Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-09-26
Cedar Run or Slaughter Mountain.


was read before j. +. b. Stuart
Camp of Confederate Veterans
last Saturday by Maj. ;. j. G.
Moore, of Berryvile:
| have always claimed that the
'Stonewali Brigade" turned the
tide of battle. and was chiefly in
strumental in gaining the victory
at Cedar Run, but it has never re-
ceived the credit of it. That this
is true. plain statement of facts
will demonstrate.
After the battle of Port Republic,
Gent Jackson's army i'm the Val
lev was ordered to Richmond where
il rendered valuable service in the
battles there, in which McClel- !
lands army was driven from be-
fore the City and compelled to take
refuge in the Peninsula, under the
guns of the feet. The armies of
Banks, Freemontand Shields. which |
had been defeated in succession at
Mcdowell, Winchester, Cross |
Keys, and Port Republic, were
withdrawn from the Valley, and
having been reinforced by Nc
Dowell's Corps, we're united under
the command of Gen'l John Pope,
constituting an army of about sixty |
thousand men, and called The
Army of Virginia"
Thisarmy was prepared to march
upon Gordonsville and take that
place, and thus separate Richmond |
from the interior, and from that
point make demonstration against
the City. To meet this movement
Jackson was ordered towards Cor
louisville withtwodivisions, his own
and Ewell's. Since the repulse of
McClelland, the second Corps had
remained at Westover on the James
until the 10th of July, when it re-
turned to Richmond, and remained
until the 18th, when it itremoveed 10y
rail to GordoDsville, reaching there
on the 10Th. After spendinga few
days there, it removed to Louisa
County, where there was more
abundant pasture for the horses.
Being informed of the advance of
Pope towards the Rapidan in great
force, Gen'l Jackson called upon
Gen'l Lee for reinforcements, and
the division of Gen'l A. z. Hill
was sent TO join him, and that divi- |
sion was permanently attached to
his Corps. The Federal cavalry
occupied Orange Court House on
the 2nd of August, after a deter
mined resistance from the Seventh
Virginia Cavalry under command
of Col. VIM +. Jones, who finding
the enemy was present with a
greatly superior force, was COM
PEELED To retire, which he did con-
testing every inch of ground.
Pope's infantry halted in Culpeper,
and he committed the fatal mistake
of leaving a portion of his army at
Fredericksburg, and other portions
so far in his rear as not to be in
supporting distance. Jackson at
once saw his opportunity and de-
termined to attack his centre at
Culpeper Court House, where he
had about thirty two thousand
(32000l men. Ewell's division was
ordered to cross the river at Liberty
Mills on the Sth, which he did. and
the other two divisions to cross at
Barnett's Ford, lower down the
river. The division under Winder
Jackson's OWN made the crossing
on the Sth, but A. y. Hills did not
get over until the morning of the
9Th, and by this delay the attack
which was to be made on the Sth
was delayed until the 9th. Early's
brigade of EwelPs division moved
to the front, supported by Jack
sons division under Winder, the
StonewalI Brigade" being held in
reserve. The other two brigades
of EwelPs division, under Trimble
and Hays, moved to the right and
passed around Slaughter Mountain,
or the north end of it.
The enemy made determined
and vigorous resistance to the line
OF troops thus advancing, and
rushing in line after line, bore them
back by the force and weight of
numbers. The "Stonewall Bri-
gade" held in reserve. was in the
road with a hill in front of their
right, and thick woods on each side
OF the road so that they could not
SEQ what was going on, but could
tell by the firing on their right