No. 16.
Report of Capt. Wilbur F. Stevens, Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry.
Hdqrs. Twenty-ninth Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry,
Camp near Culpeper Court-House, Va., August 14, 1862.
Sir: In obedience to your order of this date I have the honor to make the following report of the Twenty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the late action near Cedar Mountain, August 9:
I went into the fight with 9 commissioned officers and 180 enlisted men. We were formed in rear of the seventh Ohio Regiment for the support of a battery stationed on a slight elevation of ground direct to our front. The battery was moved in a short time, and we were left for the support of another battery, stationed to our left. Afterward we moved to the front for the support of the Seventh Ohio Regiment, we coming up on their left. We then opened fire on the enemy, who were on a slight hill beyond the corn field and in the woods to our right. Here we received their fire from both the above-named places. They finally gave way direct in front, and we moved forward and occupied the ground on the hill beyond the corn field, we receiving the same cross-fire (from the woods and to the front). Our support on extreme right giving way, and we fearing our small squad would be captured, fell back to the right of our first position near the battery. Night coming on we fell back to the woods in our rear.
During the engagement my men behaved with the utmost coolness and bravery. No man left the field unless he was wounded or ordered to assist a wounded man back to the rear, and then return to his place in the ranks. We retired in as good order as could be expected, as our numbers were greatly diminished, they being either killed or wounded or assisting our wounded to the rear. During the engagement I had my horse shot, which I was obliged to leave.
The above is respectfully submitted.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W.F. STEVENS,
Captain, Comdg. Twenty-ninth Regiment Ohio Vol. Infantry.
Colonel Candy,
Sixty-sixth Ohio, Commanding First Brigade.