The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-08-21
Gen. Pope,s Official Report the Aat0
RutfIe.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF IIRelS5A
AR AfoUNTAIs, Va, 8 p: m. aug To-

20 Major General Halleek, UtllSiNi-iiA S@AA0@'
On Thursday morning the enemy cfosseu tl'e
Ronidan At Barnetts ford in heavy force, and
advanced strong on the road to Culpepper and
Madison Court House. had established my
whole force on the turnpike between CulpePPef
and Sperryville, ready to concentrate at eitheI
nIace "a soon as the enemy's plans were deVeI-
oped. Early or Friday it became apparent
that the move on Madison Court House was
mere q feint to deceive the army corps OF Gen.
Sigel at Sperryvillee, and that the nam a'tach
Of ITo enemy would be at Culpepper, to when
PLACE had thrown forward part Of Banks ard
MeDoweIPs corps Brigadier General Bayard
with part of the rear of Mcdowell s corps, VINO
was in the advance near the Rapldan, tel $40"
~ hack. delaying and embarrassing the enc
my's advance as far as possible, ana caR
some of his men. The forces OF DaTno M,
Sigel, and one of the divisions u -
coTps were rapidly concentrating at CuiPePPer.
Up SP' 49, and Saturday night, Banks
60 ba;ng nTsbed forward five miles south OF
1920, 80 9itb Ricketts, division of Mellow
III difision, Three miles in his 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 occupied
in heavy force. Gen. Banks was instructed 20
take up bis position on the ground occupied by
Crawf0rd's brigade of his command, which had
been thrown out the day previous to observe
the enenny's movements. He was directed not to
advance beyond that point, and if attacked by
the enemy tosdefend his position and sendback
timely notice. 1t was my desire to have time
to give the corps of Gen. Sigel all the rest pose
sibIe after their forced march. and so bring for
ward all the force a. my Disposal. The artillery
of the enemy opened early in the afternoon,
but he made no advance until nearly o'clock
at which time few skirnishers were thrown
forward on each side under cover OF the heavy
wood in which his force was concealed. The
enemy pushed forward strong force in the rear
of his skirmishers, aud Gen. Banks advanced
to the attack. The engagement did not fairly
open till after o'clock, but for al hour and
half was furious and unceasing. Throughout
the cannonading, 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.
Towards evening the increase in the artiIe-
~ firing having satisfied me an engagement
MIGHT be at hand though the lateness Of the
hour rendered it unlikely, ordered Gen. Nc
Dowell TO advance Ricketts, division TO sup
port Gen. Banks, and direct Gen Sigel to bring
his men on the ground as sOon as possible
arrived personally ON the field at p. M, and
found the action raging furiously The infant
~ fire wasincreased and severe. found Gen,
Banks occupying the position h3 took up early
in the morning. His losses were heavy. Kick
ett's division was Immediately pushed forward,
and occupied the advance of Gen. Banks, the
brigade ofGen. Gordon being directed to change
their position from the right and mass them
selves in the center. Before this change could
be effected it was quite dark, thou the artillery
continued at short range, withoutintermission,
The artillery fire at night by the I'd and 9Th
Maine batteries, in Ricketts, division OF Gen.
McDowelPs corps, was most destructlYe,a as was
readily observable the next morning IN the
dead men and horses and broken gun cal rages
Of the enemy's batteries which had been adj
vanced against it. Our troops rested on their
arr during the night in line of battle, a heavy
shelhng being kept up on both sides until mid
night. At daylight next morning the enemy
fell back two miles from our front and still high
er on the mountain. Our pickets at once ad
vanced and occupied the ground. The fatigue
of the troops, from long marches aud excessive
heat, made it impossible for either side to re
sumo the action on Sunday. The men were
therefore allowed to rest and recruit the whole
day, our only active operation being that OF
cavalry on the enemys flank and rear. Mon
day was spent in burying the dead and in get
ting off the wounded. The slaughter was Sc
we're on both sides, most of the fighting being
hand to hand. The dead bodies Of both armie.
were found mingled together in masses over
the whole ground of conflict The buryng Of
the dead was not completed until dark, Oh Mon
day. the heat being SO terrible that severe work
was not possible. On Monday night the enc
my fed from the field, leaving many of his dead
unbured and his wounded on the ground and
along on the road to Orange Court House, a.
will be seen from General Buford's Dispatch.
cavalry and artillery force unber Gen. Buforc
was Immediately thrown forward in pursuit an(
followed the enemy to the Rapldan over which
he passed with his rear guard by III o'clock il
the morning.
The behavior of General Banks corps dur
ing the fght was very fine. No greater gal
lantry and daring could be exhibited by an
troops. l cannot speak too highly OF the COO
ness and intrepidty of General Banks himself
During the whole of the engagement he was il
the front, and exposed as much as any man il
the command His example was of the great
est benefit aud he merits, aud should receive
the commentator Of his Government. Gener
ais Williams, Anger, Gordon, Crawford, Prince
Green ard Geary behaved with conspicuous
galantry Generals Anger and Geary we're sc
Yerely wounded, and Prince, by loosing his
way in the dark, while passing from one hanl
to the other fell into the hands of the enemy
| desire publicly TO express my appreciate
of the prompt and skilful manner in whichGen
erals Mcdowell and Sigel brought forwar
their respective commands and established
them on the field, and of their hearty c0-opera
ton with me from beginning to end. Brig
Gen. Roberts, chief of cavalry OF this army, wa
with the advance of our forces on Friday an
Saturday, and was conspicuous tor his gallant
nv and for the VALUABLE aid he rendered to Gen
Banks and Crawford Our loss was about
500 killed, wounded and missing, of whom %
were taken prisoners. AS might be expecte
from the character of the engagement, YER
large proportion of these were killed The ere
mys loss III killed, wounded and prisoners
we are now satisfied, is much in excess Of on
own. A full list of casualties will BE- transmit
ted as soon as possible, together with detail
dreport in which l shall endcavor to do justic
to all.
(Signed) JOHN POPE
Maj. Gen. Commanding