Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-15
THE BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN
GEN. POPES REPORT.

L =
Mo Major Gen. Halleck, General in
Chiffon Thursday morning the enemy
crossed the Rapidan at Barnett's Ford in
force, and advanced strong on the road to
Culpepper and Madison Court House. | had
established my whole force on the turnpike
between Culpepper and Sperryville, ready to
concentrate at either place as soon as the en-
emy's plans were developed.
Early on Friday it became apparent that
the move of Madison Court House was mere
ly feint to detain the corps of Gen. Siegel at
Sperryyille, and that the main attack of the
enemy would be at Culpepper to which place
l had thrown forward part of Banks and
McDowells corps. Brig. Gen. Bayard, with
part of the rear of McDowell's corps, who
was in the advance near the Rapidan, fell
slowly back, OBTAINING and embarrassing the
enemy's advance as far as possible and cap
turing some of his men.
Gems. Banks and Sigel, and one of the di-
visions of McDowelrs corps, were rapidly
concentrated at Culpepper during Friday and
Friday night, Gen. Banks corps being pushed
forward five miles south of Culpepper, with
Ricketts, division of McDowell's corps in his
rear. The corps of Gen. Sigel, which had
marched all night, was halted in Culpepper to
rest few hours.
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 brigade, of his COM
rland, which had been thrown out the day
previous to observe the enemy's movements.
lie was directednot to advance beyond that
point, and if attacked by the enemy to defend
his position and send back timely notice. 1t
was my intention to have time to give the
corps of Gen. Sigel all the rest possible after
their forced march, and to bring forward all
the forces at my disposal.
The artillery of the enemy opened early in
the afternoon, but he made no advance until
nearly five o'clock, at which time few skir-
mishers were thrown forward on each side
under cover of the heavy wood in which his
force was concealed. The enemy pushed for
ward strong force in the rear of his skir-
mishers, and general Banks advanced to the
attack. The engagement did not fairly open
until after SIX o'clock, but for an hour and
half it was furious and unceasing. Through
out the cannonading, which at first was desul-
tory and directed mainly against the cavalry,
| had continued to receive reports from gem
eral Banks that no attack was apprehended
and that no considerable infantry force of the
enemy had come forward. Yet towards
evening the increase in the artillery firing
having satisfied me that an engagement
might be at hand, though the lateness of the
hour rendered it unlikely, | ordered general
Mcdowell to advance Ricketts, division to
support general Banks, and directed general
Sigel to bring his men upon the ground as
soon as possible.
l arrived personally on the field at seven p
NJ, and found the action raging furiously. The
infantry fire was incessant and severe.
found Gen. Banks holding the position he took
up early in the morning. His losses were
heavy. Ricketts, division was Immediately
pushed forward, and occupied the right of
Gen. Banks, the brigades of Crawford and
Gordon being directed to change their position
from the right and mass themselves in the
center. Before this change could be effected
it was quite dark, although the artillery fire
continued at short range without intermssion.
The artillery fire at night by the second and
fifth batteries in Ricketts, division of General
McDowelPs corps was more destructive, as
was readily observable the next morning in
the dead men and horses and broken gun car
riages Of the enemy's batteries, which had
been advanced against it.
Our troops rested on their arms during the
night in line of battle, the heavy shelling be-
ing kept up on both sides until midnight. At
daylight the next morning the enemy fell
back two miles from the front, and still higher
up the mountain. Our pickets at once adj
vanced and occupied the ground. The IA
tigue 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 re-
cruit the whole day, our only active operation.
being of 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 one Monday, the heat being so terrible
that severe work was not possible. On Mon
day night the enemy fled from the field, leav-
ing many of his dead unburied and his wound
ed on the ground and along the road to
Orange Court House, as will be seen from
Gen. Buford's dispatch.
A cavalry and artillery force under Gen
Buford, was Immediately thrown forward in
pursuit, and followed the enemy to the Rapid
an river, over which he passed with his rear
guard by ten o'clock in the morning. The
behavior of Gen. Banks corps during the ac-
ton was very fine. No greater gallantry and
daring could be exhibited by any troops.
cannot speak too highly of the GOODNESS and
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 merits and should
receive the commentator of his government
Generals Williams, Augur, Gordon, Crawford,
Prince, Green, and Geary, behaved with con-
spicuous gallantry. Augur and Geary were
severely wounded, and Prince, by losing his
way in the dark, while passing from one flank
to another, fell into the hands of the enemy.
desire publicly to express my appreciation
of the prompt and skillful manner in which
Gems. Mcdowell and Sigel brought forward
their respective commands, and established
them on the field, and of their cheerful and
hearty cooperation with me from beginning
to end. Brig. Gen. Roberts, chief of cavalry
of this army, was with the advance of our
forces on Friday and Saturday, and was con-
spicuous for his gallantry and the valuable
aid he rendered to Generals Banks and Craw-
ford.
Our loss was about fifteen hundred killed,
wounded. and missing, of whom two hundred
and ninety were taken prisoners. As might
be expected from the character of the engage
ment very large proportion of these were
killed. The enemy's loss in killed, wounded,
and prisoners, we are now satisfied is much in
excess of our own. A full list of casualties
will be transmitted as soon as possible, to-
gether with a detached report, in which
shall endeavOr to do justice to all.
JOHN PoPE, Major Gen. commanding