New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-30

falling back IN the dlfectIOu OF NuiDNpper tourb'
House. from the advance Of the enemy, and from
Cen. Buiord. who also reported She enemy adyanc-
ing in heavy force upon Madison Court.Honse. My
required me 10 he careful, and keep my
communcai IONS good with Fredericksburg. ami ~ no
means 10 permit pae enemy TO ioerp0se between nee
and that place. Although during the whoso
of the &b of August il was very doubtful from the
reports Of Gems Bayard and Buford, whether tho
enemy's movement was in the direction Of Madison
Court Ouse or of Cupepper, considered 1t i'd
visable, in view OF my Telutlons Win fredencts-
burg, to concentrate my whole force IN the direction
OF CulpepDer, rs 10 keep myself constantly utter
posed between tue main BODY OF The enemy ana The
lower fords of the Rappabannock. Early in the day
I pushed forward Crawiord's Brigade of BEnk-'s
CORDS in the direction OF Cedar or aughler MOun-
tain, 10 support Gen. Haysrd, who wss falling
slowly back in that direction, and to assist hin sb
fur as practicable III determining the movements aud
the forces OF the enemy. sent orders also 10 Gen
Banks TO move forward promptly from Hazel River
10 Culpspper Court House and also 10 Gen. gel &c
march at once from Sperryvilie TO TO sane place
70 my surprise received, after night ON the stu
IA note from Gen. Sige duted at sperryvi!le, at o.
O'Clock that afternoon, asking me by what road he
should march TO Culpepper Court House. Az there
was but one road between those two pons, and that
u broad stone turnpike, was ut iOss TO understand
how Geo. Slgel could entertain any doubt as TO the
road by which he should march. This doubt how
ever dolaye tie arrival Of Lis corps at Culpel per
~
licabe Tor that corps to be pushed to The 'front.' US
had Designed on the afternoon OF the next day.
Early on th. morning Of the 9th Of August, !
directed Cen. Banks 10 move forward toward Cedar
Mountain with his whole corps, aud to JOIn the
brigade Of that corps, under Gen. Crawford, which
had been pushed forward on the day previous.
directed Gen. Banks TO take up strong position az
or near the point occupied by that brigade 10 check
tho advance Of the enemy, and 10 determine his
forces aud the character oi his movement as far as
practicable. the consolidated report Ct Gen.
Bnnks's corp, received some caye previously. eS-
bibited an elective force Of Gomething over 900
men. Amended TO this report will be found the
return In question. 1t appeared subsequently,, how
ever, that Gen. BsDkss forces a. that time nd not
exceed sou men. But although | several times
called Gen. Banks's attention 10 the discrepancy
between this return and tho force ho aiierWard
slated 20 me had led TO the 'front.' that discrepancy
mas never been explained, and do not yet under
stand how Gen, Banks could have been grearl
mistaken as TO the forces under his immediate com
mand.
| / d,rected him when be went forward frsm Cul-
pepper Court House. that II the enemy advanced to
attack hlm in the strong position when pad m
structed him 20 take up that lie should push lie
administers well H. the front and notify me immed-
Ately Three miles in his rear and within easy cup
porllpg distance Ricke.Iss division II McDoWtlls
corps bad been posted ut the point where the ROAD
from Madison Cour,.iiOus TO Cnlptpper il.iersec,t
the road from Cupepper TO Cedar Mountain. linz
division was So pOsIed because II was Lot certain
whether a considerable force Of the enemy WIS moi
advancing on CuipepIer from the direction oi Madi
son COuT,. House Gen. BulOrd having reported u
NE very early the morning OF the 9ta ffoin hadi
eon Court House, that the enemy WAS IN heaVy
force hif right his left aDd partly on bis rear 9nd
Ina, lie was retrea,ing in the direction o. s9erry
vile.
Dssultory artillery firing had been Kept up all day
on the 9th. in the direction OF Gen. Bankss corps
but continued TO receive, during TIE wnoe Of that
day, reports from Gen. Banks that no eo1sil rable
force oil the enemy had como forward, and that h4r
cavalry bad been ostentatousy displayed. lie did
not believe that the enemy was IL sufficient forcf 10
make any attack upon him. rs li'e ~ V'clotk ~
the afternoon Gen. Banks wrSte NE Substantially
TO the effect; but before 1 had received tnir
last note the artillery firing had become % rapid Snd
continuous, that feared 6 general engagement Wiz
going on or might be brought on ut Lly moment
therefore instructed Gen. Mcdowell TO move for
ward ckettss dIvrlon rapidly 10 The heid, ana &C
conpanied that division myself. a; so tine during
the Day did Gen. Banks express any sprrohenSiohs
OF attack in force BY she enemy nor did no AJAX, nor
intimate t,at he needed ss-snioroeHoItH
| Gen. Sgeps corps began 10 march into Cn'pepper
Court HOafe late IN he afternoon, and just ss wac
leaving that place, haviog been delayed several
hours by Gen. Sigels hngnlar uneeft4iniJ ne 10
~ hat road he ought TO purrue. had gwen orders
number of days previously that All The Ioops belong
iuv 70 the Army Of Nifginii, should no rcady to
march III he shortest nO.lce, And should bhbiiualy
K GU two DAYS cooked ratJns Ia their havcreachs
Notwithstanding this order Gen. higePs eosps ur-
rived in CulpeppOr without any ratlIDs, and was
nnable 10 move forward until proyirions coult be
rrocur,d from McDOwe.'s train, and cooked at Gull
pepper CourI-llouse' 800
operAions III Cesar Mountain, but i had sent for
ward Brig. Gen. Roberts, Chief Of Cavalry OF my
,taf ana had directed lin 20 report ~ Gen. Beuks
in the early part Of the day Of The 9t and TO sdvse
freely with him AS 20 the operations u his corps.
GEN Roberts, "a we'll ~ Gen. BAHla gas iuily cd
weed OF my wishes, aud that derifod Gen. Banks
merely 10 keep The enemy Ia check, by occupying
strong position IN bis front, until the whole Of the
dispVssOle force under ny Command should te con
certried In The ucighoOrhood. Gen. Eo1outs re.
ported 10 me that lie had conferred freely with Gen.
Is .uks, and urgently represented 10 hun my
purposes, but that Geu. Banke, contrury 10
hrs suggestions, and 70 my wisbes, bad
taken up and bad advanced two miles 10 asrouit the
enemy believing that they were not III couaiderable
frce and that no would be able 10 cru b their ad
vance before their main body coad come mp from 'le
direction of the RapIdan. Ito accordingly threw
forward bis whOe corps Into action against superior
forces Of the enemy strongly posted anu sheltered
by woods aud ridges. HIS advance led him over the
open ground, which was everywhere sweJ by the
FIRE OF the enemy, concealed ia the woods ard Ia
vines beyond. Notwithstanding tnese d,sadvan-
tages, his corps gall,hty responded to his orders.
and assaulted he enemy with great fury aud deter
minatIon. TIE action lasted about Nh hour anu a
half and during That time our forces suffered heavy
loss, aud gradually driven buck 70 iGeir former
position, at which pOn, Just at dusk, Rickeltse Di-
vision OF McDowells Corps came up and joined III
the engagement.
As coon as ] arrived on the field, a, the head oi
Ricsetto's division. directed Gen. Dauks 10 draw
In lis night, witch was much extended rnd TO muHb
the whoo Of bis night wing nj the center Of bis hue,
pushing forward al the saue time Rlcketis's diyi
sion 10 occupy the ground thus vacated. The enemy
followed Banks ss he retired with great caution,
End trneIglng from The woods Mhleh hnd ahel.nI.d