USA > Virginia > Culpeper County > Culpeper County > Genealogical and historical notes on Culpeper County, Virginia > Part 35
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From this time till May, 1864, when Grant moved south of the Rapidan river for his great campaign in the Wilderness, more than a hundred thou- sand Federal soldiers were encamped within the limits of the county. But during his time the right flank of his army was much harrassed by scouting parties of Southern cavalry that were wintering in Madison, Rappahannock and Fauquier counties, and also by Mosby's command found in the same lo- cality. The left of Grant's emcampment was protected and guarded by a line of pickets extending from Crooked Run, near Brown's Store, across the turn- pike, a little west of Stonehouse Mountain, by Apperson's gate on the Eldo- rado road, thence to Muddy Run about Coon's, to the river. Scarcely a night passed that this line was not disturbed at one or more points by dismounted cavalrymen, who were looking for a remount, and a number of good horses were suppled by Uncle Sam to do service for the Confederates during the next summer campaign. Many of these adventures were perilous in the ex- treme, but they were performed with a coolness and audacity that was indeed marvelous. Confederate soldiers, whose homes were within the Federal lines, made frequent visits to old Culpeper, to see the loved ones at home, the girl they left behind them, and made hair breadth escapes from capture. All these incidents are worth recording as a part of the history of the times. But of course the particulars of but few of them are known to the writer. We recall an incident of this character, which we will venture to put upon record. On November 24th, 1863, Capt. R. R. Duncan, a typical soldier, brave and fear- less as Julius Caesar, a splendid horseman, an excellent swordsman and a good shot, stout, active, alert and atheletic, and of great wisdom, sagacity and cool judgement in times of danger, was with some 15 or 20 men of his company, scouting along the flanks of Meade's army. Finding the picket post on the turnpike not far in advance of Stonehouse Mountain, he sent forward a few men and by a dexterous movement to their rear, succeeded in capturing the two soldiers on the post. Feeling assured that the enemy would send out a scouting party to ascertain what had become of their pickets, and what force was prowling about their front, he concealed his little band in the woods near Salem church. Soon thereafter, about a company of Federal soldiers appear- ed, moving up the turnpike. He maintained his position till they had passed his front; he then came in on their rear, and immediately charged them, cap- turing the most of them and dispersing the residue. But immediately in their rear came the 3rd W. Va. cavalry, under Maj. Conger, to their support. With a number of prisoners, captured horses, and arms on his hands, it be- came a very difficult matter for Capt. Duncan to make good his escape, but he so skillfully and boldly managed his little force, now using them as mounted skirmishers, and again charging with them on the advance guard of the pur- suing columns, that, after being pursued for several miles, he succeeded in get- ting off with all his captured, both men and animals, without loss to his com- mand, but inflicting considerable loss to the Federals. One officer was killed, two others wounded, and other casualties among the enlisted men. Permit us to also put on record another incident in which a citizen of Culpeper county was the principal actor. About the latter part of December, 1864, a column of Federal cavalry, under the command of Gen. Torbett, passed through Cul- peper, returning from a raid in the direction of Charlottesville. As it passed along the road in the neighborhood of Rixeyville, some four or five strag- glers made their way to the home of Mr. J. W. Timberlake, who lived about a mile west of the main road. Mr. Timberlake was very kind to them, and gave them of what he had. After gettingsomething to eat and rummaging through the lower parts of the house and taking what they
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chose, all left, except one, who seemed determined to explore every nook and corner about the building and appropriate to himself everything that suit- ed his fancy .-. In his search he had gone into the upper rooms, Mr. Timber- lake following him. In one of the upper rooms he found a bureau or some ar- ticle of furniture of that kind, which he immediately begun to examine, emp- tying the contents of the drawers on the floor and putting some of the articles in his haversack. Mr. Timberlake stood it very patiently, until he began to scatter on the floor the articles of clothing which belonged to his dead wife, and which had been packed away there. This was too much for him, and stepping back to the fire place he grasped a heavy wrought iron shovel, and striking him with all his might on the head with this heavy instrument, felled him to the floor. In a moment he saw that he had killed him, and what was to be done? Looking from his window he saw a squad of Yankees approaching his house, and there he was with the dead soldier in his house and the horse tied to the rack.
He had a son, Edward, then about twelve years of age, whom he directed to mount the horse and make for his life to the woods in the rear. . The Yan- kees seeing him, and thinking that he was a Confederate, made pursuit and passed beyond his house. While they were gone in pursuit of the boy, Mr. Timberlake and his daughter, Miss Senie, managed to get the dead soldier from the upper room to the basement and put him in one of the lower rooms. When the soldiers returned and asked who it was that they were pursuing he informed them that it was a half witted boy, the son of one of his neighbors, who seeing them approach, became frightened and fled, and thus he quieted their apprehension. They dismounted, and he gave them something to eat and they sat at the table and ate their meal in a room adjoining that in which was the body of their dead comrade. The old gentleman, in speaking of this years after the war, said " that when he put the soldier in the basement he ·was not quite dead, and kicked a little as he carried him down the steps, and while his comrades sat at the table eating their meals he was very much afraid that he would kick up a row in the cellar room adjoining. His body remain- ed in the house until midnight or after, when Mr. Timberlake and his daugh- ter took it therefrom and placing it in an ox cart, hauled it to the woods and buried it. And he rests not only in an unknown, but a dishonored grave.
BATTLE OF CEDAR RUN, OR SLAUGHTER'S MOUNTAIN.
On the 26th of June, 1862, the Federal Government organized what was called the Army of Va., consisting of three corps, of which the first was com- manded by Gen. Sigel, the second by Gen. Banks, and the third by Gen. McDowell. Gen. John Pope, who had earned some reputation as a fighter, was given command of this army, and made himself ridiculous in the eyes of military men on both sides "by issuing" his bombastic order, upon assuming command, of "Head Quarters in the Saddle."
Mcclellan, having been defeated in front of Richmond by Lee, had sought shelter on the banks of the James River, under the protection of his gunboats, and had been so battered, bruised and broken in his seven days contest, that he concluded he would be unable to resume the offensive without fifty thousand additional troops, which his government, at that time, was nnable to supply, without exposing the Capitol to attack. It was thought best in the Federal military councils, in this condi- tion of affairs, to move upon Gordonsville with the army of Va., and thus threaten Lee's left and rear at Richmond. This army, with this object in view, took position to threaten Gordonsville and Charlottesville. Bank's
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corps was in Rappahannock, Sigel's about Waterloo and Jeffersonton, and a division of McDowell's was in Culpeper, with the remainder at Freder- icksburg. A brigade of Federal cavalry, under Buford, was at Madison Ct. House, while another, under Bayard, was near Crooked Run church. During the months of July and August, the cavalry of Pope's army was very active and enterprising. It several times crossed the Rapidan on reconnoissance, and made its way to and beyond Orange C. H. towards Gordonsville.
Ashby's brigade of Confederate cavalry, now under the command of B. H. Robertson, which had been left in the valley, to conceal Jackson's move- ment towards Richmond, was withdrawn, and placed in position between Gordonsville and Orange, to watch the Rapidan, whilst Ewell's, Hill's and Winder's, or Jackson's old division, all under the command of Jackson, were quietly withdrawn from Lee's army below Richmond, and placed in camp in rear of Gordonsville. Jackson conceived the idea of defeating Pope by a rapid movement to Culpeper, thrusting himself between the wings of his army, and defeating them in succession. Jackson had 22,000 men, of which 1.200 was cavalry. Pope had 46,000, of which 6,500 was cavalry, but his army was scattered over a large area. On the evening of the 7th of Aug., Jackson began his movement towards Culpeper. Ewell's division moved from its camp near Gordonsville, towards Liberty Mllls, whilst Winder's and Hill's di- visions moved towards and encamped for the night, near Orange C. H.
Jackson expected to reach Culpeper early the next day, being ouly 18 miles distant. On the morning of the 8th, the cavalry crossed the river at Barnett's Ford, and drove back the enemy's cavalry towards Madison C. H. and Locust Dale. Ewell came down from Liberty Mills, on the north bank of the river, and came into the Culpeper road, south of Locust Dale. The Fed- eral cavalry was very active, and was handled with great ability. The march of the Confederate columns was greatly impeded by the threatened in- cursions of this cavalry on the Confederate trains from the direction of Madi- son C. H. Jackson was too feeble in this arm of the service for an advancing army, and his small force had to be divided to protect his train and to press back the enemy's cavalry in front. It was hardly sufficient for both purposes and made but slow progress. This, together with the intense heat and dust of the day, the confusion in which the columns of Winder's and Hill's divisions had fallen, in respect to the order of their march, and the intermingling of their trains, blocked the road and made the progress on the 18th remarkably slow. Ewell's division reached Locust Dale, and whilst the Confederate cav- alry gained possession of the fords at Robertson's river and Crooked Run, en- camped for the night north of the latter stream. Winder's division had crossed the river at Barnett's ford, but Hill was still on the south side of the river. Jackson communicated with Gen. Lee from Locust Dale on the even- ing of the 8th, and stated that he feared the enterprise would be a failure, by reason of the day's delay. Gen. Pope, it seems, was aware of the movement of Gen. Jackson early on the 7th, and immediately ordered his forces to concen- trate at Culpeper. Banks began his movement from the Rappahannock on the morning of the 8th, and encamped that night at Hazel river, on the Sper- ryville turn pike. Rickett's division, of MeDowell's corps, that had been en- camped north of Culpeper, was moved forward on the 8th, and took position near Colvin's old tavern on the Madison road, to resist the movement of the Confederates, reported by Buford to be moving by way of Madison C. H. During the 9th Bank's corps passed through Culpeper, and was thrown for- ward on the Orange road, in the neighborhood of Cedar Run. Crawford's bri- gade of William's div'n, consisting of the 28th N. Y., 46th Pa., 10th Me., and 5th
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Coun., with two batteries of artillery, was sent forward on the 8th to support Bayard's cavalry, and took position behind the hills immediately south of Ce- dar Run, and there remained during the night of the 8th., whilst Bayard's cavalry was kept well to the front. Early on the morning of the 9th the Con- federate army, with Ewell's division in front, was again put in motion, but its movements were slow. The day, as the one before, was intensely hot and the road was a narrow one; the force of Confederate cavalry in front was insuf- ficient to drive back, with rapidity, the Federal cavalry. At the extreme south end of Cedar or Slaughter's Mountain, Hay's brigade, of Ewell's divis- ion, consisting of 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 19th La. regiments, deflected from the main road, and passing across the fields to the base of the mountain, east of James Garnett's house, hugged the mountain closely and advanced along its base, under cover of the woods. Trimble's brigade, of the same division, consisting of the 12th Ga., 21st N. C., and 15th Ala., also left the Culpeper road at a point a little further north, and passing to the right by a cluster of pines, a little south of the Major house, reached the base of the mountain about where the road crosses it.
In the meantime, the Federal cavalry had been massed in the valley, on the south branch of Cedar Run, north of the Major house, and south of the Crittenden house and the one regiment of Confederate cavalry, the 6th Va., then with the advance of Ewell's division, was unable to dislodge it, without the aid of the Confederate infan- try and artillery. Early's brigade, of Ewell's divison, consisting of the 18th, 25th, 31st, 52nd and 58th Va. regiments, which was marching in front, had, in the meantime, reached the intersection of the Waylandsburg and Culpeper roads. Maj. Courtney, chief of artillery of Ewell's division, posted two bat- teries, Capt. Dement's and Capt. Brown's of Maryland, on a small knoll on which there were growing pines, a short distance south of the Major house, whilst Capt. Lattimer's, and a section of Johnson's batteries, were sent for- ward with the advancing columns of Trimble and Hay, until they reached a position well up on the mountain side, not far below the Slaughter house. With a view of closing in on the rear of the Federal cavalry, massed in the valley, as before stated, Early's brigade moved from its position, at the inter- section of the roads, and bearing well to the left of the road, under cover of the hills, so as to keep out of sight, reached the Culpeper road, and crossed it to the east at a point about one-half of a mile south of the Crittenden gate, and bore well down on the flank and rear of the cavalry in the valley. When his skirmishers engaged those of the cavalry, the batteries, posted by Maj. Courtney, also opened on their ranks. They broke and fled up the valley by the Crittenden house, but were rallied and reformed near the centre of the Federal lines on the main road.
Early then advanced his brigade and took position, first in line of bat- tle along the road leading from the Crittenden house, which he occupied for a short time, then advanced his lines towards the summit of the hill overlooking the valley between the Crittenden house and where now stands the Smoot house. Three guns of Brown's and Dement's batteries were moved forward, and took position on the knoll of cedars a little north and west of the Crittenden house as did also several guns of Dement's and D'Ar- quin's batteries, at a point little nearer to, and north east of the Crittenden house. Ewell, with the residue of his division, had reached a position at the extreme north end of Slaughter's Mountain, keeping his infantry well under cover. The Federal commander, Gen. Banks, had, in the meantime, been busy organizing his line of battle, to meet the advance of the Confederates.
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MeGilvery's battery of six guns, and Robertson's and Gary's of four guns, were placed in position on the north side of the Mitchell's Station road, in front of the Hudson house pointing southeast, commanding the valley of the south branch of Cedar Run, and fronting the Confederate batteries on the slope of the mountain. Best's, Beamer's, and Knapp's batteries, of four guns each, were placed in position in the angle of the Mitchell's Station and Cul- peper roads, and Mullensburg's battery of four guns was placed on the west side of the Culpeper road, on the high ground just in advance of the point where the road to Mrs. Brown's house leaves the Culpeper road. Gen. Prince's brigade, of Gen. Augur's division, supported by the brigade of Gen. Greene, occupied the extreme left of the Federal line of battle; it was placed astride of the Mitchell's Station road, with the 102nd N. Y. on the left. on the north of .the road, and swinging round to the south and west in the angle of the road, were placed the following regiments, in the following order: the 109th Pa., the 3rd Md., and 11th Pa. Then came Gen Gary's brigade, of the same division, continuing the line of battle in the following order: the 5th O. on his left, con- necting with Prince, then the 6th Ohio, 7th Ohio, and 29th. Ohio regiments. Crawford's brigade, of William's division, came next in order of battle, with the 5th Conn/ on the east side of the main road, and the 28th N. Y., 46th Pa. and.10th Maine in the order named, their right being thrown 'back considera . ble to the rear. : Still to the right of this was Gordon's brigade, of the same division, in two lines, with the 2nd Mass and 3rd Wis. in the first, and the 27th Ind. in the second line. The cavalry of the Federal army was massed about the centre of the line, near the main road, and behind the range of hills on the west. Winder's division, of the Confederate ariny, was now comning on the field, and four guns of Carpenter's and Poague's batteries were placed in posi- tion in the open field. in front of the Crittenden gate, on the east side of the main road, and shortly afterwards five rifle pieces of Hill's division, belonging to Caskie's, Fleet's and Pegram's batteries, were, by direction of Col. Walker, chief of artillery of Hill's division, placed along the ridge in front of Early's brigade, and but a short distance from the Federal skirmish line, extending across the corn field.
These dispositions for battle made by the two armies. consumed some time, and it Was not till half past three o'clock that the battle opened, with nearly the whole of the artillery on either side in position; twenty-six of the best guns on the Confederate side, and twenty-eight on the Federal side were engaged; and for two hours they thundered at each other across this narrow valley, whilst further disposition was being made for the struggle between the infantry at closer quarters.
Garnett's brigade, consisting of the 21st, 48th, 47th and 1st Va. regiments, was ordered to move to the left through the woods, over the ground which is now the cleared ground about the Throgmorton house, and, if possi- ble, reach the right of the Federal line, turn it, charge and capture the bat- tery posted on the west side of the road. Upon reconnoitering the situation, it was found impracticable to execute this order. It was found that the right ·batteries, on the Federal line, were supported by infantry, posted in and in rear of the woods on the high ground, on what is now the Cooper farm, and the greater portion of the cavalry was also massed under the protection of the same hill. This brigade was then placed in line of battle, along the crest of the hill, in the rear of the wheat field, which lay between the two lines of hat- tle, with its right consisting of the 48th and 21st regiments, thrown back along the road and facing north east, with a view of protecting the batteries in this field from an approach in front, whilst the 42nd regiment and 1st Va.
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battalion were in line fronting the wheat field. The 1st. Va. was on the ex- treme left. and an interval existed between that and the next regiment in line. About this time Gen. Jackson appeared on this part of the field. He at once saw that the exposed condition of his left flank invited an attack, and that the nature of the ground was exceedingly favorable for such a movement on the part of his adversary. He directed Gen. Garnett to look well to his left, and to request his division commander to reinforce him. Gen. Taliaferro's brigade, consisting of the 10th, 23rd, 37th and 47th Va. regiments, and the 48th Ala., having arrived on the field, was placed in line of battle along the road leading to the Crittenden house, in support of the Confederate batter- ies and connecting with Gen. Early on the right. About this time Gen. Win :- der was killed by a fragment of an exploded shell. He is said to have fallen in the main road, a short distance south of the Crittenden gate, and about where the fence of the Throgmorton land now comes to the road. There was some delay in reinforcing Garnett, owing to Winder's deatlı and the change of division commanders on the field, and before it was. done, Gen. Banks, contrary to the orders of his superior, perhaps, advanced his whole line of battle to the attack, although numerically weaker than Gen. Jackson.
The two brigades of Augur's division, with a battalion of the 8th and 12th U. S. regulars, under Capt. Pitcher, thrown forward as skirmishers, ad- vanced in the centre, through the corn field on what is now the Sinoot farmu. and assailed Early vigorously. He was sorely pressed by these two brigades of Geary and Prince for a time, but being reinforced by Taliaferro's brigade on the left, and a portion of Thomas' Georgia brigade, of Hill's division, on the right, the progress of the Federal advance was soon arrested. The Fed- eral line was also reinforced, by Greene's brigade, which was put in ou the left as a support to Prince. The contest in, and in front of this corn field, was, for a time, stubborn and sanguinary. The Federal loss was very serious for the numbers engaged and the time the engagement lasted. Gen. Prince, in an effort to rally his broken command, was taken prisoner in this field by a pri- vate of the 23rd Va. regiment, surrendering his sword, however, to Gen. Talia- ferro. But the Confederates were not 80 fortunate on their left. Before this portion of their line could be extended and reinforced, the Federals advanced. The two brigades of Crawford and Gor- don, constituting the right wing of the forces engaged, the former in advance and about seventeen hundred strong, the latter in support, and still further to the right, were moved forward froin their position behind the wooded hill to the assault on the left flank of the Confederate army. They moved from their position across the wheat field, in splendid order, with banners flying and confident step, and entered the woods on the south of the wheat field, overlapping and enveloping the left of the Confederate lines, breaking and routing the major part, if not the whole of Garnett's brigade, leaving the way open to the Confederate rear. The Federals pressed rapidly forward, and swinging around to their left, passed over the ground about where now stands the Throgmorton house, and well nigh gained the main road. Talia- ferro, whose brigade was engaged with the Federals in the corn field, attempt- ed to change front to meet this advance on his flank and rear. Some of his regiments, then for the first time under fire, becoming panic stricken by this destructive fire on their flank, broke and fled in utter rout. The artillery on the extreme left was withdrawn to escape capture. The whole left wing of the Confederate army seeming, for a time, to be broken and shattered, suffered great loss. Every field officer in Garnett's brigade had been killed
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or wounded. It was for a time a scene of great confusion. Officers were in the melee, trying in vain to rally their troops. Jackson, himself, appeared upon the scene, and drawing his sword, as it is said, for the first and only time during the war, commanded his men to rally and follow him against the advancing columns of the enemy. He remained with his discomfited troops, till reminded by Gen. Taliaferro that it was hard- ly a proper place for the chief officer in command.
Just at this juncture the Stonewall brigade, consisting of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33rd Va. regiments, under the command of Col. Roland, appeared on the field. These regiments had been greatly reduced in numbers by the val- ley campaign and the seven days battle in front of Richmond, but they were staunch veterans of more than a dozen conflicts, and were not easily discom- fited. This brigade was rapidly deployed in line in the woods on the west of the road, with its right extended, and left thrown back, and opening its ranks to allow the fugitives to pass through, boldly moved forward and opened a de- structive fire on their enemies. Unfortunately for the Federals, especially Crawford's brigade, they had advanced too far from their supports, and suf- fered their line to become broken up in their rapid advance, and were not in a condition to receive the attack of this fresh Confederate brigade. They halted, attempted to reform their lines to meet their fresh antagonists, but with little avail. They were swept away before the onset of the Stonewall brigade as chaff before the wind, with frightful loss. The battle was at once renewed with great vigor. Jackson ordered an advance of the whole line. Ewell on the right, deploying his Alabama regiment as skirmishers, moved down from the mountain slope and extending his right brigade, under Trimble, reached Cedar Run and essayed to strike the Federal rear on the north side of the stream, but was prevented from crossing by the obstruction of an old mill- pond. The 2nd. and 6th, Va. cavalry (the 12th. having been detached to guard the left towards Thoroughfare Mountain, and the 7th. sent to Madison Court- house), moved down the valley of the south branch of Cedar Run, and occu- pied the space between Early and Ewell. Ewell, finding that he could not cross the run, turned Trimble's brigade on the Federal batterries on the left of their line. The valley, immediately in their front, was so completely swept by the Confederate batteries on the slope of the mountain, that Trimble's troops could not pass over it till a staff officer had been dispatched to order a cessation of their fire. In the meantime the Federal batteries had been with- drawn, and the left was in retreat. Gen. Branch, coming on the field with his splendid brigade of North Carolinians about the time of the Confederate ad- vance, was ordered to the support of the Stonewall brigade,and formed his line in the woods on its left at right angles to the road, followed by Pender's bri- gade, moving in column still further to the left. Taliaferro's brigade was quickly rallied on the right. Many of Garnett's men came back to the field, and fell in with the Stonewall brigade, which, with Branch's brigade, moved rapidly forward through the woods, and entering the wheat field, passed over the high ground, closing in towards the road, and by well directed volleys, crushed in and routed the Federal right with great loss of life, especially in Crawford's brigade, which, in killed, wounded and missing, lost more than half their number: 867 out of 1,670 taken into battle; Gordon's brigade also suffered severely.
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