The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-05
CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
The History Confederate Standpoint of Fierce Battle
Personal Experience of a Participant.

| right by a cluster Of pines a little south
of the Major house, reached the base OF
the mountain about where the road crosses
It.
In the meantime the Federal cavalry
had been massed in the valley, on the
south branch of Cedar Run, north of the
Major house and south of the Crittenden
house. and the one regiment of Confde-
crate cavalry, the 9th Va, then with the
advance of Ewelrs Division, was unable
to dislodge it, without the aid of the Con
federate infantry and artillery.
EarIys Brigade of Ewelfs Division, CON
sisting of the 18th, 18th. 31st, sd and 5Sth
Va, which was marching in front, had
in the meantime reached the intersection
of the Waylandsburg with the Culpeper
road. Maj. Courtney, Chief of Artillery
of Ewell's Division, posted two batteries,
Capt Dement'S and Capt. Browns, OF
Maryland, on a small knoll, on which
there were pines growing, short DIS
lance south of the Major house, whilst
Capt. I.attimers and section of john
sons batteries were sent forward with
the advancing columns of Trimble and
Hays, until they reached a position well
up on the mountain side not far below
the Slaughter house.
FEDERAL CAVALRY FLANKED AND DRIVEN
With a view of closing in on the rear
of the Federal cavalry, maSSed in the val
lev as before stated. Early's Brigade
moved from its position at the lntersec-
ton of the roads, and bearing well to the
left of the road, under cover OF the hills,
so as to keep out of sight, reached the
CuIpeper road and crossed it, TO the east
at point about half mile south of the
Crittcnden gate, and bore well down on
the flank and rear of the cavalry IN the
valley When his skirmiShcrs engaged
those of the cavalry, the batteries posted
by Maj. Courtney also opened on their
ranks. They broke and fed up the valley
by the Crittenden house, but were rallied
and reformed near the center of the Fed
eral lines on the main road.
Early then advanced his brigade and
took position, first, in line of battle along
the road leading from the Crittenden
house, which he occupied for short time,
then advanced his lines toward the sum
NIT of the hill overlooking the valley be-
tween the Crittenden house and where
now stands the Smoot house.
Three guns of Browns and Dement'S
batteries were moved forward and took
position on the knoll of cedars little
north and west of the Crttenden house,
and several guns of Dement'S and DAr-
gums batteries at point little nearer
to and northeast of the Crittenden house.
Ewell, with the residue of his division,
had reached d position at the extreme
north end of Slaughter's Mountain, keep
ing his infantry well under cover.
BANKs's LINE OF BATTLE.
The Federal commander, Gen. Banks,
had in the meantime been busy Organiz-
ing his line of battle to meet the advance
of the Confederates. McGilvery's Bat
terry of guns and Robinson's and Geary's
of four guns each, were placed In position
on the north side of the Mitchell's Sta
ton road in front of the Hudson house,
pointing southeast, and commanding the
valley of the south branch of Cedar Run,
and fronting the Confederate batteries on
the slope of the mountain.
Bests, Robinson's and knap's Batter
les of four guns each were placed in po-
sition in the angle of the Mitchelfs Sta
ton and Culpeper roads and Muilenburg's
battery of four guns was placed on the
west side of the Culpeper road, on the
high ground, just in advance of the point
where the road to Mrs. Browns house
leaves the Culpeper road. Gen. Princes
Brigade of Gen. Augur'S Division, sup
ported by the brigade Of Gen. Greene, oc-
cupied the extreme left Of the Federal
line Of battle. 1t was placed astride the
Mitchelfs Station road with the 102d n.
Y. on the left and on the north of the
road, and swinging round to the south
and west in the angle Of the road, were
placed these regiments in the following
order: The 109th Pa, the Sd Md. and
111th Pa. Then came Gen. Geary's Bri-
gade of the same division, continuing the
line of battle in the following order: The
9th Ohio on his left, connecting with
Prince; then the Goth Ohio, 18th Ohio and
18th Ohio, in the order named.
Crawford's Brigade of Williams's Di-
vision came next in order of battle, with
the 9th Conn. on the east side of the
main road and the 2Sth n. Y, 10th Pa.
and 10th Me. in the order named their
right being thrown back considerably to
the rear. Still to the right of this was
Gordon's Brigade, of the same division, in
two lines, with the I'd Mass. and Sd Wis
in the first and the 9th Ind. in the sec
Ond line. The cavalry of the Federal
army was massed about the center Of the
line, near the main road and behind the
range of hills on the west. Winder'S Di-
vision of the Confederate army was now
coming on the field. and four guns Of Car
penter's and Poague's Batteries were
placed in position in the open field in front
of the Crittenden gate, on the east side
of the main road, and shortly afterwards
five Tifed pieces of Hills Division, be-
longing to Caskie's, Fleets and Pegram's
Batteries, were, by direction of Col.
w AMER, Nhiel ol ATtlileIy OI nm III
vision, placed along the ridge in front Of
Early's Brigade, and but q short distance
from the Federal skirmish line, extend
ing across the cornfeld.
AN ARTILLERY DUEL.
These dispositions for battle made by
the two armies consumed some time, and
il was not till $3.50 o'clock that the battle
Oi<ned, with nearly the whole of the ar
tilery on either side in position: 20 Of