The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-28
A MONTH OF BATTLES.
Popes Virginia Campagn-SpIendd Fighting Both Sides and
at All Points.
By PHIL K. FAULK, Co. r, 18th Pa.
at All Points.

| known that the ubiquitous Stonewall
Jackson had already crossed the Rap
idan. his advance having skirmished
with our cavalry. The lines were con-
tracing and surely approaching the
crisis of battle. In obedience to the or
der alluded to. during the afternoon
of the Sth We left our camp and pro-
ceeded through Culpeper toward Pony
Mountain, in the vicinity of which we
bivouacked for the night.
CuIpeper and Vicinity.
Culpeper is beautifully located in one
Of the most fertile regions of northern
Virginia, though it lacked evidence of
thrift and enterprise. Cedar Mountain
is situated about eight miles southwest
of Culpeper An isolated spur Of the
Alleghenies, it rises like a lonely sentry
high above the adjacent fields and for
estS, looming up in bold relief against
the leaden-hued sky of Winter or stand
ing in somber colors amid the Summer
clouds that bathe it's forest-crowned
summit.
But to return to our bivouac beyond
Culpeper. The full moon rose majes-
tically above the fading blue of the
eastern horizon, gliding the landscape
with silver tint and glistening in mill
lions of pearly dewdrops that hung
upon the dusty leaves and trampled
grass. The silence of night was only
tinel and the sonorous braying of mules.
The sun rose bright and clear on the
morning Of the 9th. Our camps were
in mOmentary expectancy of active
work, and orders were received at an
early hour, and the long lines of infan-
tain. AS we advanced the lingering
vapors Of morning slowly dispersed,
disclosing the openings in the dark
foliage where the sunbeams penetrated
and flashed upon the enemy's bronZed
artillery.
Cedar Mountain.
Ricketts's Division was halted some
miles from Pony Mountain, while regi-
ment after regiment of Gen. Banks's
command hurried by to engage the vet
Grams of Stonewall Jackson, then push
ing forward to the field. Their flags
bore the marks of Winchester, Luray,
Cross Keys and Port Republic, and had
followed the Mountain Devil, Jackson,
far up the Valley.
Late in the afternoon the dull boom
Of artillery fell upon our expectant
ears. For two hours the roar of battle
rolled back from the ensanguined
slopes of Cedar Mountain. Banks, with
5000 men, was desperately fighting A.
p. Hills Division, with Ewell's and
Winder's, of Jackson's Corps, consist
ing of not less than $4,000 men. AT
killed, and the battle was terrific in
character Later in the day Banks
lines began to give way. and our divi-
sion was ordered to the front. Hastily
dispensing with knapsacks, our long
blue lines, marching by the right flank,
swept like stormcloud upon the bleed
ing field. AS we reached the ridge in
front Of the Confederate position the
entire field was revealed. Clouds of
dust and smoke obscured portions of it,
yet enough was seen to picture forth
wildly the horrors of war. Above the
roar of battle was heard the peculiar
rebel yell mingling with the wild,
hearty cheers of the Federals. The
wounded now appeared, begrimed with
dust and powder, slowly toiling toward
the rear. In many cases the wounds
were of frightful character. A short
time previous to our reaching the field
Gems. Pope and Mcdowell rode along
our advancing lines and were loudly
cheered. The brigade continued it's ad-
vance along the inclined plane that
seemed fifty 1.-The valley of the shadow
of death or the mouth of hell" In
the west the sun was sinking in golden
splendor behind the dim blue outline
OF the distant Alleghenies, while in the
Orient the broad, round disk of the
full moon rose spectrally upon the dread
scene, her beams flashing like silver
upon the polished steel of thousands of