Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-15
.8g 0elearalgh.
Official Report Of the Battle of Cedar
Mountain.
@ HEADQUARTERS ARMY oP VA,
CEDAR MOUNTAIN, Aug l3-5 p. m.
Hdj. Gen. Halieek, Gen. IN Chief:

AgJ. Gen Hatteek, Gen. an Chief:
On Thursday morning the enemy cross.
ed the Rapidam ut Bamell's ford in heavy
force, and advanced strongly on the road 10
Culpepper and Madison Court House. /
bad established my whole force on the
turnpike between Culpepper and Sperry-
vile, ready to concentrate at either place
as soon as the enemy's plans were devel-
oped. EARLY on Friday morningit became
apparent that the move on Madison q. II.
was merely feint to detain the army corps
OF Gen. Sigel at Sperryville, aud that the
main attack of the enemy would be at Cul-
pepper, to which place | had thrown for
ward part of Banks and McDowelps CORPS.
Brig. Gen. Bayard, with part of the rear
of McDoYelPs corps, who was in advance
near the Rapidau, fell slowly back, delay
ing and embarrassing the enemy's advance
as far as possible, and capturing some of
the men. The force of Banks aud Sigel
and one of the divisions of McDowell's
corps were rapidly concentrated at Culpep-
per during Friday aud Friday night,
Banks corps being pushed forward five
miles south of Culpepper, with Ricketts,
division of MeDowell's corps three miles in
his rear. The corps of Gen. .Sigel, which
bad marched all night, was halted in Gull
pepper to rest for few hours.
On Saturday the enemy advanced rapid
y to Cedar Mountain, the sides of which
they occupied in heavy force. Gen. Banks
was instructed to take up his position on
the ground occupied by Crawford's Bril-
gade, which had been thrown out the day
previous to observe the euemp's move
ments.
He was directed not to advance beyond
that point, and if attacked by the enemy to
defend his position and send back timely
notice. 1t was my desire to have time to
give the corps of Sigel 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, bnt he made no advance
until near o'clock, at which time few
skirmishers were thrown forward on each
side under cover of the heavy woods in
which his force was concealed. The enc
my pushed forward a strong force in the
rear his skirmishers, and Gen. Banks adj
vanced to the attack. The engagement
did not fairly open until 6 o'clock, but Tor
one and a half hours was furious and I'M
ceasiug.
Throughout the clnnonading which at
6rst was desultory and directed mainly
against the Cavalry, had continued to re-
ceive reports from Gen. Banks that no at
tack was apprehended, and that no con-
siderable Infantry force of the enemy had
come forward.
Yet towards evening the increase in tue
artillery firing having satisfied me that an
engagement might be at hand, though tie
lateness of the honr rendered it unlikely,
/ ordered Gen. Mcdowell to advance Rick
ats division to the support of Banks, aud
directed Gen. Sigel to bring his men upon
. ba
arrived personally on the field at seven
o'clock, P. NJ, aud found the action raging
furiously. The infantry FIRE was incesssnt
and severe. found Banks holding the
position he took up early in the morning.
His losses were heavy.
Ricketts, division was Immediately push
ed forward and occupied the right of Banks,
the brigades of Crawford and Gordon be-
ing directed to change their position from
the right and mass themselves in the cen
tire. Before this change could be effected
it was quite dark, though the artillery FIRE
continued at short range without intermis-
sion. The artillery fire was continued at
night by the I'd aud 9Th Maine batteries in
Ricketts, division.
Their fire was most destructive, ms was
readily observable the next morning in the
dead men aud horses and broken gun car
VI 1ue nuGuJ uhIlSTlG5 HulCu uhu
been advanced ageiust it. Our troops rest
ed on their arms during the night in line of
battle, the heavy Smelling being kept up
on both sides until midnight.
AT daylight the next morning the enemy
fell back two miles from our front, and
still higher up the mountain our pickets at
once advanced and occupied the gronnd.-
The fatigue oftbe troops from long marches
and excessive heat made it impossible for
either side TO resume the action. On Sun
day the men were allowed to rest and re-
cruit the whole day. Our only active oper-
ations being ofthe cavalry on the enemy's
flank and rear.
Monday was spent in burying the dead
and in getting off the wounded. The
slaughter was severe on both sides, most
OF the fighting being hand to hand. The
dead bodies of both armies were found
mingled together in masses over the whole
ground of the conflict. The burying of the
dead was not completed until dark 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 un-
buried and his wounded on the ground and
along the road to Orange @. h.
As will be seen from Gen. Buford's dis
patch Cavalry and Artillery force under
Gen. Buford was Immediately thrown for
ward in pursuit and followed the enemy to
the Rapidan, owes which he passed with
his rear guard by 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, part of our Infantry followed and the
remainder moved forward in the morning.
The behaviour of Banks corps during
the action was very fine, no more gallant
ry and daring could be exhibited by any
troops. Cannot speak too highly of The
intrepidity of Gen. Banks himself, during
the whole of the engagement he was in the
front and exposed as much as any man in
his command. His example was of the
greatest benefit to his troops, and he mer-
its and should receive tho commendation of
his government.
Gems. Williams, Augur, Gordon, Craw-
ford, Prince, Green and Geary behaved with
conspicuous gallantry. Angur and Geary
were severely wounded, and Prince, by
l., ;s -, 5,,I- Ia