Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[560] action between Generals Jackson's and Pope's forces, near Culpeper Court-House.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Colonel: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Forty-second regiment Virginia volunteers in the recent engagements at Cedar Run, Culpeper County, Virginia, on the ninth August, 1862:

About three o'clock P. M., the regiment, commanded by Major Henry Layne, in conjunction with the rest of the brigade, was ordered to the front, and accordingly marched along the Culpeper road until it reached a body of woods about half a mile from the battle-field. It was then halted and ordered to load. It was then filed off to the left of the road, and marched through the woods nearly parallel with the road, and during the march the woods were very heavily shelled by the enemy; but no casualties occurred in the regiment. The regiment was halted in the woods to the left of the road near a field, where one or two pieces of our artillery was planted, and in action. It remained in this position near half an hour, and was then ordered to move forward, and accordingly marched some four hundred yards, until it reached a narrow road leading to a wheat-field; filing down the road to the left, near one hundred yards, it then filed to the right through the woods parallel with the fence, until it reached its depth; it was then halted and fronted in line of battle. The Forty-eighth Virginia regiment was on the right, and the First Virginia battalion on the left. Our skirmishers, who had previously been thrown out, soon discovered those of the enemy near at hand, and in a few moments the main body of the enemy advanced from the woods opposite the wheat-field to our front, and having gotten midway the wheat-field, the regiment was ordered to fire, which was done with a great deal of coolness and rapidity, and kept up constantly for some half an hour or more; the regiment remaining in good order all the time. Early in the engagement, Major Layne was mortally wounded, and a great many of the company officers and men were killed and wounded.

The enemy, having flanked us right and left, were seen suddenly advancing upon our rear in considerable disorder: about this juncture we received orders to fall back, and soon came in contact with the enemy at the point of the bayonet. A good many of the officers and soldiers of the regiment were captured by the enemy, and again recaptured, and many of them severely wounded while in the hands of the enemy. Several officers and men of the regiment, whom we had recaptured from the enemy, informed me that they were most brutally maltreated by the enemy, and saw many of our men brutally murdered after being captured. During this portion of the engagement the regiment was thrown in great confusion, and became much scattered; but a larger portion of those remaining were afterward rallied and moved forward with General Branch's brigade, and charged through the wheat-field to the woods and halted. The loss was very light during the charge. The regiment was then marched through the wheat-field, and across the road to the right into a cornfield, and remained during the night. After this nothing worthy of note occurred.

The loss in the regiment, both in killed and wounded, was very heavy, but not more than six or eight were missing. The regiment captured a large number of the enemy, both officers and men, and sent them to the rear.

Respectfully submitted.

sir: I have the honor to report that, on the ninth instant, my regiment was ordered on a reconnoissance near Madison Court-House. The march of twenty-five miles was made by sundown, and without incident or discovery worthy of record. On returning to camp, we first learned that the batte of Cedar Run had been progressing the greater part of the day, and moved on, without a moment's delay, to the scene of action. Not being able to see you or General Jackson, by the advice of General Hill, I passed between the brigades of Generals Field and Early about dark, for the purpose of pressing the enemy in retreat. After turning the woods on our right, I came on the enemy, drawn up in such order and force as rendered a charge exceedingly dangerous. Holding our post for observation, couriers were sent to inform a battery, sending out shells of inquiry, of the position of the enemy. Before our artillery could be brought to bear, a body of cavalry threatened us; but a gallant charge on our part soon caused them to take shelter under their infantry. We killed one of their horses. Now our artillery commenced shelling the position of the enemy, causing him to retire, and we followed as soon as we could, safely, from our own shells. A negro servant of an officer was captured near this point, from whom we gained the first information of the arrival of General Sigel's force on the field. This intelligence was at once sent to the rear. The fierce cannonade, probably from the guns of this command, newly arrived, swept the ground immediately in our rear, and compelled us to seek the shelter of a friendly hill, until they had sufficiently amused themselves. The result of our advance was eleven privates, three Lieutenants, and one negro captured from the enemy. My thanks are due to Mr. Thomas