Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-08-28
The Battle at Cedar Ru"-csn. Pope's Official

We sutjon Cen Pope official report of the battle,
ON ting the laudations of his brigadsrs:
HEADQUA ARTERs ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
To Major General Helleck, General-n-C Chief:
On Thursday morning the crossed the Rapid0n at
Barnet ford in heavy force and advanced strong the
road TO Gulrerer and Madison Court House. had estab
shed my whoe force the turnpike between Culpeper
and SperyVe ready to concentrate at either place
soon G., 1r the % eoemys en- plans we're developed
Madison Court House merely eint the army
of Gen sege at speryvie, and that the at
tack of the enemy would he st Cupeper which place
had thrown forward part of Generals Banks and McDow
ellis corps Brigader General Bayard. with part the
rear of NcDOwellE corps, who in the aGvance
the Rapd8n fell slowly back, delaying and embarrassing
the eutm advance as far possible and capturing most
The forces Generals Banks eiege and one Of the
divisions OF General McDowels corps rapi ly
cenrated at Culpeper CuriEg Friday and Friday night
Banks corps being push forward five miles south Of u
pepper vi F1ckets' division of McDowe's corps three
miles in the
The Corps of Ge. seg!e which had marched al night
was hated at ulpeper TO rest few hours.
On Saturday tie enemy advanced rapidly TO Cedar Noun
tain the sides Of which they occupied heavy forces.
General Benks Instructed take up his position on
the ground occupied by CrawfC:ds brigade of his
mand which had been thrown the day previous
the enemys movements. He directed not to ad
beyond rAa point, and if attacked by ne enemy
! defend hs position an6 send back timely notice.
1t was my desire tave time to give the coros of Gene
Segel all the possible after their forced march, and
to bring forward all the forces at my disposal.
The artillery OF the enemy opened early in the after
hut he made advance until nearly five O'Clock,
which time few skrmshers thrown forward each
side urder of the heavy wood in which his force
The enemy pushed forward strong force in the rear
OF his skrmisher and Genera Banks advanced to the st
The engagement did not fairly open until after six
O'Clock but for an hour and half furious and
Throughout the cannonadng which at first was desulto-
ry, directed mainly against the cavalry had
nued receive reports from Gen. Rauks that
arpehended and that considerable infantry force
! of the enemy had come forward.
Yet towards evening the increase in the artillery firing
having satisfied might be a. hand thou n
the atereas of rendered unlikely ordered Gen
! Mcdowell to Ricketts,
Ger BanKs and directed General Siegel to bring his
| upon the ground as sooa as possible
arrived personally the field at P M, and found the
action raging fuOusy. The infantry firing incessant
! ard severe.
Gen. Banks holding the position he up early
in the morning, His losses were heavy.
RiCketts division Immediately pushed forward and
occupied The right General Banks the Brgades ofCraw
ford and Gordon being directed to change their position
from the right and mass themselves on the centre.
Before this change could be effected quite dark,
though the artillery fire continued at short without
The artillery night, by Second and Maine
batteries in Ricketts, DIVISION of General McDowes corps,
was destructive, readily observable the
morning the dead and horses and broken gun
apes of the enemys battery which had been advanced
| against it.
Our cps rested their during night line
of battle the heavy Smelling being kept both sides
| until midnight.
At daylight the next morning the enemy fell back two
miles from front, and still higher up the mountain
Our pickes advanced aad occupied the ground
fatigue of the troops from long marches and
heat made impossible for either side the
action sunday. The therefore, allowed to
rest and recruit he' whole day active operation
beirg of cavalry the enemy's flank and rear.
Monday spent in burying the dead and getting off the
wounded.
The slaughter both sides most of the fight
ing being hand to hand.
The dead bodies of both armies found Mingled to-
setFer Masses the whole ground the coufct.
The bury ing of the dead completed until dark
Monday the heat being terrible tat work
not possible.
Or Monday night the enemy fed from the field leaving
o his dead unbued and lis wounded the ground
and along the road to Orange Court House, will be
| from Gan Buo,d's despatch
cavalry and artillery force under General Buf0rd was
Immediately thrown forward in pursuit and followed the
guard by 10 o'clock il the morning.
The behaviour U Gen. Hau ks corps during the actCI
was very fne No greater gaantry and daring could be
exhibited by any troops
loss about fifteen hundred killed, wounded
missing, of whom hundred and ninety taken ps
As might be expecedtrom the character of tha
gaQement, very large proportion Of these killed
The encmV's loss E killed, wounded and prisoners,
are satisfied, j. much in Of
full list of casualties will be transmitted pos
sb2 toge her with detailed report, in which shall en-
deavor to do jus ice to all JOHN POPE,
1TS w.,