Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-08-23
CULPEPPER FIGHT-GEN. POPE's OF.
FICIAL REPORT.
HEADQuARrERs Army OF VIRGINIA,
CEDAh MOUNTAIN, Aug. IS, SPIN.
10 Mpj Gen. HALLEck, Com. in Chief.

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had established my whole force Oh The turp
pike between Cupepper and Sperryville,
ready to concentrate at either place as sDon
as the enemy's plans were developed. Ear.
ly on Friday it became apparent that the
move at Madison Court House was merely
II feint to deceive the army corps of Gen.
Sgel at Sperryville, and that The main at.
tack of the enemy would be at Cupepper,
to which place had thrown forward part
Of Banks aud McDowell's corps.
Brig Gen. Bayard with part of the rear
OF McDOwelPs corps, who was in the ad-
vance near the Rnpldnn fell slowly back de.
laying aud embarrassing the eDemy's advance
as far as possible aud capturing some of his
men.
The force Of Banks and Sigel and one
of the divisions of McDowelPS corps were
rapidly concentrating al Culpeaper during
Friday and Saturday night, Banks corps be.
ing pushed forward miles South of Cul.
pepper with Rickets division OF McDowel's
corps miles in his rear. The corps of Cen
Sgel which had marched all night was halt
ed in Culpepper to rest few hours.
On Saturday tue enemy advance rapidly
to Cedar Mountain, the sides of which they
occupied in heavy force.
Gen. Banks was instructed to take IN
his position on the ground occupied by
Craw Words brigade of his command, which
had been thrown out the day previous 10
observe the enemys movements. lie was
| directed not TO advance beyond that point
aud if attacked 10y the enemy, to defend
bis position aud send back timely notice
1t was my desire to have time to give the
corps Of Gen. Sgel all the rest possible
after their forced march, and to bring for.
ward all the forces at my disposal
The artillery OF the enemy opened early
in the afternoon buj he made To advance
until carly D O'Clock, at which time II few
Sklrmishefs were thrown forwrd on each
side under cOverof the heavy wood ia which
his force was concealed. The enemy pushed
forward strong force in the rear
to his skirmistets aud Gen B tuks
advanced to the attack. The engagement
did not fairly open un;il after O'clock, but
for au hour and half was furious aud uu-
ceasing, throughout the caunonading which
was al first deaultory, and directed manly
against the cavalry.
| had continued to receive reports from
Gen. Banks that no attack was apprehend
ded, aud that no considerable Infantry for
ces Of the enemy had come forward. Yet
| towards evening the increase in the artillery
firing having satisfied me an engagement
might be ut hand, though The Iateness OF
The hour rendered it unlikely, | ordered
Gen Mcdowell to advance Ricketts, dvis
ion to support Gen. Bluks, aud directed
Gen. Seigel to bring his men on the ground
as soon as possible. | arriyed personally y
on the field at 7 p. NJ and found the action
raging furiouSly.
| The iufantry lire was incessent and severe.
found Gen. Banks holding the position he
took up early in the morning, his loss was
heavy. Ricketts, division was Immediately
pushed forward and occupied the advance
of Gen. Banks The brigade Of Gen. s.
aud Gordon being directed to change their
position from the right and mass themselves
in the centre. Before this change could
be effected it was quite dark, though the
artillery continued al short augc without
intermi,sion.
The artillery fire at night by the | and
5th Maine batteries in Rockets Division of
g McDOwelI'S corps Was most desruc-
tive, as was readily observable the next
morning in the dead men and hOrses and
broken carriages of the encmy'S batteries
which had been advanced against it,
Our troops rested on their arms during
the night in liue Of bOttle, shelling being
kept up on both sides until midnight. Al
/ daylight the next morning the enemy fell
back tive miles from our front and still high.
or up the mountain.
Oar pckets at once advanced and occu-
pied the ground. The fatigue of the troops
! from long marches and excessive heat made
it impossible for either side to resume the
action on Sunday. The men were therefore
allowed to rest and recruit The whole day,
our only active operation being that Of the
cavalry on the enemy'S Aank and rear,
Monoay was spent in burying the dead and
getting off the wounded The slau ghte r
was severe on both sides, most of the fight
! ing being hand to hand. the dead bodies
of both armies were found mingled together
n masses all over the whole gound OF con
Aict. The burying of the dead was not
completed until midnight on Monday, the
heat being so terrible that severe work was
not possible
On Monday night the enemy fled from
the field, leaving many of his dead unburied
aud his wounded on the ground and along
the road to Orange Court House, as vii
be seen from Gen Buford's dispatch. A
cavalry aud artillery force under Gen. Blu
ford was Immediately thrown' forward in
pursuit and followed the enemy 10 the Rapi
dan, over which he passed with his rear
guard by 10 o'clock in the morning. The
behavior of Gen. Banks corps during the
action was very fine. No greater gallant
ry and daring could be exhibited by any
troops
cannot speak to highly OF the GOODNESS
and intrepdty of Gen. Banks himself during
the whole of the enegament. lie was il
the front, and exposed as much as any 9th
er in the command. His example was o
the greatest benefit, aud be merits anC
should receive the commendation of biz
Government.
] desire publicly to express my apprecia
tion of the prompt aud skillful manner il
which Gen. Mcdowell aud Sigel brough
forward their respective commands aud es