The Portland daily press., 1862-08-25
COMMUNICATIONS.
Army correspondence of the Press.
Letter from the Sixth Battery.-BattIe of
Cedar Mountain.
CULPEPPER. AUG. n

Aeuef from the Snth Battery.-Battle OF
Cedar Mountain.
CULPEPPER, Aug. 16, 1862
Editors Of the Press Feeling assured
that words Of truth and justice will always
find place in your columns, have thought
well to give an account of the part taken by
Maine troops in the late battle of Cedar Noun
tain on the 9th inst.
As have not met any Of the officers of the
10th Maine Regiment since the battle, / do not
know from what point, nor how far they
marched on the day of the battle, before they
came in front of the rebel forces, but l do
know that in the action, they were on the right
Of our lines of battle and fought most desper-
ately; their loss in killed and wounded was
large. have seen the figures but do not now
recollect the exact number
The 4th and 9th Maine Batteries encamped
near Culpepper, afier a seven hours march at
about midnight on the Sth. Early on the
morning of the 9th we received orders to be
ready to march at o'clock. At the same
time we had private hint that we might be
gratifled with the sight Of Stonewall Jackson,
and his rebel army, in the course of few
hours. This intelligence was not discouraging
TO the boys of the 9th Maine, but on the con-
trary was most cheering. At O'Clock the or
ders for marching were countermanded. and
we were given TO understand that we should
not probably leave the encampment for the
day. We had but just embarrassed horses, and
pitched tents, when we were again ordered to
prepare to march Immediately The teams
were hitched on their pieces, and everything
In readiness TO march in course of few min
utes; and so we remained ready for the start
till halfpast IL o'clock, when Capt. Green, of
Gen. Princes staff, brought in orders to march
on the left Of the Division. We commenced
our march at aquarter to IL o'clock, passed
through Culpepper, and just out of the village
passed the I'd and 5th Maine Batteries We
continued our march, literally enveloped in
dust, and under an excessively hot sum- haltng
occasionally for the infantry to rest, until half
past o'clock, when we reached the field of
battle. halted for orders on the left of our
lines. From that time till after the action, l
saw nothing of Captain Robinson, or his Bat
terry, though knew his position was near the
left of our lines, and that the Battery did it.
self credit by the gallant conduct of its officers
and men during the action. At A o'clock the
artillery firing had commenced on both sides,
though not very briskly. 1t was at this time
that Gen. Augur sent me orders to take a posi-
tion, with two Of my guns, in front of farm
house on our extreme left, and considerably in
front of the prolongation of our line of battle.
and to direct my fire upon the enemy's Bat
terry on the mountain. My two rified guns
were Immediately put in position, and the sec
ond shell fired appeared to explode immedi-
ately in the midst Of the rebel Battery. This
drew upon me their fire from the mountain.
and also the fire from another rebel Battery
posted in clump of pines, about 900 yards TO
the right, and early opposite the center Of our
line Of battle. This latter Battery regulated
its ranges by two large hay-stacks Immediate
ly In my rear, and thus the two formed COM
plete cross fire upon us. AT quarter past
o'clock my two rifed guns being fairly in ac-
ton, brought my four l2-pounder Napoleon
pieces TO the front, and opened fire with two
upon the rebel Battery TO the right, and with
the other two, l commenced firing on a large
'''cs foiSt III dt Noots on our ltit. also Ql-
rected the fire Of one gun for short time, up
ON the outbuildings of a farm house away in
the edge Of the woods on our left. one thous-
and yards distant, where the rebels were using
signals.
1t was at these outbuildings that the rebel
General Winder was killed by a shell from the
9th Battery. Gen. Green and Gen. Augurs'
staff and myself visited this farmhouse and
outbuildings together to-day, and to our aston
ishment found twenty-odd cannon-ball holes
through two small outbuidings, neither of
them more than twelve feet square. We also
found almost every tree in the neighborhood
of these outbuildings struck by pieces of shell,
and one of considerable size cut down, show
ing conclusively that the firing was not only
accurate, but that the shells were well timed
think may be pardoned of egotism, and
not be accused of undue praise to my gunners,
when venture to say that instances of such
accurate firing in the midst of a terrible battle
are seldom to be found. At a quarter past 5
O'Clock, the ammunition for my rifled guns be-
ing exhausted, l sent them to the rear, where
neither the horses or men were much expos
ed. Finding my horses were falling fast by
cannon balls, 1 also sent the most of nv cais-
son teams little to the rear, where thew were