Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-14
A Great Battle in the Valley.


,our-Heauy Loss on Both Sides Gems.
Angr and Gedyy toounded-G General
Buhts' horse shot under him-7'hc enemy
sent IN a fag. Of. truce, asking permission
to bury their dead,
PHILADELpHIA, Aug. 1.-THE following
is the Herald's account Of the battle:
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-The most des-
perate fight for the numbers engaged since
the war commenced, occurred yesterday at
Cedar Mountain, eight miles South of Gull
Banks corps d arp,ee of Gen. Pc pc 8 forces
and the rebels under Stoaewall jackson in |
person. Il
Gen. Pope had sent Gen. Banks COM
mand to the front early in the morning, and
the divisions Of Gems. Angur and Williams
took position mile or a mile and half
this side Of the ground Of the skirmish of
the day previous. ...,.. |
In the afternoon, Crawford's brigade of
Gen. Williams division, composed Of the
46th Pennsylvania, 10th Massachusetts,,
5th Connecticut and 2Sth New York regi-
ments, with Best's battery of regulars,
moved forward to piece Of high ground,
between Cedar Creek and Crooked River,
some four miles North of the point where
the Culpepper and Gordonsvlle Turnpike
crosses that stream. TO the South Of this
point, distant about three and quarter
miles, rises the Cedar Mountain, a spur of
the great thoroughfare range.
| No sooner had our troops emerged from
the timber on the North, and crossed Cedar
Creek. then battery Of heavy guns, located
in the thick timber half way up the noun
tain side, opened upon them with shot and
shell, and another Of smaller guns from
point Of timber about three. .oighths of
mile to the Westward Best's battery Of
Parrott guns was immediately planted on
the crest Of the hill. and began replying to
line of battle to support the battery.
| The enemy kept up continuous fire from
both batteries for some half an hour, which
was rapidly returned by Capt Best, when
three additional rebel batteries opened from
Us many different localities. At about
clock the rebel Infantry was discovered in
strong force upon our right and in front sup
porting the rebel batteries, when word was
sent back to the main body stating the fact.
In the evening Gen. Angars division with
the remainder of Gen. Williams division
were thrown forward and posted upon the
right OF Gen. Crawford, and fronting the
dense timber where the rebel Infantry were
posted.
|. Gen. Banks now rode into the field and
directed the operations. General Geary 8
brigade Of Gen. Angur's division, had the
advance and maintained it admirably Gen.
Geary briga le consisted Of the 9th Ohio,
7th Ohio, 29th Ohio, 2Sth Pennsylvania
and Shof s battery. No sooner had these
troops taken their places than the rebel:
opened musketry fire upon them from the
sides and in front aided by the batterie.
| before mentioned The batteries on the
! mountain also kept ur q most destructive
fire, but the Federal troops never faltereo
: or even WINGED,
At half past FIVE the battle became gen
era, artillery replying to artillery and in
order Of the day. The fight continued un
, til darkness put stop to the carnage.
have witnessed many battles during thi.
D war, but have seenssnonc where the tena
cious obstinacy Of the American character
was so fully displayed. Our troops tough
with tho valor of veterans.
No soon did yolley of musketry and 4
discharge Of artillery NOW down the rank
OF a argument than the gaps were closed uI
and new front presented. Regiment vice
p, with regiment and brgades with brigade
in deeds Of valor, and few instances indeed
were there where even individuals faltered
; The 9Th and 18th regulars, attached tc
I, Gen. Banks corps, led by Capt Pitcher,
did excellent service Capt Pitcher, wa
: wounded severely, though not dangerously
: in the knee, by a musket shot; but he KEEP
the field until the end.
With the setting in of darkness, the firinl
Of musketry ceased, but the artillery upoi
) the mountain kept up random firing unit
+ near midnight.
. AT dark our troops withdrew to small
e copse Of wood, about half a mile to the rea
Of their first position, where'thcy were joi,.
q ed soon after by the corps Of Gems. Nc
y Duwell and Sigel, who formed in their rea
II at 9 o'clock in the evening. The hungr,
s and wearied troops Of Gen. Banks were re
Q lieyed by portions Of Mcdowell command
# and fell back half mile, resting on thoi
y arms in pleasant clover field.
Q The night was unusually lustrous an
D prominent objects were as plainly distin
guished as in the bright daylight Thor
K oughfaro mountain loome up to the West
!. IS a rebel signal light now flashing throug
! space, and our long columns standing b
IS their muskets stretched up and down a
:, the slopes and fields, were dimly descric
d with their face towards the eneiny.
q CrawfOrd's brigade, which had borne th
brunt Of :he fight, threw themselves amos
% exhausted upon the moist grass, and ia Ike
IS over the adventures of the battle. Some
, OF the men incautiously made fires, anC
l. this revealing our position the enemy com
}, menced shelling US. Their firing was gen
d orally excellent, the shells bursting amon,
o the trains, ambulances and horses, compel
ling our soldiers to move back toward Cul
d pepper.
A panic was very nearly occasoned ut thi
Q time, as the regiments took to their heels t
,f get out Of range, and seeing so many me
!. retreating, Others that had not reached tn
K field also started to run, and soon the road
/. wore crowded with frightened people, VIII
,fl added to the existing misiortunes by tellin
wild stories Of repulse, loss and discontinue
d Soon the Provost Guards were throw
n across the roads and fields, stepping strag
d slers, and suffering only the wounded t
pass. 80 a
N The wounded came in on foot in grea
!, numbers, and the ambulances were prompt
II ly on the spot TO carry of those unable I
walk. The scenes that made the mornin
u light terrible were tho concomitant of a
a battle fields, but the unusually heavy loss Q
a field and line officers was remarkable Mos
!. Of our wounded are wounded in the lowe