Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-01-13
SECOND EDITION.
THREE O'CLOCK p. NJ.
THE MCDOWELL COURT OF INQUIRY.


ton to-day, tes;ifying to the folio effect in
relation 10 the battle OF Cedar Mountain. and
to matters in connection with that campaign:
On August 5, the troops were distributed as
follows: Sistrs corps at Sperryville, Banks
at Little " ashington, with Crawfords BRIGADE
occupying Culpeper Court House. Ricketts,
div ision was on the march from Warrenton 20
Cnlprper. The dispositions OF the cavalry TO
cover tho front Of the srmy on that GAY, and
until they We're driven in by the advance Of
Jackson's forces, wcro n follows: Fifth raei-
rnent OF cavalry, uE der Brig. Gen. Buford, oc-
curied Madison Court House, with their aa-
vance pickets thrown forward 10 tia lire OF
the Rapidan and extending west from Bar
Nets Ford, on that riter, to the bssc Of tho
Blue Ridge.
Bayard, with four regiments OF cavalry, was
in the neigh eorhood OF Rapidan Station, with
his pickets along that river far east as Rae
coon Ferd, and connecting with Buferd's
pickets en- his right at Barretts Ford. From
Bayard's left, at Raccoon Ford, to the forks or
the Eappahapnock, above Falmouth, The river
YVES lined with cavalry pickets. Between Bu.
ford and Bayard, and on the sum nit OF Tho
rouEhfare Gap, was a signal station, which
overlooked the whole country as far south as
Orange Court House-eight or nine miles sou tn,
Of Rapidan- From these cavalry forces and
the signal station i received frequent and full
reports of the movements of the enemy
In rear OF Buford and at the crossing OF Rob
ertson's river, by the road from Madison { IL
TO Sperryyiie, i had instructed Gen. SigeI to
post brigade OF infantry and a battery of
artillery as support TO Buford's cavalry, in
front OF him. Matters stood thus on the 9Th I
Instructed Gen. Banks to move forward from
Little Washington on The morning OF the 9TH
Angus, TO take post where the turnpike from
Sperry Vile TO Culpepcr O. H. crosses Hazel
river. 80 that on the 9TH OF August the infan-
try and artillery forces Of the Army of Viz
ginia We're assembled along the stone pike
from Sperry willie TO Culpeper On the 7sh
reviewed Sigels corps al Sperryyille, and "a
manned there till p. m. During the whole of
this day reports were coming in Of movements
OF the enemy towards Rapidan for Gordons
Vile, portions Of his forces ,havins crossed
EapiGsn that day.
/ reached Culpeper Court House early on the
morning Of the sth Of August, where L found
Ricketts, division and era wford's brigade of
Banks, which latter had been for some
DAYS in occupation OF that place. BY 10 or IL
O'clock on the morning of the Sth, ii became
clear that the enemy had crossed the Rapidan
in heavy force, and was advancing both on
m
Whole force at that time numbered about $4,000.
II having been considered by the authorities in
Washington not judicious 10 remove Kings di
yition from fredericksburg. NV instructions
required me also TO be very careful not 20 allow
the enemy TO interpcse between myself and
fredericksburg, to which point the forces from
the Penins ula were to be brought. During the
sth OF August or at least during the earlier part
OF that day, IL was uncertain whether the main
force Of the enemy was marching on Sperry-
willie or Culpeper. But in either case consid-
cred it proper TO concentrate my forces in the
direction of Culpeper, in order constantly to be
interposed between the enemy and the lower
FOR DIS of the Rappahannock.
accordingly sent orders to Banks to move
forward to Culpeper Court House, and to Sigel
10 move forward to the same place with all
speed. Banks arrived at Culpeper In due sea-
son, but to my surprise / received a note from
Gen. Sigel, dated at Sperryviile at about half
past one p. m, acknowledging the receipt Of
my order, and asking me by what road he
should come TO Cuipeper. As there was but
one road, and that a broad stone pike that led
a loss to know how Gen. Sigel could entertain
any doubt on the subject This delayed Sigers
corps arrival at Culpeper some hours.
When the reports begun TO come In from
Gen. Dayard that the enemy was advancing on
him, and that his cavalry was forced to retire,
i advanced Crawford's brigade, OF Banks
corps, to observe. the enemy and support yard
in holding the enemy in check, and 10 Determine
his force and movements as far as possible.
Ricketts, division was on the same day
moved TO peint two and a half to three miles
south of Culpeper, and near the place where
the road from Madison Court House TO Cul.
pepper comes into the road from Barnett's Ferd
10 Culpeper.
Early in the morning OF the 9Th / received
information from Buford, at Madison Court
House, that the enemy was on his right and
left, and partly in his rear, and that he was
refreshing towards Sperryville.
r On the morning Of the 9th pushed Banks
forward with his corps to join brigade which
had gone forwar the day previous.
Banks was instructed by me to move his
corps to the position occupied by that brigade,
and TO take up strong position there to chez
the enemy sdvance. -.
TWAS in personal interview at my head
quarters, al Culpeper, that told Gen Eanks
that If the enemy advanced to attack him, he
should push his skirmishers well to the front,
. and notify me Immediately; 1t being my wish
to gain all the time possible TO concentrate our
forces at CuIpeper. Gen. Banks corps at that
time, from his consolidated report, was IL 600
infantry and artillery 1T for duty; and this !
understood to be the strength Of his corps when
he was pushed to the front
Three miiesin the rear Of the position ex.
pected him to occupy was Ricketts, division.
Desultory artillery firing was kept up all
day on the 9th, during which time i received
q number Of reports from Bapks, in none OF
which did he consider that the enemy was in
any great force in front Of him. In one Of his
notes, dated Mt 3 O'Clock, he mentioned that the
enemy was displaying his cavalry ostenta-
tiously, but he had seen no force Of infantry,
and did not believe they meant to attack.
The last note I received from Banks was
dated about p. m. He spoke then Of skirnish.
ers approaching each other, but did not indi.
cate that he expected any engagement, or ask
Tor assistance. Before received this note the
artillery firing had become rapid and con-