BANKS PUSHES ON TO CEDAR MOUNTAIN.

175

serve his communications with Gen. King at Fredericksburg, ordered' a concentration of his infantry and artillery upon Culpepper, his headquarters, and pushed forward Crawford's brigade toward Cedar (or rather Slaughter's) Mountain: an

from Richmond, had reached Gordonsville, rendering its capture by cavalry impossible. Pope at once ordered Hatch, through Banks, to move westwardly across the Blue Ridge from Madison, with 1,500 to 2,000 picked men, and swoop down upon and destroy the railroad west-eminence commanding a wide prosward of that barrier. Hatch commenced this movement; but, soon becoming discouraged, gave it up, and returned, via Sperryville, to Madison. Pope thereupon relieved him from command, appointing Gen. Buford, chief of artillery to Banks's corps, in his stead.

pect to the south and east, and which should have been occupied and forti, fied by our forces some days before.

Banks, by order, advanced prompt. ly from Hazel Run to Culpepper; but Sigel, still at Sperryville, instead of moving at once, sent to ascertain by which route he should come; thus losing several hours, and arriving too late to be of use. Gen. Banks, by order, moved forward next morning toward Cedar Mountain, supporting, with the rest of his corps, the advance of Gen. Crawford, under

8

"CULPEPPER, Aug. 9th-9:45 a. M. "From Col. Lewis Marshall: Gen. Banks

will move to the front immediately, assume ploy his skirmishers if the enemy approaches, and attack him immediately as soon as he approaches, and be reenforced from

command of all the forces in the front, de

At length, Pope, having joined his army, ordered Banks to move forward to Hazel Run, while Gen. McDowell, with Ricketts's division, advanced from Waterloo Bridge to Culpepper, which Crawford's brigade of Banks's corps had already occu-verbal orders from Pope, which were pied for several days. Buford, with reduced to writing by his Adjutant, his cavalry, held Madison C. H., in these words: picketing the upper fords of the Rapidan, and as low down as Barnett's Ford; while Bayard was posted on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, near the Rapidan river, picketing the fords from Barnett's as low down as Raccoon Ford. The enemy crossing a considerable force in the vicinity of the junction of Buford's and Bayard's pickets, both Generals reported their advance; but it was some days before it was determined whether they were intending to advance in force on Madison C. H., or toward Culpepper C. H. On the 8th, the Rebels pressed Bayard's pickets, and his force fell back toward Culpepper C. H., followed by

the enemy.

here.

Calling on Pope as he left Culpepper, Banks asked if there were further orders, and was referred to Gen. Roberts, Pope's chief of staff, who was to accompany him and indicate the line he was to occupy; which he took: Roberts saying to him repeatedly before he left, "There must be no backing out this day;" words needing no interpretation, and hardly such as should be addressed by a Brigadier to a Major-General com

Pope, under instructions to pre- manding a corps.

⚫ August 7.

7

' August 8.

8

August 9.

Stonewall Jackson, with his own its numbers, he advanced four guns division, following Ewell's, had to the front, and opened fire upon reached Gordonsville July 19th, Crawford's batteries; his own diviand, sending thence for rëenforce- sion, under Winder, being thrown ments, had received A. P. Hill's di- out to the left as it arrived, still vision, increasing his force to some under cover of the woods. Ewell's 25,000 men; with which he ad- batteries were successfully posted at vanced, driving back our cavalry the foot of the mountain, some 200 and reaching Slaughter's or Cedar feet above the valley, whence their Mountain this day." From the fire was far more effective than splendid outlook afforded by this ours. Meantime, Hill's division was mountain, he saw his opportunity, arriving, and being sent in to the and resolved to profit by it. Push- support of whatever portion of the ing forward Ewell's division on the Rebel line was weakest, until not Culpepper road, and thence to the less than 20,000 veterans, with every right along the western slope of the advantage of position and shelter, mountain, but keeping it thoroughly formed the Rebel line of battle; covered by woods which concealed against which Banks's 6,000 or 8,000

BANKS DEFEATED AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN.

advanced, at 5 P. M., across open fields and up gentle acclivities, thoroughly swept by the Rebel cannon and musketry.

177

son claims to have taken 400 prisoners, 1 gun, and 5,302 small arms, with a loss on his part of 223 killed, including Gen. C. S. Winder, 2 Lt.Colonels, and a Major; with 1,060 wounded: among them Cols. Williams and Sheffield, 3 Majors, and 31 missing; total, 1,314.

Gen. Pope had remained throughout the day at Culpepper, neither desiring nor expecting a serious engagement, and assured from time to time that only skirmishing was going on at the front; until the continuous roar of cannon assured him, soon after 5 o'clock, that the matter was grave. Ordering forward Ricketts's division, he arrived with it on the field just before dark, and directed Banks to draw in his right wing upon his center, so as to give room for Ricketts to come into the fight; but the Rebels, though victorious, advanced with great caution, and, finding themselves confronted by fresh batteries, recoiled, after a sharp artillery duel, and took shelter in the woods. Ricketts's guns continued vocal until midnight; but of course to little purpose. Meantime, Sigel's corps began to arrive, and was sent to the front abreast of Ricketts's; Banks's corps being withdrawn two miles to the rear to rest and reorgan

Had victory been possible, they would have won it. Early's brigade of Ewell's division held the road, and was so desperately charged in front and on its right flank, that it held its ground only by the opportune arrival of Thomas's brigade of Hill's division; while the left of Jackson's division, under Taliaferro, was so assailed in flank and rear that one brigade was routed and the whole flank gave way, as did also Early's. But the odds were too heavy; and, though our men proved themselves heroes, they could not defeat three times their number, holding the foot of a mountain and covered by woods. The best blood of the Union was poured out like water, but in vain. Gen. Geary, who, with five Ohio regiments and the 28th Pennsylvania, made the most desperate charge of the day, was himself wounded, with most of his officers. Gen. Crawford's brigade came out of the fight a mere skeleton. The 109th Pennsylvania, 102d New York, and several other regiments, left half their number dead or wounded on that fatal field. Gens. Augur and Carroll were severely wounded; as were Cols. Don-ize. nelly, 46th Pa., Creighton, 7th Ohio, But there was no more fighting. and Majors Savage, 2d Mass., Arm- Jackson clung to his mountain and strong, 5th Ohio, and Pelouze, his woods till the night of the 11th; Banks's Adjutant. Gen. Prince was when, aware that King's division had taken prisoner after dark, by acci- just come up from Fredericksburg, dent, while passing from one part of and that Pope was about to strike at his command to another. Our loss his communications, and thus comin killed and wounded could hardly pel him to fight on equal terms, he, have been less than 2,000 men. leaving a part of his dead unburied, We were not so much beaten as fair- retreated rapidly across the Rapidan. ly crowded off the field; where Jack-Our cavalry pursued him to that

VOL. II.-12

stream, picking up a number of barely 7,000 men had reached him. stragglers.

Gen. Reno, with 8,000 of Burnside's corps, having joined" him, Gen. Pope advanced his infantry to Robertson's river and Raccoon Ford, with his center at and around Cedar Mountain, and began again to operate with his cavalry on the enemy's communications, until satisfied that the whole Rebel Army of Virginia was rapidly assembling to overwhelm him; one of his cavalry expeditions having captured J. E. B. Stuart's Adjutant, bearing a letter from Gen. Lee," at Gordonsville, which clearly indicated that purpose. Holding his advanced position to the last, so as to afford time for the arrival of McClellan's army, he commenced" a retreat across the Rappahannock, which was effected in two days without loss; and, though the Rebels, of course, followed sharply with their cavalry, reaching the river on the morning of the 20th, they found the fords so guarded and fortified that they could not be forced without heavy loss; so, after three days of skirmishing and artillery-firing at Kelly's Ford and Rappahannock Station, they commenced a movement up the stream, with intent to turn our right.

Pope, still under orders to maintain his communications with Fredericksburg, was unable to extend his right farther without too much weakening his center, and telegraphed again and again to Washington that he must be rëenforced or retreat. He was assured, on the 21st, that, if he could hold on two days longer, he should be so amply strengthened as to enable him to assume the offensive; yet, on the 25th, " August 14.

11

Dated

He had resolved to recross the Rappahannock on the night of the 22d, and fall upon the flank and rear of the long Rebel column constantly passing up the river; but, during that night, a heavy rain set in, which, before morning, had drowned all the fords and carried away the bridges in his front, rendering his meditated blow impossible.

During that night, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, with 1,500 Rebel cavalry and 2 guns, having crossed the Rappahannock at Waterloo Bridge and Hart's Mill during the preceding day, pushed on unobserved to Warrenton, surprised Gen. Pope's headquarterstrain near Catlett's Station, during the intense rain and darkness; capturing Pope's field Quartermaster and his dispatch-book, with a quantity of uniforms and personal baggage, burning the wagons, and trying to burn the railroad bridge over Cedar Run; but the tremendous rain then falling defeated this design. Stuart claims to have reached the Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs, on his return next day, with 300 prisoners and many horses, here crossing unharmed, after a night's bivouac and a little skirmishing. Pope's actual headquarters during this raid were near Rappahannock Station; but our army trains were parked around Catlett's, and guarded by 1,500 infantry and five companies of cavalry; so that Stuart's cheap success inflicted on cess inflicted on us more disgrace than injury-a disgrace which the intense darkness and pouring rain explain, but do not excuse.

Still, the enemy confronting us in ample force at Rappahannock StaAugust 15. 13 August 18.

POPE PREPARING TO FIGHT.

179

tion, Sulphur Springs, and Waterloo | them before advancing. Supported

by Gens. Reno and Banks, he crossed Great Run next morning" and occupied Sulphur Springs under a heavy fire of artillery from the Rebel batteries over the Rappahannock, rebuilding the Sulphur Springs bridge,

Bridge, kept moving heavy columns up their side of the river, with evident intent to flank and fall upon our right; and Pope, facing along the turnpike from Warrenton to Gainesville, resolved there to give battle. Meantime, Heintzelman's and pushing forward in the direction long-expected corps from McClellan's of Waterloo Bridge, which was ocarmy had reached Warrenton Junction," and Porter had reported from the neighborhood of Bealton Station; while Sturgis, Cox, and Franklin, were telegraphed from Washington to be just at hand. Pope, therefore, believed, and had a right to believe, that he was to be supported, in the struggle now imminent, by 40,000 to 50,000 veterans from the Army of the Potomac, and had made dispositions and given orders accordingly. He requested Gen. Halleck to push Franklin with all speed to Gainesville; and sent orders to Manassas Junction that the first division which reached that point from Alexandria should halt and take post in the works at that place, pushing forward its cavalry toward Thoroughfare Gap to watch the enemy's movements in that quarter; while Gen. Sturgis, commanding at Alexandria, had already been directed" by him to post strong guards along the railroad from Manassas Junction to Catlett's, personally superintending the execution of this order.

cupied by Gen. Buford's cavalry at noon of that day; Sigel's advance, under Milroy, arriving late in the afternoon: when our army may be said to have been concentrated, facing to the west, with Sigel's corps and Buford's cavalry near the Rappahannock at Waterloo Bridge, with Banks's behind it; Reno's farther east, and very near Sulphur Springs; McDowell, with Ricketts's and King's divisions, at Warrenton; Heintzelman behind him at Warrenton Junction, where Sturgis and Cox were hourly looked for; while Franklin was expected to come in on his right, and Porter to push forward and join Reno. But unsuccessful fighting and constant marching had by this time reduced Sigel's corps to 9,000 effectives; Banks's to 5,000; McDowell's, including Reynolds's division, to 15,500; and Reno's to 7,000; to which add 4,000 thoroughly usedup cavalry, and Pope's army proper could bring into action hardly 40,000 men. Add to these the corps of Heintzelman and Porter, just arrived from McClellan's army, and it might be said that his whole command numbered nearly 60,000; but Heintzelman had reached Warrenton Junction by railroad, without artillery or wagons, with only four rounds of ammunition to the man, and without horses even for his field