, 1862-08-15
FROM GEN.. P0PE'S ARMY.
Gen. Pope's Official Report Of the
L3te Rattle,

Cen. Pope's Official Report Of the
Late Rattle.
Hls Enlogium on General Banks.
HEADQUARTERS AnnT OF VIRGINIA
CEDAR MouHrAlE, Va, s P. N, Aug. 49, {
To Major General Halleck, General In Chief
On Thursday morning. the enemy crossed
the Rapidan at Barnett's ford IN heavy force,
and advanced strong on the road to CuIpepper
and Madison G. r. I had established my
whole force on the turnpike between Ca1pep-
per and sper1yVi11e, ready to. concentrate at
either place, IS sooa as the euemy'e plans I
were deyeloped.. Early on Friday it became
apparent that the move on Madison Court
corps Of Gen. slgel at sperryville, and that the
Main attack Of the enemy would be at Cul-
pepper, to which place had thrown forward
put Of Banks and McDo~e1's corps. Brig
adler general Bayard with part Of the
ADVANCE adv n % nesr tha Rapidan. FIJI u slowly back
delaying and embarrassing the eneny's ad- |
vance as far as possible, and capturing some |
Of his men. The forces Of Banks aud Sigel,
and one Of the divisions Of AcDoWelrs corps
rirg Friday and Saturday night, Banks corps
being puebed forward five miles south Of Cal-.
pepper, with Ricketts, digisisn Of McDowe11a |
cofps. Three mtles in his rear the corps OF
Gen sige1, which had marched ali night, Was
hal;ed Ii Culpepper to rest 3 few hours. On
Saturday the enemy advanced rapidly to Ce-
dar Mountain, the sides of which they occu-
pied in heavy force. Gen. Banks Was instruct
ed to take up his position on the ground
occupied by C1a~ford's brigade If bis com:
previous to observe the enemy's move
men1s. He Was directed not to advance
beyond that point and if attacked by the
en-, my to defend his position aud send back
| timely notice. It was my desire to have time
| to give the corps of Gen. Sige1 all the rest
| forward all the force at my disposal. The ar
| tl1ery Of the enemy opened early in the after-
noon, but he made no advance until nearly 5
| o'clock, at which time 8 few skirmiBhers we're
| the heavy wood in which his force was con-
cealed- The enemy pushed forward strong
force in the rear of his Ekirmiahers, and Gen.
Banks advanced to the attack TIE engage
meIt did not fairly open till after 6 O'Clock,
! but for an hour and q half was farious and un-
was at first desQltory and directed mainly
.sgsinst the cavalry, I had continued to re-
eeive reports from Gen. Banks that no attack
was spp1eheuded, annd that no considerable
Infantry force Of the enemy had COME forward.
Towards evening the increase in the artil
lefY firing having satisfied me an engagement
ulight be at hand, though the lateness of the
hs1r rendered 1t unlikely, ordered General
Mcdowell to advance Rick. 8 division to sup
peri Gen. Banks, aud directed Gen. sigel 70
bring bis men on tie ground as soon as pos
siblt. :rr5ved personally On the field at
7p. N. an found the q a:tion raging furiously.
Tie infantry tre WIGS incessaut and severe. /
found Gen. Banks holding the position he
took up early il the norntug. His Losses
were heavy. Ricketts, division was imnedi.
atelY pushed forward, and occupied the ad.
vance Of Gen. Banks, the brigade of Gen.
G:rdon being directed to caange their
position from the right and mass themselves
in the center. Before this change could be
effected 1t was quite dark, though the artillery
continued atshore rang, ,without intsra,ission
! The artillery fire at night by the 2d aud 5tt
Maine batteIies, in Riekttss' division Of Gen
. MeDoWelis corps, was most destructive, 81
, was readily observable the next morning IL
! | the dead neu ard horses, and brokengu car
! risgee OF the enemy's batteries which had bee1
!, advanced against it. Our troops rested Q,
! their arms during the night In line Of battle
! a heavy SHILLING being Kept up on both side
: until midnight: 1t daylight next morninl
the enemy fell hack two miles frou
: our front aud still higher On the mountafn
= Our pickets at once advanced and occupie
the ground. The fatigue Of the troops, fgoI
long marches and excessive heat made it i'm
/ possible for either side to resume the actio
u On Sunday The men were therefore allowee
;, to rest and recruit the whole day. Oar onl
! active operation being that Of cavalry on th
y y enemy's flank and rear. Monday was spen
+ in burning the dead and in getting of tn
q wounded. The slaughter was severe Q
J. hand to hand. The dead bodies Of bot
y armies were found mingled together in masat
over the whole ground Of conflict. Th
!" ! burying Of the dead WAS not completed unit
= dark. On Monday the heat being 80 terfib
g thatseverve work was notpossible. On Mo-
q day night the enemy fed feom the field lea
ls Ing many of his dead unburied aud b
Il wounded On the ground and along the road
0rauge Court House, SIS Will be seen from &c
Rue1ds ga dpetSh Rn saya!y and aIe
70 70 thrown forward in pursuit and followed Il
8. as ensmy to the RapidAn, over which he pass
~ ~ With his rear guard by 10 o'clock In the NOR
=, ing:
ag 'nt The fight YVES very fine. No greater gallant
Ts ard daring could be exhibited by any trooI
az calnot speak too highly Of the GOODNESS a
10 intrep!dity Of Gen. Banks himself. D1fi
~ ~ the whole Of the engagement he Wss in
~. ~ front, and exposed as much as any man In t
" " command, His example was Of the great'
% o. benefit, and he merits, and should receive
~ commendation OF his government Gener
@ @a9 Williams, Angur, Gordon, Crawford, Prin
~ Green nnd Geary behaved with conspfcuo
"a "a Severely wounded, and Prince. by losing
II way in the dark, while passing from one Ha
tae to the other, fell into the hands of the enen
tae Iaa desire publicly to express my appree
III ton Of the prompt and sklllful man'
~ in which Generals Mcdowell and Si
L. ~ brought forward their respective commat
NJ Ms19 and Established them on the field and Of tn
lea lea hearty cooperation With me from heginni
~ ~ to end. Brig. Gen. Roberts. .Gchief Of cava
w of this army, WIS with the advanee Of I
11o forces on Friday and Saturday, and was c
sricuous for his gzliantrJ and for the valus
lng aid he rendered to Gems. Banks and Crawfo
ase: Our loss was about 1,500 killed, wounded
o. missing, Of whom a90 were taken prisons
srs As might be expected from the character Of
~ a. engage ment, very large proportion of th
~ ~ wounded and prisoner, we are now eatisa
" W. is much In excess Of our oen. a full List
g casualties will be transmitted IS soon as po
tne Bile, together with detailed report in vt
a;c kGrs shall endeayor to do justice to all
sss ,aT 9igned) JoIIN PoPE.
lew Nsj. Gen. Coaa't
~ "a NEW YoRK, August
tne ne The New York 1ymes' Washington cor
tea .ae pondent says Pope is pushing forward. s
a, lna- and Mcdowell are understood to have croE
om- ~ the Rapldan and to be at Orange Court Ho
W.: W. The rebels had been expected to make s,
ta- stand there, but 1t now seems probable
y ise - We will meet 10 opposition this side Of
|. = W " donsyi1le. Jackson il understood to be d
ian irg every preparation for defending that
Nass Some approximations are expressed that
: ~. rcbel. General Stewart, now with Jackson
az 1nske an attempt to renew his Richmond
,ant p1otts Of making 8 cavalry dash around
~ rear Of our army with view Of breaking
- line Of communications. The bridge ac
o tn.rz the Rappahaunock Is the only point supp,
aa4 'Ua4 to be III tapger from such q movement. Al
~ ~ ures have been taken to foil any attemI
~ the Kind.
F1ca- August u, Midnight.
urn- In an interview with some returned pr
e1B today, they stated that the enemy
mp treated them with kindness, but there was
ton Instance Of gross outrage-Capt- O'Brie
arge the Sd Wisconsin regiment. who Was NOR
pre- wounded. The rebel surgeon told hiu
Wa1, coul1n't live, and gave him some water
one1 left him on the field. Some rebel sol
oree, subse qnently came up, took his watch,
. he cut his. pocket ont, obtaining $3.50, lea
nae. him to die there. This statement is fton
'er OF dying mans lips.
aaa- The view Of the battle field was sight I
nasa to be forgotten. For nearly mile the
way lay scattered or in heaps At the front, n
osseo o Crawtord's brigade twice dashed upon th
a1aat ~ &tny, the sight Was fearful
caoe The rebel general Charles Wfnder and !
auu Snowden Andrews Of Baltimore, Of &c
oton' Eweirs stat were mofta]IY wounded o
the rebel generals told = Union ohc
a1tor would be in Cu1pepper tonight, but up
small hours Of the morning he has not att
rciaLl ted to perform bis promise.
1861. =. 1t Is now estimsted that 0ur Woundet
ancss- reach 1,2o0 men, The following ststist
mora- Gen. Williams command on the day Of
VOL tEe the only returns obtafnab1e to day.