The following article is from the New York Times, dated August 21, 1862:
​
The Battle of Cedar Mountain
A Graphic Description of the Fight Incidents and the Results
​
Correspondence of the New-York Times, Culpepper, Va, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1862.
​
Gen. Banks' Divisions have passed through the most fiery ordeal which any portion of our army has been called upon to endure since the inauguration of the rebellion. Since Mulligan's fight at Lexington there has been no contest during the war that has approached in stubborn fighting and desperate valor the battle of Slaughter's Mountain, fought on Saturday Aug. 9. But, neither the sublime courage of the Generals commanding, nor the heroism of officers and men, can atone for so great a military impossibility. Slaughter's Mountain, two miles in circumference at the base, rises from an undulating plain, every portion of which for miles to the north, east and west, was, during the late action, commanded by heavy batteries posted by the enemy half way up the well-wooded slope. The rebel infantry were thrown out in the fields and woods surrounding the base, and occupied in large numbers the sheltered sides of the mountain. The Culpepper and Gordonsville road emerges from a wood situated two miles from the enemy's position, crosses a small run and ascends a ridge upon which our guns were planted. On Saturday afternoon Gens. Geary's, and Prince's brigades of Gen. Agour's division, and Gen. Crawford's and Williams' brigades of Gen. Williams' division, in all not quite 8,000 men, marched boldly over the ridge and on to the open plain and assailed the rebel stronghold. For hours this small army maneuvered in countless evolutions, advanced and receded: laid down to escape the whirlwind of death that swept over it, and arose only to fire at an almost invisible foe. Storming with batteries, charging with bayonets, swaying backward and forward, right and left they fought, hurrahing as each well-directed volley made the foe wince, and closing ranks as the murderous fire from the hill-side left wide gaps trial once were filled with loyal men. Thus they spent the terrible hours until night put an end to the carnage, and threw a mantle of darkness over one thousand soldiers guarding the field that had caused such a struggle to retain. Before them was a revengeful foe, strong in numbers and hellish in purpose; behind then an army of brother soldiers and friends, who only awaited an order to place their front to the advancing foe; but that order never came, and midnight saw our exhausted columns driven back, while hordes of traitors plundered our dead and wounded on the field. Morning revealed the fearful loss we had sustained. The greatest was in Gen. Auger's Division, where three Generals were lost, Gen. Auger and Geary wounded, and Gen. Prince missing. The determined valor of the Generals commanding was the theme of praise form every tongue. Gen. Prince's Brigade now musters 1200 men. Of the Staff, Lieut. Gillette alone remained unhurt. Capt. Tennatt and Lieut. Hascall, Aids to the General, were wounded -- the former mortally mortally. capt. gazen, another Aid, is missing. The great mortality among the mounted officers, who performed duty as commanders and aids on this memorable day, demonstrates again the intention of the enemy as shown in all their battles -- to demoralize their opponents by picking off the officers. Such was the advantage gained by the possession of Slaughter's Hill, that every regiment brought into the field by Gen. Banks could be plainly noted, and its strength estimated. In a conversation between Gen. Stuart, of the rebel cavalry, and Dr. Stephenson, of the Third Maryland Volunteers, the generalship of our leaders in attempting a position of such strength, was fully comments upon by Stuart, and the fact was elicited that there was not a regiment in our advancing army whose strength was not accurately and significant accuracy the strength of the regiments of Gen. Prince's Brigade after their withdrawal from Saturday's fight. There cannot be too stringent measures used to prevent traitors in our rear from sending information to our enemies. The neglect of this heretofore has caused many a plan to fail -- many a battle to be uselessly fought. Gens. Banks, McDowell and Pope were on the field; the former was under fire constantly. The battle is considered most brilliant when viewed in the light of a test of courage, but must be calmly pronounced a mistaken and costly effort. Monday was set apart, by mutual agreement, for the purpose of interring the dead, and gathering in the wounded that had lam on the field since Saturday. This was done by consent of the rebels, whose artillery commanded the field. This truce was improved by the crafts Confederates, for though they presents a bold front on Tuesdays, they were even then preparing for the retreat across the Rapidan which as effected Tuesday night. Culpepper is one vast hospital, in which, in every direction, may be seen the wounded in every stage of suffering, and often undergoing the most painful operations in plain view from streets. J.G.
​
​
The following article is from the New York Times, dated August 21, 1862:
​
The Battle of Slaughter Mountain:
Additional Lists of Killed and Wounded, Casualties and Gen. Augur's Division
​
From our own correspondent. Culpepper Court -- House, Sunday, Aug. 17, 1862
​
The following is a correct summary of the numbers killed and wounded in Gen. Auger's Division:
First Brigade, Command by Gen. Geary. Kerr's Cavalry -- 3 men missing. Twenty-ninth Ohio -- 6 killed. 52 wounded, 7 missing. Fifth Ohio -- 13 officers wounded; 18 men killed, 89 wounded, 2 missing. Seventh Ohio -- 6 officers wounded, 1 missing; 14 men killed, 79 wounded, 3 missing.
Second Brigade, Gen. Prince. One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers -- 1 officer missing 7 men killed, 73 wounded, 33 missing. One Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania -- 4 officers killed, 2 wounded, 6 missing; 14 men killed, 69 wounded, 40 missing. One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania -- 1 officer killed, 8 wounded, 1 missing; 11 men killed, 68 wounded, 29 missing. Eighth and Twelfth United States Regulars -- 3 officers wounded, 4 missing; 10 men killed, 39 wounded, 52 missing. Third Maryland Volunteers -- 3 officers wounded, 2 missing; 18 men killed, 43 wounded, 9 missing.
Third Brigade, Gen. Green. First District of Columbia Volunteers -- 1 officer wounded; 5 men wounded, 22 missing. Seventy eighth New York -- 1 officer missing; 4 men wounded, 56 missing. {One entire company of this regiment were taken prisoners.] Total officers killed, 9; wounded, 49; missing, 18, men killed 140; wounded, 676; missing, 271 -- making, in the aggregate, 1,168 men killed, wounded and missing.
The division entered the field with 169 commissioned officers, and 2,685 men -- altogether 2,85f4 -- losing over fifty per cent, or its officers, and forty per cent of its men. The fighting on the right wing was done principally by infantry, and the casualties in Gen. Williams Division we were assured yesterday, by a General officer, will exceed those in Gen. Auger's Division at least fifteen per cent. The killed in the latter division , in proportion to the numbers engaged, will also vastly exceed those in the former. True, many of the wounds are mere flesh wounds, from which the patient will soon recover; but there is a larger proportion of serious and dangerous wounds than has heretofore been in the various battles in Virginia. About 80 percent, of the wounded will either die or be rendered unfit for service hereafter. So it will easily be perceived that the battle of Cedar Mountain has been the bloodiest and most desperate of the war.
​