CEDAR RUN AND SECOND MANASSAS

CHAPTER VIII

OUR division, commanded by Gen. A. P. Hill, was attached to Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson's corps from this time. As soon as McClellan had settled down on the James, Gen. Jackson was sent back to the Valley of Virginia to look after Gen. Pope, who was now in command of the valley army composed, of the corps of Banks, Fremont and McDowell, all united under Pope. Gen. Jackson was not slow in taking the initiative and on August 9, we moved out from camp on the Culpepper Court House Road and after marching many miles on that hot summer day we struck Banks' corps at Cedar Run and immediately engaged him. Gen. Jackson, by his skillful arrangement and preparation had Banks defeated from the start. By placing cannon on a point of South Mountain he could enfilade the infantry movements of the enemy and thus throw them into confusion while his own infantry attacked in front. Gen. Banks was forced from the field and our men followed him until late at night. Lying down under some trees that night, while we were pursuing Banks' retreating column, our artillery fir- (Page 67) ing at the fleeing foe and theirs in turn firing back at intervals, as the shells passed through the trees over my head I longed for a place where I could rest in peace, such rest as one gets under such circumstances being anything but satisfactory. I thought of home, sweet home, and the comfort of a soft feather bed. Holding the battlefield next day, caring for our wounded and burying our dead, we retired on the 11th of August to occupy our original position and await the arrival of Gen. Lee with Longstreet's corps before attacking Gen. Pope. With the arrival of Longstreet and his corps, Gen. Lee, being in personal charge of both Jackson's and Longstreet's units, began maneuvering to give Pope a blow before McClellan should join him. We marched out after Pope, and there was a race along the Rappahannock, Pope on one side and our army on the other, Gen. Lee threatening to cross and give battle and Pope on the watch to prevent the crossing. Amid it all word came to us to have three days rations prepared and ready for a march. At dawn we moved away to our left, going completely around Pope's right, and all day we were hurried along the road ignorant of our destination. On the 26th of August we passed through the mountains at Thoroughfare Gap and were thus placed exactly between Pope and Washington City. This was indeed a unique situation and we boys were not slow (Page 68) to realize it all. Here we were marching on to Manassas where Gen. Pope had his army stores and we soon had all these in our hands, captured without a struggle. Great piles of rations, meat and crackers in greatest abundance, but all we could do was to fill our haversacks and pass on. It all had to be burned, as Pope was now alarmed and was pressing on our rear and Longstreet was following him. It was a three cornered race with Jackson in the lead. It was amusing to see a hungry "Reb" stick his bayonet in a big side of bacon, swing it across his shoulder and endeavor to carry it along to camp. He would soon tire under his burden, and with his knife would cut it in two and throw one half away. Before he had passed many mile posts he would halve it again, and it wasn't long before his big side of meat had dwindled down to a two or three pound slice. Among the stores captured was a lot of barrels of whiskey. Gen. Jackson sent to Gen. A. P. Hill for a guard under the command of an officer who could be implicitly trusted. On the arrival of the officer with his guard, Gen. Jackson gave the instructions himself that the officer should take his men and knock the heads out of the whiskey barrels and spill all the whiskey on the ground, "For", said he, "I fear that whiskey more than I do Gen. Pope's whole army." A severe comment on whiskey.

I witnessed a strange sight here. Gen. (Page 69) Taylor with a New Jersey command, had been sent out from Washington City hurriedly on first news of our approach to the city, to drive us back. The authorities in Washington supposed us to be a cavalry raid, and they wished to protect Pope's army stores. Gen. Taylor came on the train and his command detrained above Manassas. Hoisting his flag he moved rapidly across the old field, making for the Junction. My brigade was right in his path and we could see him coming with the Stars and Stripes floating in the breeze and his long line of blue, making a pretty sight. He came right on and we stood as immovable as a rock right in his front. I was asking myself, "What is to be the outcome of this?" We had orders not to shoot but to stand still. A battery of artillery at our side were the first to fire, and as they sent a broadside into that blue line, which was advancing as though it intended to run right over us, it melted away quicker than I can tell it. The enemy seemed to run, every man for himself, and we ran right after them, shooting as we ran. It was an exciting race for a long distance. Gen. Taylor was killed and many of his men, but some got away and no doubt ran on to Washington City, 25 miles distant. Gen. Jackson marched us on toward Centerville and turned off into the woods, having abandoned all roads. Soldiers are quick to observe all movements and soon they (Page 70) began to ask one another, "What's the matter now? Is old 'Jack' lost?" We knew Pope was on our track and we knew Washington City was in our front, and we knew something was bound to happen as Pope must get through or get ruined. We realized that our corps was too weak to contend with Pope's entire army and we began to surmise that old "Jack" was trying to slip off through the woods and get back to rejoin Lee and Long-street. But we were soon of another opinion, for after marching a short distance in the woods we struck an old railroad track. The fills and cuts afforded a pretty good fortified position and we were put in line of battle along this old railroad track to await Mr. Pope's wishes. My brigade was moved out into the open field looking towards Manassas, and as Gen. Pope's army came up we were on his flank and he turned aside to pay his respects to us. His artillery opened on us. We lay flat on the ground and let them shoot, their shells exploding beyond us and doing no damage. One exploded in our front and a piece of it came rolling along the ground striking me on the head, but it was too far spent to hurt. It was on the evening of August 28th that Pope's army came up. Gen. Jackson promptly attacked him and when night ended the conflict we had the best of it. Gen. Pope was making every effort to crush Jackson with the full weight of his army be (Page 71) fore Longstreet could come up, and time and again he tried to drive us from the old railroad, but he was invariably repulsed.

Probably men have never been more severely tried than were Jackson's men at this time. They knew the odds were against them and they knew that Pope with a small force could hold Longstreet indefinitely at Thoroughfare Gap, where he must cross the mountain, and thus they might be overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers before help could arrive. On the other hand they had unbounded confidence in their leaders and were willing to trust it in their hands. On the 29th of August, Gen. Pope threw his men against our lines, determined to break through and put us to rout, but heroic courage and dogged tenacity were too much for his soldiers, and in the evening the glad news ran along our lines that Longstreet had passed the mountain and would soon join us on our right. This sent a thrill of joy through every bosom. Sure enough the rattle of musketry and the roar of cannon on Pope's left soon convinced-us that the good news was true and that relief was at hand. Jackson and Longstreet were invincible at this stage of the war, before their ranks had been decimated by being killed or wounded, or captured, and as they closed in on Pope he was obliged to give way and retreat toward Washington. Next day Gen. Jackson hastened around by another road and struck his retreating army (Page 72) in the flank at Ox Hill, Chantilly, where Gen. Kearney was killed. He had won renown in the Mexican war and was now a general on the Federal side. This battle at Ox Hill, Chantilly, was fought during a rainstorm, and the thunder of the skies and that of the cannon rivaled each other as to which could roar the louder. Either is bad enough but the two combined is terrible. Gen. A. P. Hill is said to have reported to "Old Jack" that his ammunition was wet and he wished to retire. "Tell him", said "Old Jack", "that the Yankee ammunition is as wet as his; to stay where he is." With Gen. Pope defeated, the way was open for an aggressive move on our part. Gen. Lee determined to cross the Potomac and threaten Washington. This, of course, would draw the Federals from the South to the defense of the capital and thus relieve the pressure for awhile at least. On the march soldiers soon regain their spirits. There is something invigorating in it; the change of scenery, the exercise, the anticipation of the purpose of the move, all soon bring the laughter and the joke and their trials are all forgotten. When we reached the Potomac we found the soldiers ahead of us marching right into the broad stream and wading across without a stop, and-we did the same. The water reached our waists at the deepest part and when we struck the land on the farther (Page 73) side with our clothes wet, jokes and jibes flew thick and fast, and instead of taking it seriously it was all turned into fun. This is characteristic of the southern soldier. He is always in a good humor and can find fun in the hardest luck and this helps to bear him up. Even on the battlefield he is sure to see the funny side of things. (Page 74)

Family Record and War Reminiscences
by William Frierson Fulton, Jr.
Livingston, AL, 1919
Transcribed by James W. Martin