BGuthrie Photos: VA -- Cedar Mountain battlefield

VA -- Cedar Mountain battlefield:

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[1] CEDARM_060226_001.JPG	[2] CEDARM_060226_014.JPG	[3] CEDARM_060226_025.JPG
[4] CEDARM_060226_028.JPG	[5] CEDARM_060226_032.JPG	[6] CEDARM_060226_040.JPG
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[10] CEDARM_060226_049.JPG	[11] CEDARM_060226_053.JPG	[12] CEDARM_060226_055.JPG
[13] CEDARM_060226_060.JPG	[14] CEDARM_060226_066.JPG	[15] CEDARM_060226_071.JPG
[16] CEDARM_060226_073.JPG	[17] CEDARM_060226_077.JPG	[18] CEDARM_060226_081.JPG
[19] CEDARM_060226_086.JPG	[20] CEDARM_060226_089.JPG	[21] CEDARM_060226_095.JPG
[22] CEDARM_060226_096.JPG	[23] CEDARM_060226_100.JPG	[24] CEDARM_060226_109.JPG
[25] CEDARM_060226_113.JPG	[26] CEDARM_060226_117.JPG	[27] CEDARM_060226_122.JPG
[28] CEDARM_060226_124.JPG	[29] CEDARM_060226_129.JPG	[30] CEDARM_060226_142.JPG
[31] CEDARM_060226_146.JPG	[32] CEDARM_060226_151.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. CEDARM_060226_001.JPG: This church, the Cedar Run Baptist Church (1830), on Mitchell Station Road, saw the Confederates chasing off Union forces in the final phase of the battle.
2. CEDARM_060226_014.JPG: The church again, with Mitchell Station Road (Route 649) running alongside it.
3. CEDARM_060226_025.JPG: In the distance is Cedar Mountain, one of three locations where Confederates had artillery placed.
4. CEDARM_060226_032.JPG: This is a "pumpkin chunker". It's used in competitions to shoot pumpkins over great distances.
5. CEDARM_060226_040.JPG: Battle of Cedar Mountain Fought August 9, 1862. A Confederate victory. -- Commanders -- Confederate Gen. T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson Federals Gen. John Pope Casualties, Confederate 1369, Federal 2263 Gen. C.S. Winder, CSA, fell here This is the only battlefield on which Gen. Stonewall Jackson drew his sword.
6. CEDARM_060226_044.JPG: Battle of Cedar Mountain Near here Jackson formed line of battle and received the attack of Banks' Corps of Pope's army. From here he attacked in turn, driving the Union force northward.
7. CEDARM_060226_046.JPG: Hand-to-Hand Fighting The focal point on the battlefield of Cedar Mountain was several hundred yards to the left of this location, at a gate where the Crittenden farm lane met the old main road. Confederate artillery around that site duelled enemy guns to their right front: during that firing, General C.S. Winder of the "Stonewall" Brigade was mortally wounded there. The climax of the battle erupted when seven Northern regiments burst from a woods to the left front and pressed nearly to that point. Jackson rode into the fray under fire from three sides and personally rallied his troops to save the day.
8. CEDARM_060226_049.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain On August 9, 1862, a Confederate army under "Stonewall" Jackson fought a hot engagement here in the shadow of Cedar Mountain against a Federal force commanded by the brashly confident John Pope. Jackson's army was much stronger, but a bold Federal advance nearly routed the Confederates. When Jackson's reserves under A.P. Hill arrived they stabilized the front and then steadily drove the Union army from the field. Although his brilliant exploits as Lee's right arm were to continue for the nine remaining months of his life, Cedar Mountain was the last battle "Stonewall" commanded on his own.
9. CEDARM_060226_053.JPG: Cedar Mountain Jackson Draws His Sword In the summer of 1862, Federal Gen. John Pope threatened to retaliate against Southern civilians who tried to thwart the efforts of his new army. The threats prompted Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to issue Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson the somber order: "I want Pope to be suppressed." Outnumbered by Pope's forces, Jackson sought an opportunity to attack an isolated portion of the Union command, and discovered one at Cedar Mountain on the severely hot day of August 9, 1862. Jackson's force of 22,000 men advanced north along the Culpeper Road. The Confederates encountered Federal Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks with 12,000 soldiers blocking the road 3/4 of a mile up from the UDC marker. Jackson quickly placed his men into a line along Crittenden Lane, anchoring the position on the shelf of Cedar Mountain, the high ground. As the Confederates went into position, an artillery duel erupted. Near a gate at this end of Crittenden Lane, Confederate Gen. Charles S. Winder was mortally wounded when a shell lacerated his abdomen. About 5pm, Federal infantry assembled. Jackson easily repulsed the attack on his center but preparations on his left had not been completed when Federal Gen. Samuel W. Crawford struck and shattered the Confederate line. Here at the gate, Jackson rode into the midst of a desperate struggle. An observer stated, "The escape of Jackson from death was miraculous. He was in the thickest of the combat." Waving his sword (rusted to his scabbard) and crying "Jackson is with you," the commander successfully rallied his men. The opportune arrival of reinforcements stabilized the line, and then drove the Federals back toward Culpeper. The Confederates suffered about 1,400 casualties, and Union losses numbered about 2,500.
10. CEDARM_060226_055.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9, 1862 In the summer of 1862 General John Pope formed the Federal Army of Virginia. While the elements of this new 63,000-man army were converging upon Culpeper, Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson saw that part of the Union army - 12,000 men led by Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks - had become isolated here beside Cedar Mountain. Jackson took the opportunity to attack. On the blistering hot afternoon of August 9 the armies clashed in a mismanaged battle, but in the end, Jackson's 24,000 soldiers prevailed. As the battle subsided in the twilight, Confederates learned that Pope's army had been reinforced by the arrival of troops under Gen. Irvin McDowell. Though Jackson had won the battle, he had little choice but to retreat. Soon Robert E. Lee's entire Confederate Army of Northern Virginia gathered at Clark's Mountain, visible in the distance to your right, to launch the campaign that ended in the Second Battle of Manassas, August 28-30, where Jackson once again defeated Pope.
11. CEDARM_060226_060.JPG: The Culpeper Road ran on the other side of the fence in this photo. (Modern US 15 runs nearby and has replaced the old road.) Banks' troops blocked the Confederates (coming from the direction of the camera) about 3/4 mile up the road from here. We're in the vicinity near where Confederate Gen. Charles S. Winder was torn apart by Union artillery. It is at this intersection that Jackson rode into the battle, trying to rally his troops, and drew his sword.
12. CEDARM_060226_066.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain The Walking Trail Welcome to the Civil War Preservation Trust's Cedar Mountain Battlefield! The battlefield walking trail is a half-mile loop that takes you past four wayside signs interpreting the 1862 battle and offers you a beautiful view across open fields to Cedar Mountain itself. Allow 45 minutes to walk the trail. You may also choose to walk an extra three quarters of a mile to the position on the field where the veterans of the 3rd Wisconsin placed a monument to their fallen comrades. The trail is surfaced with mown grass, so be careful of the irregular surface and watch for snakes. Please do not stray from the trail as, at times, it takes you very near CWPT's property line. Be respectful of private property and do not trespass. Most importantly, please enjoy your time in these beautiful fields and reflect that this experience would have been significantly different if this land had been paved over to build a shopping mall or subdivision. To help CWPT preserve other battlefields like Cedar Mountain, please call 1-800-606-1400.
13. CEDARM_060226_073.JPG: The paved road on the right is the old Crittenden Road. Cedar Mountain is directly in front. Down where the silo is was the location of the Crittenden House. Banks attacked in two places, along both sides of the Culpeper Road. Both of the attacks would have come from the left direction.
14. CEDARM_060226_077.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain The Artillery Duel The road to Culpeper ran on the other side of the fence to your right. A line of Confederate cannon angled from this point back to the Crittenden farm lane, currently the paved road along the edge of the field to your right. A second grouping of guns was posted on the shelf of Cedar Mountain and more artillery pieces clustered on a small knoll mid-way between here and the shelf. About 3:30 p.m., a duel erupted with Federal gunners about 2/3 mile away across the field. The barrage continued for nearly two hours. As the cannon roared, more and more gray-clad infantry arrived upon the field, but Jackson and his subordinate Gen. Charles Winder showed more interest in assisting the cannoneers than positioning the rest of the army for battle. While shouting instructions to artillery private Edward A. Moore, Winder was mortally wounded when "a shell passed through his side and arm, tearing them fearfully." Gen. William B. Taliaferro, who succeeded Winder, did not like the placement of the troops he now commanded. Before he could correct the deficiencies in his line, the Federals attacked.
15. CEDARM_060226_089.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain The Awkward Position of the 21st Virginia Without the leadership of either Generals Jackson or Winder, subordinate officers formed their men along the edge of woodlines where the ground offered a better field of fire. The men of the 21st Virginia were positioned here just inside the woodline, facing across this field, but they did not face the enemy to their left. About 5:30 p.m. Federal infantry under Gen. C.C. Auger attacked Confederates along the Crittenden Lane. The 21st Virginia found themselves perfectly aligned to fire right down the Federal line as it advanced across their front. Together with the fire of Confederates along the Crittenden Lane and plunging artillery fire from the shelf of Cedar Mountain, Auger's men were in a cross-fire, and the blue lines fell back. In only a moment, the fortunes of the 21st Virginia were reversed. While Auger's men retreated, Federal troops under Gen. Samuel Crawford exploited a gap in the Confederate line. As his men drove back the troops to the left-front of where you are standing, their advance allowed them to fired into the backs of the men in the 21st Virginia. The 21st Virginia was swept from the field and Jackson's battle line was in peril.
16. CEDARM_060226_096.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain Jackson Rallies His Men As the Confederate line broke, "Stonewall" Jackson stood firm and many of his soldiers witnessed the general as he rallied his troops while other officers motivated their men by pointing out the presence of their commanding general. "I recollect well his attempt to draw his long cavalry sabre to help him stop the rout, when he found it so rusted from non use, that he could not withdraw it... so he deliberately unsnapped it from his belt holdings and used it scabbard and all on the heads of the fleeing panic stricken troops." -- Jed Hotchkiss, Jackson's staff "The escape of Jackson from death was miraculous. He was in the thickest of the combat, at very short range." -- Gen. William B. Taliaferro
17. CEDARM_060226_100.JPG: This would have been the woodline where the 21st Virginia was placed. When the attack on the right happened, they were able to fire down the ranks of the attacking Union troops. However, when the attack from the left happened, the same thing happened to them and they broke and ran.
18. CEDARM_060226_113.JPG: The Battle of Cedar Mountain The Federal Attack Reaches Its Climax The fighting turned desperate and many combatants struggled hand-to-hand. Some of Crawford's Federal soldiers passed completely behind the 21st Virginia and entered the road near the Confederate artillery line. Confederate soldier John Worsham of the 21st Virginia noted, "I have heard of a 'hell spot' in some battles, this was surely one." He continued, "A great dread filled me for Jackson, because I had seen him at this spot only a moment before." "Stonewall" Jackson was in peril, in the thick of the fight, and it seemed that his command was on the verge of being defeated. However the Federal commander did not send in reinforcements quickly enough, and the Union attack lost its momentum along the Crittenden Lane. Jackson rallied his men and received timely reinforcements from A.P. Hill. By about 6:30 p.m. Banks' Federals were in retreat and Jackson's men were counterattacking and on their way to victory.
19. CEDARM_060226_117.JPG: These granite markers were placed on the battlefield during the early 1900s to mark the approximate positions of the units at the beginning of the battle. The markers, originally numbering fifty-six, covered a fair amount of farm land. In the days of horse-drawn plows, they weren't much of an inconvenience but that changed with modern agriculture and the markers had to be moved to make it easier to plow again. The remaining markers have been arranged here to honor those who fought upon this field of battle.
20. CEDARM_060226_124.JPG: The house in the distance is part of the CWPT property and will be torn down. You can see they're planting a bunch of trees here to restore the battlefield.
21. CEDARM_060226_129.JPG: Junk from destroyed structures still existed when I went there
Wikipedia Description: Battle of Cedar Mountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War.

Maj. Gen. John Pope was placed in command of the newly constituted Union Army of Virginia on June 26. Gen. Robert E. Lee responded to Pope's dispositions by dispatching Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson with 14,000 men to Gordonsville in July. Jackson was later reinforced by Maj. Gen. 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 Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder was killed. This battle shifted fighting in Virginia from the Virginia Peninsula to northern Virginia, giving Lee the initiative.
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