The Portland daily press., 1871-03-04
B0ttIe Of Cedar Mountain.

Battle Of Cedar Mountain.
We make few more extracts from Maio,
eoulds forthcoming History of the of the 1st
loth and 10Th, Maine Regiments, promising
others as soon as opportunity offers
AUGUST, 9th 1862, Satu rdoy. Earlv in the
forenoon, as we all remember well, we saw a
few mounted men riding back and forth an :
ridge, at the base of Cedar Mountain. which
lay in our front mile and a half off, We were
told they were rebels. We gathered on the
brow of the hill and were sent back out Of
sight, but it was OF no use, we were bound to
see, and see them we did, in one way and an
another, and it was no great sight either. We
could not believe they were rebels; one mau
especially said they looked too natural fol
that! but by and by puff of smoke and the
dull report OF a gun convinced the doubters
They were shelling some cavalry, and per-
haps 1t Is needless to add that the cavalry were
not there by the time that the piece was
loaded again. We gathered on the hill once
more at this, but the battery commander
would not have us there; so we were ordered
down and guard was detailed to keep us
down. Then we fanked the battery and la,
down out Of sight, and watched the few We
saw till Col. Beal ordered us to remain babinf
the stacks. We had some more cannonadipe
by noon in the front, AMI about three o'clock
as well as l can learn, it became what Gen
Pope calls "desultory,"* whereby l suspec 3,
that J. P. lost bis dictionary as well as the
uniform, at Catletts Station. Desultory. O,
whatever else it was, the cavalry had to gel
ont of their "frOnt seat" though, let us give
the devil his due, they did no. skedaddle
Soon after the rebels surprised us, somewhat
by opening from a battery up the sides O.
Cedar Mountain.
These guns sounded heavier, and the shot
came along as il they had wings and were
flying, and we began to see that the rebels had
the best position for artillery, though our gen.
erals had chosen their own grounds.
at 4.15 P. NJ our brigade was gathered to
gether again, on the right side of the main
load, on the edge OF Cedar Run. Gordon's
brigade, of our division, was some distance
farther to the right, mostly out of view. Our
old position, behind the battery, was in
charge OF Augur's division, the 2J, lately
CoOpeTS. his movement OF ours to the rear
and right mystlfied us for awhile, hut shortly
alter the other three regiments were orde. ed
forward. They started across the open field
at double quick and hurrahing. This display
OF enthusiasm was i'll tuned, but it showed
how they lelt. They sobered into a walk at
length, and passing into the woods, went out
OF sight. We were also ordered forward im-
-.
and there were ordered to halt and lie down.
Our lett rested near the road, which was here
cut into the hill. Four guos of Bests bat
terry (4th U. 81 of six 12-pounders or "Napo-
Icons" were put in position on the roadside,
and commenced shelling the enemy's right.
cen. Banks ana others stood near. Our GOOD
Chaplain, whose haoitual anxiety for us had
led us 10 believe that he would be found in
the rear IN times of danger, proved his true
character now. Best's battery had hardly
fired shot before the enemy returned his
compliments, two for one. The general re-
fused to bulge from his commanding view,
and our Chaplain, in the hope that he or his
horse might be of service, staid by him and
discovered long line of rebels marching by
the faux in the woods upon Augurs left, and
called the attention of Gen. Banks, who re-
piled: "That is provided for, thank you! =
This force was Elwel's.
The shells and solid shot came down faster
and struck nearer. We were twice moved to
the right a few yards but did not get out OF
their reach. Fragments still struck around
US. Lieut., Muhlenberg of the battery had all
he could do to keep his gunners up to their
work. and finally he hauled off, not being
en- come back.
Now indeed the battle was begun. Mu.
kerry by voleys and "at wilp was so terrible
that we did not notice the cannonadlne
much. Those OF us who were not in the
ranks could step over by the battery and sec
the enemy plant new batteries nearer and
nearer to us. Riderless horses were running
around between the fires. Three or four Of
our batteries were over on the knoll where
We had been all the morning, belching away
as best they could in their unequal fight. Be-
sides others the End, 4th and 9th Maine bat
teries were there, doing good service and hold
ing their ground b,avely. We could see the
rebel skirmishers, run before the advance o
Geary's sklrmishers, who were sent out il
front OF the batteries on the knoll, The sur
was hearing the hill tops and the battle prom
lsed from the first to be short and terrible.
And now came from our front the report o
Inc most tremendous volleys we had eve
heard. Crash succeeded crash; the might,
thump OF the shells against the forest tree,
was not heard for the din of the musketry.-
Rising higher and more terrible than all was
the hurrah of the boys OF our own brigade
as they pushed back their foe. And we'll did
they do their work, for these three regiments
with six companies of the Sd Wisconsin tu
protect their flank, drove back the two brig
AIDES of Taliaferro and Campbell and pat. O
old Jubal Eary's brigade; drove them into a
skedaddle, and then spent their remaining
strength and lost their organization in chas-
ing them up.
1t is said that Gen. Banks plan was to cul
off this force, which he supposed was much
smaller, before the other rebels could get in.
to action, and without stopping to cfitcist
what is beyond our power and province, we
can only state that after these three regiments
had chased three brigades and acme artillery
short distance, they ran INTO the fresl
troops of BraDch's and Wilder's brisades.-
Donnely and Knipe were both down now
every field officer went down eventually-ant
the vic:ors speedily changed conditions with
their foe.
But while all this wonderful fighting was 60
ing on we were ly ing in the northern edge O
the woods, supporting the battery that need
ed no such support. Col. Beal permitted m
to reconnoitre, and I went through tn
woods and saw part of Geary's brigade q
Ohio troops 18th, 7th, Goth and 29th, Il believe
In the road advancing by the flank ! In IN
front was the wheat field, with its shock
standing, and beyond this another belt {
woods. The firing was still further to th
front and out of sight. l went back with thl
information 10 the Colonel, and met the 10th
advancing through the woods in line of bal
tie. The enemy gave us good sheIling a
we went, though how they saw us is NOR
than 1 know. One shell feled branc
which blocked up the PASSAGE of companie
d. and b. They resained their position with
out confusion or delay, and the regiment still
marched on. We came to the wheatfield,-
only six hundred yards across-and saw tha
the Ohio boys nearest to us were retreatin
slowly, still moving by the flank. Those OF
their right or at the head, had hand t
hand fight, using their sabre bayonets ireel
The retreating movement of the others wa
never understood by us; it was done in goo
order and did not appear to have been con
PEELED. All we know is that some were L,
treating very slowly and some were 6ghtin
like devils. In minute more we had tC
much business Of our own to notice them.
The Colonel now took the lead and "
| passed down the hill, then up and then dow
again, for the wheat field has ridge in
running at right angles to the road. III
| remnant of our brigade was coming back
| passing to our right as soon as they saw U
SO as to avoid our fire il we should open.
disturbed us much to see this, and to kno
as we did that we were the only regime
left in that vicinity. The Colonel still
front and mounted, now swuNg his hat in b
hand and called out "Give them three dow
east cheers!' and we did give them, and no
they rang out between those two belts of tin
ber!
We saw that the lower edge OF tho Woo'
toward the road) was filling up wlln reoe,i
the fugitive officers and men OF our a o,Sau ya'
also sang out to the Colonel that thele ar1 WI, \
too many rebels tor us to hann,' ne nast h
readily perceived that t ne nau fsce" sS with with i !,
ton,;on ,f taking us back to the edge OF tf
,uoods we ba1 lust lett, where we should nav
halter and our enemy have none. Wlthol
SnH aaav we faced about, and had retreated a le
aeas s,aas When VIII Major Pelouze staff officer, roc
o',p o"t and said that Gen. Banks forbade tb
u,ovement, but the Coionel persisted and "
keot on. The staff officer grew furious an
anneared to be having afist-fght with OF