Commemorating Battle of Cedar Mountain (where Stonewall Jackson drew his sword)

Culpeper 'Star Exponent ^ | July 25 05 | Culpeper 'Star Exponent

[churchillbuff]

Aug. 9, 1862, was a hot and dusty day, a grueling time to be marching into war.

Confederate soldiers struggling through the blistering heat on their way from Gordonsville that day were about to engage in a battle that would go down as the deadliest in Culpeper County history.

The Battle of Cedar Mountain, the only time Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson is known to have drawn his sword in combat, is approaching its 143rd anniversary, and the fledgling preservationist group Friends of the Cedar Mountain Battlefield has planned a weekend of activities to commemorate the event.

The group, in partnership with the United Daughters of the Confederacy, will kick off the anniversary celebration on Aug. 6 with a special ceremony at Cedar Run Baptist Church - guest speaker will be retired Brig. Gen. Jack Mountcastle, a Civil War history professor at the University of Richmond who once served as chief of military history for the Army.

At the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Confederate forces under Jackson’s command won a hard-fought victory against Union soldiers, who outnumbered them 2 to 1.

The Confederates, who were in search of Union Gen. John Pope, had been surprised at Cedar Mountain by a Yankee force commanded by Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks.

According to the National Park Service’s Web site, Union Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford “shattered Jackson’s left after a desperate hand-to-hand combat that one veteran remembered as ‘unsurpassed for ferocity by any other engagement during the war.’ … The Confederate guns at the Gate, and the Cedars retreated while much of their infantry support fled from the Union onslaught.”

With his troops on the run, Jackson made one last effort to rally them, riding into the fray with a battle flag in hand and sword drawn. However, because he had never used the weapon in battle, it was rusted to its sheath. Inspired by their leader’s courage, his soldiers went on to win the battle.

Jackson later called that day “the most successful of his exploits.”

Formed last year to promote and preserve the battlefield, the Friends of Cedar Mountain will host several anniversary activities the weekend of Aug. 6 and 7.

They hope to not only honor the 3,800 soldiers killed and wounded there, but also to educate the public about the battle and the ongoing preservation efforts.

“We’re working hard to restore this battlefield and increase tourism,” Friends president Kurt Johnson said. “We invite everyone to come see our progress to date. This is a great opportunity to bring out the family, explore the battlefield and learn about this fierce battle.”

[Mount Athos]

I saw one historian write that Stonewall Jackson fought so hard, partly because he was enraged that the enemy chose to fight on the sabbath.

[Pelham]

bump

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees." RIP Stonewall.

[smug]

General Jackson's campaign in the valley (Jackson faced 3 armies, each larger than his own), was one of the most brilliant and successful military operations ever conducted. It stopped McDowell from advancing on Richmond across Manassas which probably would have led to McClellan's peninsula campaign's success. As much as possible these grounds should be preserved and studied and honored.