Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-12
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AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
Desperate Plight between portion Of
Gen PopsI forces and StOnsWall

y
Cedar Mountain. eight miles south OF Cal
pepper Court House, Va, between Gen
Banks eorPI 5grRes Of Gen. Popes fotcei
and the rebels under StonsWall Jackson il
psriOu.
Gen Pope had sent Gen. Banks com.
mand TO the frout early 10 the morning, aud
the divisions ot,Gens, Angar aud Williams
took position = mile Of mile aud hal
this side Of The grouSd Of the Ikrmish Of
the day previous,
10 the afternoon, CraWford's brigade Of
Gen. WilliAms' division, composed Of the
4Grh PennsyIVAuia, l0,h MassAehuse
9Th Connecticut and 2sih New York regi.
menu, with Best'S battery OF regulars,
moved forward to piece OF high ground,
between Cedar Greek aud Crooked River,
some four miles north of the po,ut where
the CulpepPer aud GordousVIls Turnpike
crosses that stream. To the south Of this
point, distant about three. and quarter
miles, rises the Cedar Mountain, spur Of
the great thOroughfAre range.
| No sooner had our troops emerged from
the timber on the North, and crossed Ce.
dat Greek than n battery OF heavy guuS,
loe' ted in the thick timber half way up
the mountain side, opened upon them with
shot aud shelI, and another Of smaller
guns from a point Of timber about three.
eighths Of mile to the westward. Bests
battery Of Parrot guns was Immediately
planted on the crest Of the hill, aud began
replying to the two, while the infantry
was posted in line Of battle to the right Of
the battery.
The enemy kept up continuous Gre
from both batteries for some half AN hour,
which was rapidly returned by Capt. Best,
when three additional rebel batteries open.
ed from MS many different localities. Al
about 0 o'clock the rebel lufanlry was dis
covered in strong force upon our right and
IN front supporting the rebel batteries,
when word vas sent back to the maiu DO.
dy stating the fact. In the evening Gen.
Anglers division with the remainder Of
Geu Williams division were thrown for.
ward and posted upon tho right Of Gen.
Crawford, and fronting the dense timber
wheretbe rebel Infantry were posted.
Gen. Banks now rode into the field and
directed the operations. General Geary's
brigade Of Gen. Auger's division, bad the
advance and maintained it admirably
Gen. Geary's brigade consisted Of the 9th
Ohio, fth Ohio, Goth Ohio, 18th Penn'a
and Shots battery. No sooner bad these
troops taken their places than the rebels
opened musketry fire upon them from the
sides and in front aided by the batteries be
fore mentioned. The batteries on the
mountain also kept up most destructive
tire, but theiPederal. troops never FILTERED or
even WINGED.
Al half past Eve the battle became gen.
etaI, artillery replying to artillery and 10.
iantry 70 infantry, and desperation was the
order OF the day. The fight continued IN.
I'll darkness put a stop to tho carnage. |
have witnessed mauy BATTLES during this
war, bat have seen none where the teua.
cious o6sIinncy Of the American character
was 50 fully displayed Our troops fought
with the vAlor OF veterans.
No sooner did volley OF musketry and
discharge Of artillery NOW down the
ranks Of regiment than the gaps were
closed up and new frontpresented. Reg.
iment Wed with regiment and brigades with
brigade, in deeds Of vAlor aud few insIan-
ccs indeed were there where even individ.
uals faltered.
The 9Th aud 18th regulars, attached to
Gen. Banks corps, led by Capt. Pitcher,
did excellent service, Capt. Pitcher was
wounded severely, though not dangerous
ly, in the knee. by u musket shot; but he
kent the field until the end
With the setting in OF darkness, the
firing of musketFy ceased, but the artil-
lery upon the mountain kept up random
firing until near midnight.
AT dark our troops withdrew to small
copse Of wood, about half mile 10 the
rear Of their first position, where they
were joiued soon after by the corps Of
Gems. Mcdowell and Sigel, who formed in
their rear at o'clock in the evening. The
hungry aud wearied troops Of Gen. Banks
were relieved by portions of McDowell's
command, and fell back half mile, resting
on their arms in pleasant clover field.
The night was unusually lustrous and
prominent objects were as plainly distin
guished as in the bright daylight. Thor.
oughfare mountain IOOmed up 10 the west.
rebel signal light now flashing through
space, and our long columns standing by
their muskets stretched up and down all
the slopes and fields, were dimly deScried
With their face towards the enemy.
Crawford's brigade, which had borne the
bruut OF the fight, threw themselves almost
exhausted upon the moist grass and talked
over the adventures of the battle. Some
Of the men iucautiously made fires, aud
this revealing our position the enemy COM
menced Smelling US, Their firing was gen.
orally excellent, the shells bursting among
the trains ,ambulanees and horses, compel.
ling our soldiers to move back toward Col.
pepper.
A panic was very nearly OccAsioned at
this time, as the regiments took to their
heels to get out Of range, aud seeing SO
many men retreatirg, others that had not
reached the field also started to run, and
soon the roads were crowded with fright
ened people, who added TO the existing
mlsfortuues by telling wild stories OF re-.
pulse, loss and discontinue. Soon the
Provost Guards were thrown across the
roads and fields, stopping stragglers, and
suffering only the wounded to pass.
The wounded came in on foot 10 great
numbers, and the Ambulaucss were prompt.
| " 90 the spot 10 carry of those uuabied
TO walk. The scenes that made the morn.
ing light terrible were the coucouitant Of
all battle fields, but the unusually heavy
loss Of Geld aud line officers was remarks
BILE. Most Of our wounded are wounded
in the lower limbs.