THE BELLIGERENTS RE-ENFORCED.

449

struggle was carried on, in which uncommon deeds of valor were performed by the respective combatants. "I have witnessed many battles during this war," wrote a newspaper correspondent, "but I have seen none where the tenacious obstinacy of the American character was so fully displayed." The Nationals, outnumbered by more than two to one, and failing to receive reenforcements in time, were forced back by overwhelming weight, after incurring and inflicting a terrible loss of human life. At dusk, Ricketts', division of McDowell's corps arrived on the field, and took position to relieve Banks and check the pursuit of the Confederates, and artillery-firing was kept up until midnight. Late in the evening Sigel's corps began to arrive. So ended the BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN, or of Cedar Run, as the Confederates call it. None was more desperately fought during the war. A part of the sanguinary struggle was hand to hand, under the dark pall of smoke that obscured the moon.

a Aug., 1862.

These re-enforcements kept Jackson in check, who held fast to his mountain position until the night of the 11th," when, informed of the approach of National troops from the Rappahannock, and alarmed for the safety of his communications with Richmond, he fled precipitately across the Rapid Anna, leaving a part of his dead unburied. He was pursued as far as that stream by Buford, with cavalry and artillery, and in the course of a day or two heavy rains placed almost impassable waters between the belligerents. Pope made his head-quarters at the house of Robert Hudson, the proprietor of the Rose Hill estate, on which, and that of Mrs. Crittenden, nearer the foot of Cedar Mountain, the principal part of the battle was fought. On the verge of the battle-field, where both parties claimed to have achieved a victory, the wearied troops rested on their arms the night succeeding the day of conflict-a night remarkable for its brilliancy, the moon being at its full.

Generals Pope and Jackson were both re-enforced soon after the Battle of Cedar Mountain. The latter retired to Gordonsville, where he was joined by the van of Lee's army, composed of the divisions of Longstreet, two

1 New York Herald, August 10, 1862.

The battle was somewhat unexpected to Pope. The cannonading that opened late in the afternoon was so desultory, that Banks reported he did not expect an attack, and supposed that no great infantry force had come forward. The mask of the forest had completely concealed them, and the large number of the Confede rates in his front was unsuspected by Banks. When, towards evening, the sounds of a heavy battle reached his ears, Pope ordered McDowell to send forward Ricketts' division, directed Sigel to bring his men upon the ground as quickly as possible, and then hastened to the front, where he arrived before the close of the action.

same.

The dead bodies of both parties were found mingled in masses over the whole ground of the conflict. The National loss was about two thousand men killed and wounded, and that of the Confederates was about the General Crawford's brigade came out of that terrible fight a mere remnant. Some regiments, like those of the One Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania and One Hundred and Second New York lost half of their number, dead or wounded. General Geary, with one Pennsylvania and five Ohio regiments, made one of the most desperate charges during the battle, and was severely wounded, with most of his officers. General Anger was also badly wounded; and General Prince, while passing from one part of his command to another, in the dark, was made prisoner. Lee, in his report (Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia, page 18), says he captured “400 prisoners, including a brigadier-general, 5,300 stand of small arms, one piece of artillery, several caissons, and three colors." Among Lee's officers who were slain was General C. S. Winder.

Lee says that Jackson made preparations to push on and “enter Culpepper Court-House before morning,” but was detained by the knowledge of Banks's re-enforcements.

On receiving orders to move, Sigel sent to inquire which route he should take, and while waiting for an answer, the precious hours that might have taken him to the front and secured a victory were lost.

Reports of Generals Pope and Lee, and of their subordinates. Pope specially commended the brave conduct of General Banks in the fight, who, he said, “was in the front, and exposed as much as any man in his command." He also made special mention of the gallantry of Generals Augur, Geary, Williams, Gordon, Crawford, Prince, Green, and Roberts.

VOL. II.-29

450

POPE COMPELLED TO RETREAT.

brigades under Hood, and Stuart's cavalry. Pope was joined by eight thousand of Burnside's soldiers under General Reno, and other troops under General King; and ten regiments under General Stevens, that had just come

ARTERS NEAR CEDAR MOUNTAIN.1

up from the South Carolina coast, had moved from Fredericksburg, and were within supporting distance. Pope was also authorized to call on General Cox for the greater por tion of his troops in Western Virginia. Thus strengthened, he moved forward and formed a line with his right under Sigel, on Robertson's River, his left under Reno, at Raccoon

Ford, and his center

americ Powell, occupying the flanks of Cedar Mountain.

It was intended to hold this position until the Army of the Potomac sound eat the Army of Virginia, but before that was accomplished Pope and accessary to fall back. Some Confederate cavalry were surprised and captured at Louisa Court-House, and from them positive information was obtained that Lee was about to throw his whole army with crushing force upon Pope, and to seize his communications with Fredericksburg and the capital. Pope was immediately ordered to retire behind the North

Fork of the Rappahannock, which he did in good order and without loss, taking position so that his left rested at Kelly's Ford and his right at Rappahannock Station, where the Orange and Alexandria railway crosses the North Fork. The Confederate cavalry ad closely pursued, and on the 20th and 21st, Lee's army, in heavy force, ached the river, Longstreet, with Fitz-Hugh Lee's cavalry taking position posite Pope's left, and Jackson, with Stuart's cavalry, posting themselves at Beverly Ford, above Rappahannock Station. There had been some brisk kirmishing between the cavalry of Bayard and Stuart all the way from Cedar Mountain, but no very severe fighting excepting near Brandy Station, where the Nationals were worsted and driven across the Rappahannock.

* August 20,

This was the appearance of Mr. Hudson's house on Rose Hill when the writer visited and sketched it, in ber, 1866. Mr. Hudson and his family were living there. He was then seventy-five years of age. They mained in the house during the battle. Several of Banks's cannon were planted near it, and several soldiers was killed in the yard in front and at the side of the house. Cedar Mountain, which is about a mile distant ham Hudson's, is seen, in the sketch, between the two locust-trees on the right.

Stuart was with the party. and narrowly escaped capture. His adjutant was not so fortunate. On his tson was found an autograph letter from General Lee, dated the 15th, in which the intended movement was ntioned.-See Lee's Report accompanying the Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia, page 19.

A few miles above Fredericksburg the Rappahannock forks, the more southern branch being the Rapid d the other the North Fork.

MOVEMENTS ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

451

During the 20th and 21st there was an artillery conflict along the Rappahannock for seven or eight miles, the Confederates trying to force a passage of that stream in front of the Nationals, while the latter, well posted, continually repulsed them. On the second day it was clear to Lee and his officers that they could not succeed, so they began the more formidable movement of a march up the stream, to cross it above and flank Pope's army. This movement was masked by leaving a strong force at Beverly Ford under Longstreet. Pope had expected and dreaded this; for, being still under strict orders to keep up a communication with Fredericksburg, he was too weak in numbers to extend his right any farther up the stream. He telegraphed to Washington that he must either be re-enforced or retreat, and was assured that if he could hold on two days longer he would be so strengthened by troops expected from the Peninsula that he would be able to resume the offensive. But on the morning of the 25th, the designated time, only seven thousand troops of that army had reached him.'

a August 21, 1862.

In the mean time Pope had determined to paralyze the dangerous flank movement, if possible, by the perilous one to himself of throwing his whole force across the Rappahannock, and falling furiously upon the flank and rear of the Confederates. He saw clearly that he must either do this or abandon the line of the Rappahannock and retire to Warrenton Junction, or retire to Fredericksburg and abandon the Orange and Alexandria railway, and thus leave open the direct approaches to Washington. Arrangements for the bold movement were made, when a heavy rain-storm set in and frustrated it. The river was raised several feet before morning, and the bridges were destroyed, and all the fords were drowned. At the same time Stuart was making a raid on Pope's

which Pope's army

trains were then parked,

CATLETT'S STATION.

and guarded by about fifteen hundred infantry and five companies of cavalry. Stuart fired a portion of the trains, but did not succeed in doing much damage, on account of the rain.

He captured Pope's field quartermaster with

1 These were 2,500 Pennsylvania Reserves, under General Reynolds, and the division of General Kearney, 4,500 strong, which on that day was at Warrenton Junction.

452

TARDINESS OF RE-ENFORCEMENTS.

burned a few wagons, and carried off about two hundred prisoners, saken from the hospitals The disgrace inflicted, it was thought, was $ mere serious than the damage. Stuart recrossed the Rappahannock at Tarenton Sering after a little skirmishing.

The Natures capital was now in imminent danger, and slowly the Army of the Preomae was coming up to its relief. Still it was coming, and Pope rss male to believe that almost immediately he would be re-enforced by Very thousand or fity thousand fresh troops, who had been resting for more That & morty s own fece had become much weakened by fighting and maching, and at the time its effective men did not exceed forty thousand #number. Sa with the hye of immediate support, he massed his army The wearhood of Rappahannock Station," for the purpose' a filling now the portion of the Confederates that had crossed ve shery lim, and was then supposed to be stretched in de Salphur Springs, and Warrenton. PVOL » VE $8 £ sufficient barrier to any attempt of the Confederates Chi hata të met between himself and Fredericksburg. Nok to march his whole corps upon Sulphur Springs, sup

He looked

Sacks and Rona sad McDowell (joined by the Pennsylvania unge Serwis was ordered, at the same time, to march directly

Nache một Siz with Siged in pushing the Confederates Maony Sale. General Halleck was requested to send Franklin's chot hai s“ ol at Akranima from the Peninsula) to Gainsville, MAN 817 si vay, eight miles west of the Junction. Sturgis, ng texans had het velel' to post strong guards along The var hover Kissous Junction and Catlett Station; Romans, Jan, had gonor to the commander 21 Manassas Junction, for arendel with but little damag hit was most disgraceful to the

Badal ze iteral. MeClellan to hasten the metre of his army from the Ja, he intensi katt vi the perils with which Pope's army at the expital were threatened, I RAUTA transfertation (an immense number of resses in the James and at Hamp war dagvadi, var way is not satisfactory. You must move clerity." On the followDANĂ ÎNCAMu Nahka of the battle between Pope and Jackson, at Cedar Mountain, and said, W hache kur in your movements; that which has ana † accred was entirely unexactors y ext lined." To these clectrographs MeCelan replied, that a lack of trans#yuu Vự ý gx cho chus we worṛt and he assured the General-in-Chief that he was & ang all in his power to carry No Makan's Report, pages 150-160.

M

*ANCO Powys succeeding the retreat to Harrison's Landing. Lee's any having fallen back to W the exception of a brigade of cavalry left to watch the movements of the Army of the Potomac, ale service, excepting camp duty, for that army to perform. Immediately on its arrival upon 1s formed by the James and Herring Creek, between Harrison's Point and Westover, the 2020 were strongly fortified. It soon became evident that troops were gathering on the south side be ones in the neighborhood of Petersburg. On the 30th of July, McClellan was informed from Washkow chat they were moving, when Hooker was ordered to advance with his division and Pleasanton's setze Malvern Hills as a menace of Richmond. He drove the Confederates from the Hills (Aug. 5), 10, 100 of them, and pushed cavalry under Averill as far as White Oak Swamp Bridge, where they capmen and horses of the Tenth Virginia cavalry. Hooker was satisfied that if he had been allowed to sw up this movement with any considerable number of troops, Richmond might have been taken with ease, Man had received a peremptory order to transfer his army to Acquia Creek, and it could not be done. while General French, with a considerable Confederate force and 43 guns, had gone down the south side the James to assail McClellan's camp. He appeared suddenly at Coggin's Point, before daylight on the wing of the first of August, and opened fire on the camp and vessels. So soon as McClellan's guns were bought to bear on him, he ceased firing and withdrew. McClellan sent a force across the James that drove the Confederates back to Petersburg, and strongly fortified Coggin's Point.

* Sigel's corps had become reduced to about 9,000 effectives; Banks's to 5,000; McDowells's, including Pynolds's division that had come from the Peninsula, was only 15,000; Reno's was 7,000; and the cavalry, ly reduced in its equipment of horses and arms, did not exceed 4,00),

POSITION OF THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA.

453 the first division of re-enforcements that should arrive to halt and take part in the works there, pushing forward its cavalry to Thoroughfare Gap. Sigel with his supporters (Banks and Reno), moved slowly up the left side. of the Rappahannock, and drove the Confederates from Great Run." After re-building the bridge the latter had destroyed, he pushed forward, and, under the fire of artillery from the opposite side of the Rappahannock, took possession of Sulphur Springs the next morning, and went on toward Waterloo Bridge. The latter point was occupied by Buford's cavalry at noon,' and Sigel's advance under Milroy

arrived there late in the afternoon.

a Aug. 23, 1862.

Aug. 24.

Pope's army now faced westward, with Sigel's corps and Buford's

cavalry near the Rappahannock, at Waterloo Bridge, and Banks just behind them. Reno was near Sulphur Springs; McDowell, with the divisions of Ricketts and King, was at Warrenton; and Heintzelman,' who had just arrived from the Peninsula, was at Warrenton Junction. Porter had been reported as near Bealton Station,' and it was expected that he would press forward and join Reno; while Franklin was expected to take post on Heintzelman's right. Sturgis and Cox were hourly expected at Warrenton Junction.

Such was the position of Pope's army, now about sixty thousand strong, on the 25th of August, the day on which Jackson, who led Lee's forces engaged in the great flank movement, crossed the Rappahannock at Hinson's Mill, four miles above Waterloo Bridge, passed through Orleans, bivouacked at Salem, and, moving with his accustomed celerity, the next day Aug 26. crossed the Bull's Run Mountains at Thoroughfare Gap to Gainesville, where he was joined by Stuart with two cavalry brigades, and at twilight reached Bristow Station, on the Orange and Alexandria railway, in Pope's rear, and between him and Washington and Alexandria. This movement had been so thoroughly masked that Pope was completely deceived, and on the previous evening, when Jackson was reposing at Salem, between Thoroughfare and Manassas Gaps, he sent word to McDowell at Warrenton, that he believed "the whole force of the enemy had marched for the Shenandoah Valley, by way of Luray and Front Royal." From information received from an officer of the signal corps, at noon that day, Banks was of the same opinion. So little was Jackson expected at the rear of the army that two trains of cars ran up to Bristow Station, and were captured by him.

Jackson knew the peril of his position, and the necessity for quick

1 Heintzelman was not well prepared for action at once. He had been sent forward by railway, without artillery, or wagons, or horses for his field officers, and only four rounds of ammunition to each man.

Porter had but a small supply of provisions, and barely forty rounds of cartridges to each man.