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Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia
Battle of Cedar Mountain
Other Names: Slaughter’s Mountain, Cedar Run
Location: Culpeper County, Virginia
Campaign: Northern Virginia Campaign (June-September 1862)
Date(s): August 9, 1862
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks [US]; Maj. Gen.
Thomas J. Jackson [CS]
Forces Engaged: 24,898 total (US 8,030; CS 16,868)
Estimated Casualties: 2,707 total (US 1,400; CS 1,307)
Result(s): Confederate victory
Description: Maj. Gen. John Pope was placed in command of the
newly constituted Army of Virginia on June 26. Gen. Robert E. Lee responded to Pope’s dispositions by dispatching Maj.
Gen. T.J. Jackson with 14,000 men to Gordonsville in July. Jackson was later reinforced by A.P. Hill’s division. In
early August, Pope marched his forces south into Culpeper County with the objective of capturing the rail junction at Gordonsville.
On August 9, Jackson and Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks’s corps tangled at Cedar Mountain with the Federals gaining an early
advantage. A Confederate counterattack led by A.P. Hill repulsed the Federals and won the day. Confederate general William
Winder was killed. This battle shifted fighting in Virginia from the Peninsula to Northern Virginia, giving Lee the initiative.
| Battle of Cedar Mountain Map |
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| Civil War Cedar Mountain Map |
| Battle of Cedar Mountain Map |
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| Civil War Cedar Mountain Battlefield Map |
Introduction: The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known
as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American
Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall"
Jackson near Cedar Mountain as the Confederates marched on Culpeper Court House to forestall a Union advance into central
Virginia. After nearly being driven from the field in the early part of the battle, a Confederate counterattack broke the
Union lines resulting in a Confederate victory. The battle was the first combat of the Northern Virginia Campaign.
| Northern Virginia Campaign |
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| (L) Union General John Pope and (R) Confederate General Robert E. Lee |
(Photograph) John Pope (L) and Robert E. Lee (R), opposing commanding generals
of the Northern Virginia Campaign.
Setting the Stage: On June 26, Maj. Gen. John Pope was
placed in command of the newly constituted Union Army of Virginia. Pope deployed his army in an arc across Northern Virginia.
Its right flank, under Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel, was positioned at Sperryville on the Blue Ridge Mountains, its center, under
Maj. Gen Nathaniel P. Banks, was located at Little Washington and its left flank under Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell was at Falmouth
on the Rappahannock River. Part of Banks's corps, Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford's brigade and Brig. Gen John P. Hatch's cavalry,
were stationed 20 miles (32 km) beyond the Union line, at Culpeper Court House.
General Robert E. Lee responded to Pope's dispositions by dispatching Major
General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson with 14,000 men to Gordonsville on July 13. Jackson was later reinforced with another
10,000 men by Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill's division on July 27. On August 6, Pope marched his forces south into Culpeper County with
the objective of capturing the rail junction at Gordonsville, in an attempt to draw Confederate attention away from Maj. Gen.
George B. McClellan's withdrawal from the Virginia Peninsula.
| Cedar Mountain and Stonewall Jackson |
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| Cedar Mountain Battle Historical Marker |
| Battle of Cedar Mountain History |
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| Civil War Cedar Mountain Battlefield Marker |
In response to this threat, Jackson chose to go on the offensive, attacking
Pope's vanguard under Banks, before the entire Army of Virginia could be brought to bear on his position at Gordonsville.
After defeating Banks, he then hoped to move on Culpeper Court House, 26 miles (42 km) north of Gordonsville and the focal
point of the Union arc about Northern Virginia, to keep Pope's army from uniting. This would allow Jackson to fight and hopefully
defeat each of the Union Corps separately, as he had done during the Valley Campaign. Accordingly, Jackson set out on August
7 for Culpeper. The cavalry under Brig. Gen. Beverly Robertson was sent ahead to dispatch the Federal cavalry guarding the
fords of the Rapidan River and occupying Madison Court House, threatening the Confederates left flank as they marched northward.
This task was easily accomplished by Robertson on August 8.
Jackson's march on Culpeper Court House was hindered by the severe heat
wave over Virginia at the beginning of August, as well as by his characteristic secrecy about his plan, which caused confusion
among his divisional commanders as to the exact route of advance. As such, the head of his column had only progressed 8 miles
(13 km) by the evening of August 8. The Federal Cavalry, though easily dispatched by Robertson, quickly returned to Pope and
alerted him of the Confederate advance. In response, Pope ordered Sigel to Culpeper Court House to reinforce Banks, and Banks
was ordered to maintain a defensive line on a ridge above Cedar Run, 7 miles (11 km) south of Culpeper Court House.
Battle:
Confederate Position
On the morning of August 9, Jackson's army crossed to the Rapidan River
into Culpeper County, led by Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's division, followed by Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder's division, with
Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill's division in the rear. Just before noon, Brig. Gen. Jubal Early's brigade, the vanguard of Ewell's division,
came upon Federal cavalry and artillery occupying the ridge above Cedar Run, just to the north-west of Cedar Mountain. Early
brought up his guns and an artillery duel began between the opposing forces as Early's infantry formed a line on the eastern
side of the Culpeper-Orange Turnpike (present day U.S. Route 15) on the high ground on the opposite bank of Cedar Run.[9]
As the rest of Ewell's division arrived they formed on Early's right, anchored against the northern slope of the mountain
and deployed there six guns on its ridge. Winder's division formed to Early's left, on the west side of the Turnpike, with
Brig. Gen. William Taliaferro's brigade closest to Early, and Col. Thomas S. Garnett's on the far Confederate left in a wheat
field at the edge of a woods. Winder's artillery filled a gap on the road between the two division, the Stonewall Brigade,
led by Col. Charles R. Ronald, was brought up in support behind the guns. A.P Hill's division, still marching up the Turnpike,
was ordered to stand in reserve on the Confederate left.
Union Position
The Federals formed a line on a ridge above Cedar Run, with Brig. Gen. Samuel
W. Crawford's brigade on forming the Union right in a field across from Garnett and Brig. Gen. Christopher C. Auger's division
on the Union left to the east of the Turnpike. Brig. Gen. John W. Geary's brigade was anchored on the Turnpike opposing Taliaferro,
while Brig. Gen Henry Prince's brigade formed the far left opposite Ewell. Brig. Gen. George S. Greene's understrength brigade
(only two regiments) was kept in reserve in the rear.
| Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia |
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| Civil War Battle of Cedar Mountain Memorial |
Union Attack
A little before 5:00 p.m. as the artillery fight began to wane, Confederate
Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder fell mortally wounded. He had been ill that day and was taken onto the field in an ambulance
wagon. While attempting to direct his troops, he was struck by a shell fragment. Winder's left arm and side were torn to pieces,
and he died a few hours later. As a result, command of the division devolved on William Taliaferro, who was completely ignorant
of Jackson's battle plan. Dispositions on his part of the field were still incomplete; Garnett's brigade was isolated from
the main Confederate line, with its flank dangerously exposed to the woods. The Stonewall Brigade was to have come up to support
them, but remained a half mile distant behind the artillery. Before leadership could properly be restored to the division
the Union attack began. Geary and Prince were sent against the Confederate right. The Federal advance was swift and threatened
to break the Confederate line, prompting Early to come galloping to the front from Cedar Mountain where he was directing troop
dispositions. Early's stabilizing presence and the raking fire of the Confederate guns halted the Union advance on the Confederate
right. On the left Crawford attacked Winder's division, sending one brigade directly at the Confederate line and another brigade
through the woods on a flanking movement. The Federals came from the woods directly into the flank of the 1st Virginia Infantry,
who under the pressure from attack on two fronts broke for the rear. The Federals pushed on, not waiting to reform their lines,
rolling through the outflanked 42nd Virginia until they found themselves in Taliaferro's and the artillery's rear. The Stonewall
Brigade came up and was swept aside by Crawford's troops before it had a chance to react. Jackson ordered the batteries withdrawn
before they were captured, but Taliaferro and Early's left were hit hard by the Union advance and threatened to break.
| Battle of Cedar Mountain Map |
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| Civil War Cedar Mountain Battlefield Map |
| Battle of Cedar Mountain Map |
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| Cedar Mountain Historical Battlefield Map |
Confederate Counterattack
At this dire point, Gen. Jackson rode to that part of the field to rally
the men and came upon his old brigade finally being brought up to reinforce the line. Intending to inspire the troops there,
he attempted to brandish his sword; however, due to the infrequency with which he drew it, it had rusted in its scabbard and
he was unable to dislodge it. Undaunted, he unbuckled the sword from his belt and waved it, scabbard and all, over his head.
He then grabbed a battle flag from a retreating standard bearer and yelled at his men to rally around him. The Stonewall Brigade,
heartened by their commander, launched into the Union troops and drove them back. By this point, Banks's men were becoming
tired and disorganized, with their ammunition nearly gone. Without any support, his men had been unable to follow up on their
initial success. In their zeal, the Stonewall Brigade pursued the Federals as they fell back, but soon found themselves beyond
the Confederate line and without support. The Federals reformed and attacked, driving the 4th and 27th Virginia back. But
the actions of the Stonewall Brigade gave the Confederate line time to reform and A.P Hill's troops to come up and fill the
gaps from Winder's broken regiments. Jackson ordered Hill and Ewell to advance. He encountered Brig. Gen. Lawrence O'Bryan
Branch (a career politician) making a lengthy speech to his troops, and urged him to press forward. The Union right immediately
collapsed. Ewell, having difficulty silencing his guns, was delayed, but the Union left began to waver at the sight of Crawford's
retreat and were finally broken by a charge down Cedar Mountain by Brig. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble's brigade.
| Cedar Mountain & Hand-to-Hand Fighting |
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| Civil War Battle of Cedar Mountain |
Confederate Pursuit
Despite bringing up Greene's reserve brigade in support, by 7 p.m. the Union
line was in full retreat. In a last-ditch effort to help cover his infantry's retreat, Banks sent two squadrons of cavalry
at the Confederate line. They were met with a devastating volley from the Confederate infantry posted behind a fence on the
road, allowing only 71 of 174 to escape. The Confederate infantry and Brig. Gen William E. Jones's 7th Virginia Cavalry hotly
pursued the retreating Federals, nearly capturing Banks and Pope, who were at their headquarters a mile behind the Federal
line. After a mile-and-a-half of pursuit, Jackson grew weary as darkness set in, as he was unsure of the location of the rest
of Pope's army. Finally, several Union infantrymen captured by the 7th Virginia informed the Confederates that Pope was bringing
Sigel forward to reinforce Banks. Accordingly, Jackson called off the pursuit and by around 10 p.m the fighting had ceased.
By this point, Brig. Gen. James Ricketts's division of McDowell's corps was arriving, which effectively covered Banks's retreat.
Aftermath: Losses were high in the battle: Union casualties
of 2,353 (314 killed, 1,445 wounded, 594 missing), Confederate 1,338 (231 killed, 1,107 wounded).* Crawford's brigade had
lost over 50% of its total strength, including most of its officers. Prince's and Geary's brigades suffered 30–40% casualty
rates. Both generals were wounded, and Prince was also captured. Confederate Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder was mortally wounded
by a shell.
*Hearn, Chester. The Civil War: Virginia. London: Salamander Books, 2005. ISBN 1-84065-558-5. (National
Park Service, however, places the Union casualty figures much lower.)
For two days, Jackson maintained his position south of Cedar Run on the
western slope of the mountain, waiting for a Federal attack that did not come. Finally, receiving news that all of Pope's
army had arrived at Culpeper Court House, on August 12, Jackson fell back on Gordonsville to a more defensive position behind
the Rapidan River.
Weather and poor communication with his divisional commanders had robbed
Jackson of the initiative in the fight. Still expecting to face the same cautious opponent from the Valley, he was taken by
surprise and very nearly driven from the field. Excellent commanding by the Confederates at the crucial moment of the battle
and the fortuitous arrival of Hill staved off defeat, eventually allowing their numerical superiority to drive the Federals
from the field. For his part, Banks, having been soundly defeated by Jackson in the Valley, was anxious to make up for previous
losses. Rather than fighting a defensive battle from a strong position because he was outnumbered 2 to 1, giving time for
the rest of Pope's army to arrive, he decided to take the initiative and attack Jackson before he could fully form his lines.
The bold move very nearly paid off, but in the end he was again defeated by his old foe.
With Jackson on the loose, wreaking havoc against Union forces, General-in-Chief
Henry W. Halleck became apprehensive and called off Pope's advance on Gordonsville, thereby giving Lee the initiative in the
Northern Virginia Campaign. The battle effectively shifted fighting in Virginia from the Virginia Peninsula into northern
Virginia.
| Battle of Cedar Mountain Monument |
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| Civil War Historical Marker |
(Right) Battle of Cedar Mountain historical marker. Generals Pope and Jackson. "Stonewall" Jackson is said
to have first drawn his sword at this battle. Confederate victory.
Confederate Army Order of Battle
Left Wing, Army of Northern
Virginia
MG Thomas J. Jackson
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Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
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Ewell’s Division
MG Richard S. Ewell |
Early’s Brigade
BG
Jubal A. Early
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- 13th Virginia Infantry
- 25th Virginia Infantry
- 31st Virginia Infantry
- 52nd Virginia Infantry
- 58th Virginia Infantry
- 12th Georgia
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Hay’s Brigade
Col
Henry Forno
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- 5th Louisiana
- 6th Louisiana
- 7th Louisiana
- 8th Louisiana
- 14th Louisiana
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Trimble’s Brigade
BG
Isaac R. Trimble
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- 15th Alabama
- 21st Georgia
- 21st North Carolina
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Artillery
A.R.
Courtney
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- D’Aquin’s (La.) Battery
- Brown’s (Md.) Battery
- Dement’s (Md.) Battery
- Latimer’s (Va.) Battery
- Bedford (Va.) Artillery
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Light Division
MG A.P. Hill |
Branch’s Brigade
BG
Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
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- 7th North Carolina
- 18th North Carolina
- 28th North Carolina
- 33rd North Carolina
- 37th North Carolina
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|
Archer’s Brigade
BG
James J. Archer
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- 19th Georgia
- 1st Tennessee
- 7th Tennessee
- 14th Tennessee
- 5th Alabama Battalion
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Thomas’s Brigade
BG
Edward L. Thomas
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- 14th Georgia
- 35th Georgia
- 45th Georgia
- 49th Georgia
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Gregg’s Brigade
BG
Maxcy Gregg
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- 1st South Carolina
- 1st South Carolina (Orr’s) Rifles
- 12th South Carolina
- 13th South Carolina
- 14th South Carolina
|
|
Starke’s Brigade
BG
William E. Starke
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- 1st Louisiana
- 2nd Louisiana
- 9th Louisiana
- 10th Louisiana
- 15th Louisiana
|
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Field’s Brigade
BG
Charles W. Field
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- 40th Virginia Infantry
- 47th Virginia Infantry
- 55th Virginia Infantry
- 22nd Virginia Infantry Battalion
|
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Pender’s Brigade
BG
William D. Pender
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- 16th North Carolina
- 22nd North Carolina
- 34th North Carolina
- 38th North Carolina
|
|
Artillery
R.
Lindsay Walker
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- Latham’s (N.C.) Battery
- Pee Dee (S.C.) Artillery
- Fredericksburg (Va.) Artillery
- Letcher (Va.) Artillery
- Middlesex (Va.) Artillery
- Purcell (Va.) Artillery
|
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Jackson’s Division
BG Charles S. Winder (mw)
BG William B. Taliaferro |
Stonewall Brigade
Col
Charles A. Ronald
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- 2nd Virginia Infantry
- 4th Virginia Infantry
- 5th Virginia Infantry
- 27th Virginia Infantry
- 33rd Virginia Infantry
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|
Second Brigade
Col
T.S. Garnett
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- 21st Virginia Infantry
- 42nd Virginia Infantry
- 48th Virginia Infantry
- 1st Virginia (Irish) Battalion
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Third Brigade
Col
Alexander G. Taliaferro
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- 47th Alabama
- 48th Alabama
- 10th Virginia Infantry
- 23rd Virginia Infantry
- 37th Virginia Infantry
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Fourth Brigade
BG
Alexander R. Lawton
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- 13th Georgia
- 26th Georgia
- 31st Georgia
- 38th Georgia
- 60th Georgia
- 61st Georgia
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Artillery
Maj
R. Snowden Andrews (w)
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- Alleghany (Va.) Artillery
- Hampden (Va.) Artillery
- Rockbridge (Va.) Artillery
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Cavalry
|
Brigades |
Regiments and batteries |
|
Robertson's Brigade
BG
Beverly H. Robertson
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- 6th Virginia Cavalry
- 7th Virginia Cavalry
- 12th Virginia Cavalry
- 17th Virginia Cavalry Battalion
- 2nd Virginia Cavalry (detachment)
- 4th Virginia Cavalry (detachment)
- Chew’s Battery
|
Union Army Order of Battle
Army of Virginia
Unattached units
Pope’s escort
1st Ohio Cavalry (detachment)
II Corps
Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks
Escort
1st Michigan Cavalry (detachment)
5th New York Cavalry (detachment)
1st West Virginia Cavalry (detachment)
|
Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
|
First Division
BG Alpheus S. Williams |
1st Brigade
BG
Samuel W. Crawford
|
- 5th Connecticut, Col George D. Chapman (wc)
- 10th Maine, George L. Beal
- 28th New York, Dudley Donnelly (mw)
- 46th Pennsylvania, Col Joseph Knipe (w)
|
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3rd Brigade
BG
George H. Gordon
|
- 2nd Massachusetts, Col George L. Andrews
- 3rd Wisconsin, Col Thomas H. Ruger
- 27th Indiana, Col Silas Colgrove
- Zouaves d’Afrique (Collis’s company)
|
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Second Division
BG Christopher C. Augur (w)
BG Henry Prince
BG George S. Greene |
1st Brigade
BG
John W. Geary
Col Charles Candy
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- 5th Ohio, Col Samuel H. Dunning
- 7th Ohio, Col William R. Creighton (w)
- 29th Ohio
- 66th Ohio
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2nd Brigade
BG
Henry Prince
Col David P. DeWitt
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- 3rd Maryland
- 102nd New York
- 109th Pennsylvania
- 111th Pennsylvania
- 8th and 12th U.S. Infantry Battalion
|
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3rd Brigade
BG
George S. Greene
Col James A. Tait
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- 1st District of Columbia
- 78th New York
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Corps Artillery
Cpt
Clermont L. Best
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- 4th Battery, Maine Light Artillery
- 6th Battery, Maine Light Artillery
- Battery K, 1st New York Light Artillery
- Battery L, 1st New York Light Artillery
- Battery M, 1st New York Light Artillery
- Battery L, 2nd New York Light Artillery
- 10th Battery, New York Light Artillery
- Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery
- Battery F, 4th U.S. Artillery
|
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III Corps
MG Irvin McDowell
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Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Others |
|
Second Division
BG James B. Ricketts |
1st Brigade
Abram
Duryee
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- 97th New York
- 104th New York
- 105th New York
- 107th Pennsylvania
|
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2nd Brigade
BG
Zealous B. Tower
|
- 26th New York
- 94th New York
- 88th Pennsylvania
- 90th Pennsylvania
|
|
3rd Brigade
George
L. Hartsuff
|
- 12th Massachusetts
- 13th Massachusetts
- 83rd New York
- 11th Pennsylvania
|
|
4th Brigade
Col
Samuel S. Carroll
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- 7th Indiana
- 84th Pennsylvania
- 110th Pennsylvania
- 1st West Virginia
|
|
Cavalry Brigade
BG
George D. Bayard
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- 1st Maine Cavalry
- 1st New Jersey Cavalry
- 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry
- 1st Rhode Island Cavalry
|
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(Sources listed below.)
Sources: National Park Service; Civil War Trust; Library of Congress; Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies; Hearn, Chester. The Civil
War: Virginia. London: Salamander Books, 2005. ISBN 1-84065-558-5; Henderson, G. F. R. Stonewall Jackson and the American
Civil War. New York: Smithmark, 1995. ISBN 0-8317-3288-1. First published in 1903 by Longman, Greens, and Co.; McDonald, William
N. A History of the Laurel Brigade. Edited by Bushrod C. Washington. Baltimore: K. S. McDonald, 1907. OCLC 3523435; McPherson,
James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford History of the United States. New York: Oxford University Press,
1988. ISBN 0-19-503863-0; Robertson, James I., Jr. Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend. New York: MacMillan
Publishing, 1997. ISBN 0-02-864685-1; Salmon, John S. The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide. Mechanicsburg, PA:
Stackpole Books, 2001. ISBN 0-8117-2868-4; Welcher, Frank J. The Union Army, 1861–1865 Organization and Operations.
Vol. 1, The Eastern Theater. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1989. ISBN 0-253-36453-1; Wood, W. J. Civil War Generalship:
The Art of Command. New York: Da Capo Press, 2000. ISBN 0-306-80973-7. First published 1977 by Greenwood Press; Banks,
Raymond H. The King of Louisiana, 1862-1865, and Other Government Work: A Biography of Major General Nathaniel Prentice Banks.
Las Vegas, NV: R. H. Banks, 2005. OCLC 63270945; Krick, Robert K. Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain. Chapel Hill: University
of North Carolina Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8078-5355-0.
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