Battle of Cedar Mountain

Battle of Cedar Mountain. The Jaws of Defeat. , "At 4 P.M., we commenced that fearful charge, which cost us so many lives, and maimed so many brave heroes for life. Pen and thought combined cannot due this subject justice." , Capt. Warren Packer, 5th Connecticut Infantry, USA, "The fight was raging fiercely .. when suddenly and without any warning whatever a murderous fire was poured upon us from the rear, at least a brigade of the enemy having passed through the woods and reached within 20 or 30 paces of us." , Capt. William Witcher, 21st Virginia Infantry, CSA, While Union Gen. Christopher C. Augur's division battled in the cornfield to your left, Union Gen. Alpheus S. Williams launched his own attack across the field where you now stand, which was then broken by a grove of trees. When Williams attacked, the left flank of Jackson's line, anchored on the slope to your left rear, was thinly manned and lacking in reserves. Williams struck this point with nearly 1,500 men and crashed through the front line in a furious assault., With Union Gen. Samuel W. Crawford's brigade in the lead, the Federals swept onward into the now-exposed left flank of Jackson's men near the Crittenden Gate. Bloodied by their firefight with Augur's division, the beleaguered Confederates began to give ground. Jackson's left flank was crushed and his center threatened. With this bold attack, Union Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks was on the verge of driving his long-time adversary from the field., (captions) , The Union attack moved through the field in the background of this historic photograph. The reclining soldier seems to be holding a shovel, these men could be part of a Union burial detail. Courtesy Library of Congress, Crawford's men struck the Confederate flank, striking one weak spot after another before reinforcements appeared. The old Stonewall Brigade slowed but could not stop the Union assault., Dense trees and hand-to-hand fighting disorganized the Federal assault. Courtesy Library of Congress