The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-18
Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Run.

had been driven from the front of Rich
mond, to the shelter of his gunboats on
the lower James, the corps of Stonewall
Jackson, comprising the divisions of
Ewell aud Winder, to which A. P. Hills
was shortly added, was ordered to Cor
donsville for the purpose of operating in
Northern Virginia, as the commander
thought best, subject, however, to the
orders of Gen. R. E. Lee, who was still
near Richmond with the remainder of his
army.
A few weeks rest in the then bountiful
country around Gordonsville greatly i'm
proved the health and spirit of the men
and recruited our wornout teams.
General John Pope, who had recently
been appointed to the chief command of
the Federal forces in Virginia, was col
lecting large army in our front, with his
headquarters at Culpeper Court House.
Mcclellan also was transferring his troops
from the James to Fredericksburg, on
the Rappahannock. To prevent juno
ture of these two armies, Gen. Jackson
determined to strike the former and turn
Pope towards the mountains, or drive
him back upon Washington City. Ac-
cordingly forced march was made
through the County of Orange and part
of Culpepper, the divisions moving by diff
ferent roads. Pope advanced to meet US,
and the two armies came together at q
little stream called Cedar Run, six miles
Southwest from Culpepper Court House.
Our line was quickly formed on the South
side of the stream. Ewell's division
forming the right, and was posted on the
slope of lite mountain called Slaugh-
ter's; Winder's forming the left, and
stretched across the old stage road lead
ing from Charlottesville to Alexandra.
Hills division, which was still in column
behind, making the reserve, his march
having been retarded by the wagon trains
of the others.
Immediately in the rear of our line
there was large body of woods, but in
front the open ground sloped gently to
the Run, and from thence rose gradually
to a ridge some six hundred yards distant
from our line. Upon this ridge were
posted most of the troops of the enemy
heavy column having been detached to
march by circuitous route under cover
of the timber, and attack us on our left.
The superior number of the enemy ena-
bled him to do this without violating any
military maxim. 1t came very E-'r
causing our defeat, too, as the sequel
show. Our left flank was guarded by TIE
second brigade of Winder's division,
posted in the woods to the left of the
road and formed at right angle to the
main line of battle.
From the top of the mountain above
mentioned, Gen. Jackson sat upon his
horse, calmly watching the movements
of the enemy.
The brigade of Early opened the battle
by driving in the enemy's cavalry; but
he withdrew to the position assigned him
when the Federal infantry and artillery
came up and began to deploy into line.
A murderous fire on both sides was now
commenced by the artillery. Ewell's
guns doing splendid execution from their
elevated position-the enemy's fire being
chiefly directed to our batteries in and
near the road, across which Winder's di-
vision stretched.
The fight had now commenced in earn
est, and Jackson, leaving his observatory
on the mountain, rode to the front. The
shells were tearing up the ground and
ricocheting down the road in a most un-
healthy manner as we advanced, and just
as we reached the battery posted in the
road, General Winder, who was directing
the fire of one of the guns, fell mortally
wounded, almost under the feet of jack
sons horse. Asking who that was, and
being told, Jackson lifted his head for a
few moments in silent prayer and rode
on.
As most of Hills brigades were still in
the rear, Jackson became uneasy for his
left, and the writer was sent to have the
skirmishers thrown further out. The
precaution was too late, however, for the
skirmishers came running in just as I
reached the second brigade, and heavy
column of infantry were to be seen de-
ploying for attack, and overlapping the
little brigade on both sides.
Returning to Jackson with the infor-
nation, I found him in the field to the
right of the road, midway between two
batteries. The news seemed to have no
other effect upon him than to cause the
muscles of his face to become hardened,
and his thin lips to be more tightly COM
pressed. He made no remark though,
not even to the asking of a question.
The artillery duel had now lasted more
than an hour, and it was evident from
the rising up of their infantry supports,
who were plainly visible from our posi-.
ton, that charge was to be made by the
enemy in our front to cooperate with the
attack of their fanking column, and there
they came, three long lines of battle, ff-
teen hundred yards in extent. They
swept down the slope to the creek, through
the fields of growing grain, and then up
towards our line.
1t was magnifcentsight, and | almost
held my breath with anxiety, and now
our infantry, who had been lying down,
rose out of the corn and poured in dead.
ly volley. The enemy's front line quiv-
cred for moment and then broke, run
ming through the other lines, throwing
everything into confusion. The fighting,
however, continued, the men on both
sides firing as fast as they could load
We were getting the best of the fight
though, and would soon have charged in
turn but for the breaking of the Second
brigade, which came running in on the
Third, causing that to double up upon
the next to the right, and then our entire
left gave way and commenced running
through the woods to the rear in the
widest confusion. This left our batteries
unprotected, aud Jackson Immediately
ordered them to the rear, simply by the
wave of his hand, and then turning him.
self he rode slowly back.
AS stated above, the woods were ex-
tensive, and when we reached the South
ern edge we met A. P. Hill coming up at
the head of Branch's brigade, and
there was exposed to view long line of
retreating men, some two hundred yards
distant. Seemingly inspired with new
ardor, Jackson ordered Hill to form on