Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-20
BArrHR og CEpAR cRsek.
0aelal Ilepor. e ll.s Fe.eral Can.n.asdIe
HEADQUARTERS ARMY CF VIRGINIA, !
CEDAR MOUNTAIN, August l3--5 p H.

VfaeAal Report Of tiis EcdeF0i ContnanedeT
HEADQUARTERS ARMY CT VIRGINIA .
CEDAR MoUNTAIS, August l3--5 ?. n.
To MajorGeneral Halleek, Command er in Chief:
On Thursday morning she enemy crossed fbt
Rapidan st Barnet's Ford in heavy force, snd
advanced strong on the road to Culpepper and
Madison Court House. l had established my
whole force on the turnpike between Culpeppel
and Sperryville, ready to concentrate ct either
place as soon as tho enemy's plans were devel
oped.
Early on Friday It becane apparent that the
move on Madison Court House was merely a
feint to deceive the army corps Of General Sigel
at Sperryville, and that the main attack of the
enemy would be at Culpepper, to which place
bad thrown forward part of Banks and Ne
Dowell's corps.
Brgadier- General Bayard, with part Of the
rear of McDowel's corps, who was in the ad-
vance near the Rapidan, fell slowly back, delay
ing and embarrassing the enemy's advance as
far as possiols, and capturing some of his men.
The forces of Banks and Sigel, and one of the
! divisions of McDOwsll's corps, were rapidly
concentrating at Culpepper during Friday and
Saturday night, Banks corps being pushed for
ward five miles south of Culpepper, with Rick
cts division of McDowell's corps three miles in
bis rear The corps Of General Sigel, which
had marched all night, was halted in Culpepper
to rest few hours.
On Saturday the enemy advanced rapidly to
| Cedar Mountain, the sides Of which they oecu-
! pied in heavy force.
| General Banks was instructed to take up his
position on the ground occupied by Crawford's
brigade Of his command, which had been thrown
out the day previous TO observe the enemy's
movements. He was directed not to advance
beyond that point aud if attacked by the enemy,
to defend ais position and send back timely
notice. 1t was my desire to have time to give
tine corps of General Sigel all the rest possible
after their forced march, aud 20 bring forward all
the forces at my disposal.
The artillery of the enemy opened early in
tho afternoon, but he made no advance until
nearly five o'clock, at which time a few skir-
mishers were thrown forward on each side,
under cover Of the heavy woods in which his
forces were concealed. The enemy pushed for
ward strong force in the rear of his skirmishers,
and General Banks advanced to the attack.
The engagement did not fairly open until after
6 o'clock, but for an hour and halt was furious
and unesssing throughout She csnnonading,
which was at first desultory, and directed mainly
against the cavalry
| had continued to receive reports from Gen.
Banks that no attack was apprehended, and that
no considerable infantry force of the enemy had
come forward. Yet, toward evening, the IN
creased artillery firing having satisfied me an
engagement might be at hand, though the late
ness of the hour rendered it unlikely. l order
ed Gen. Mcdowell to advance Gen. Ricketts,
division to support Gen. Banks, and directed
Gen. Sigsl to bring his men on the ground as
soon as possible. 1 arrived personally on tho
field AZ p. H., and found the action raging fu-
Tiously. The infantry FIRE was inceSsant and
severe. found Gen Banks holding the posi-
ton he took up early in the morning his losses
were heavy. Ricketts, division was immedi-
ately pushed fsrwaFd, and occupied the advance
Of Gen. Banks-the brigade of Gen. sGordon
being directed 10 change their position from the
right, and mass themselves in the center. Be
fore this change could be effected it was quite
dark, though the artillery continued at short
range without intermissien. The artillery fire
at night by the I'd and 9TH Maine batteries, in
Ricketts, division of Gen. McDowelPs corps,
was most destructive, as was Observable the
next morning, in the dead men and horses and
broken gun carriages of the enemy's batteries,
which had advanced against it.
Our troops rested on their arms during the
night, in line Of battle, heavy shelling being
kept up on both sides until midnight. st day
light 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 ground The fatigue Of the troops
from long marches and excessive heat, made it
pooSAOio ioI 6lAu5I Sluc 10 I6Suulc TIC aClu t
Sunday. The men were therefore allowed to
rest and recruit the whole day, our only active
operation being that Of cavalry on the enemy 5
right and rear Monday was spent in burying
the dead and getting of 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 conflict. The
burying Of the dead was not completed until
dark on Monday, the heat being so great that
severe work was not possible.
On Monday night the enemy fed, leaving
many of his desd unburied, and his wounded
on the ground and along the road to Orange
Court House, a. will be seen from General
Bufords dispatch. A cavalry and artillery force
under General Buford was Immediately thrown
forward in pursuit, and followed the enemy TO
the Rapidan, over which be passed with his rear
guard by ten o'clock in the morning. The
behavior of General Banks corps during the
action was very fine. No greater gallanlry and
daring could be exhibited by any troops.
cannot speak too highly of the ceaseless intTe-
pidity of General Banks himself during the
wholeof tho engagement. He was in the front,
and exposed as much &c any man in the com /
marld. His example was of the greatest benefit, |
and he merits and should receive the cOmmenda- |
ton Of his government. Generals Williams, !
Augur, German, Crawford, Prince, Green and |
Geary, behaved with conspicuous gailantry. /
Augur and Geary were severely wounded, and |
Prince by losing his way in the dark while |
passing from one flank to the other, fell into the
hands Of the enemy. 1 desire publicly to ex-
press my appreciation Of the prompt aud skillfu |
manner in which Generals Mcdowell and Sigel /
brought forward their respective commands and /
established them on the field, and Of their cheer !
full and hearty cooperation with me from begin /
ming to end. Brig General Roberts, chief of /
cavalry of this army was with the advance Of /
our forces, on Friday and Saturday, and was |
conspicuous for his galanIy and for the vslua-
bic aid he rendered to Generals Banks and /
Crawford. Our loss was about fifteen hundred |
killed, wounded and missing, Of whom twenty |
nine were taken prisoners. As might be ex-
pected from the character of the engagement, /
very large proportion of those were killed. The |
enemys loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, /
we are now satisfied, is much in excess of our /
own. A full list of casualties will be transmit
ted as soon as possible, together with detailed I
report, in which shall endesvOT to do justice /
to all. GSignedl JOHN POPE,
Msjor-GeneTsl Commanding.
I.iacOIn on Emancipation,
Dispatch to the Associated Press Northl
WASHINGTON, August I4.-The President
Oave audianca to n committee of cOlOred man