the
creek, and In the woods behind. About noon
the enemy threw q few shots at Baysrd's skir.
mishers, which were responded to BY Knapp'i
PARROTS on the hill, both producing but little
effect At Up. m, the enemy's infantry In the
woods, half mile to our right, drove in Bay.
ards pickets, and several batteries were un
masked, on elevations far greater and com
manding than any position we could take
Their greatest range to reach our battery wal
about II miles, but = battery soon opened on
the mountain side. at least 200 feet higher thar
our own.
The line Of the enemy's batteries was In the
form Of crescent; the circumference wal
about two and half miles, Our batterie,
were necessarily planted 10 nearly straight
line, and subjected TO cross fire. Shellipl
without intermission continued Tor au hour
when the enemy developed two more batterie.
In continuation Of horDs of the crescent, and
within three quarters OF q mile ol either end o
our line, producing greater effect than thsil
more distant oaes
Al I've O'Clock orders wsss given 10 ceass
firing and open With infantry, under cover, OF
the nearest batteries; Gen. Williams's division
occupied the right Of the road, Crswford'l
brigade being In front, and Gordons In tht
.wkk
Knipe, Of Crawford's brigade, made an attempt
10 charge the battery, but were met by de-
stroying infanty Gre from the shrub oaks in IL
rear, and after vainly endeavoring to carry II
were repulsed with great loss. The infantr,
fight now became general along our who'll
right.
| Gen. Augurs division, leit Of the road, ant
Gordon's brigade, came to the rescue Of th
others, and, 1t Is stated, once or twice drov
back the enemy. But fresh brigades Of rebt
infantry were thrown upon them, and th
enemy's guns played havoc with our rank
After two and half hours desperate fighting
against superior numbers, night came on, an
our men dcggedly retired from the field. Th
batteries were Withdrawn to positions favorab
to repulse an attack, while the cavalry guarde
the tanks.
Our dead were mostly left upon the Gsl
1 ~
tered state Of regiments and brigades, with Il
enemy still harassing the rear, made 1t impo
sible to obtain the casualties tonight.
Your correspondent, however, learned th
Gen. Anger was seriously wounded, as we
also Coils. Knipe, Of the Forty.sixth Pennsylv
mia, and Donnelly, OF the Twenty eighth Ne
York. both Of which regiments were badly G.
up. Lieut. Col. Brown, Of the Twenty .sigh
New York, and Maj. Scott, Of the same reg
ment, are missing. Maj. Mathews shot in I
arm. Gen. Geary, whose brigade unfiinohing
bore the brunt Of the fight for q while, receiv,
a shot, fracturing bis left elbow, and another
his right foot.
s These are all the details which can be 10
o warded tonight, In consequence of the latene
Of the hour and other obstacles.
- Since the correspondent left the field, lar
reiniorcements have reached there, and for
Il hour shots have been exchanged.
n 1t Is but dus to say, that Gen. Blnkss SIX
and bravery were the subject of much favo
BILE comment. He was ably and bravely s,
d onded by every officer and man, as far ss
observation Of your correspondent extende,