BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
No sooner had the Washington Government learned of the reverses
on the Peninsula, than General Pope was sent to Virginia to occupy the
Shenandoah Valley. His advance consisted of two divisions under
command of General Banks. General Lee, ever vigilant, sent a strong
force to repel this invasion, and on the evening of the 8th of August a
portion of General Jackson's corps, consisting of the 1st, 2d and 3d
brigades, commanded by General Charles S. Winder, forded the Rapidan
river and advanced into Culpeper county. The next morning it
was reported that the Federals were advancing to the attack, and
Ewell's division moved out three miles on the road leading from Orange
Court House to Culpeper Court House, where it took position, with the
left flank resting on South Mountain.
At 12 M. cannonading began; at 3 P. M. General Early's brigade of
Ewell's division made a circuit through the woods and attacked the
Federals on the right, the 13th Virginia regiment marching in the
advance. At 4 P. M. the action became general, and as General Jackson's
division, under command of General Winder, was advancing to
the attack, it was subjected to a galling fire poured forth with great
precision from the mountain side. General Winder had his left arm
shattered, and a few minutes later received a wound in the side, from
which he died in an hour. The battle raged until nightfall and victory
seemed to hang in the balance, but just as the full-orbed moon was
lighting up the mountain tops, the Federals gave way and retreated,
leaving their dead and wounded upon the field.
