No. 14.
Reports of Col. John H. Patrick, Fifth Ohio Infantry.
Headquarters Fifth Ohio Volunteers,
In the Field, August 11, 1862.
Sir: We left Culpeper about 9 a.m. Saturday (9th), and reached the field of action, 8 miles distant, about 2 p. m.; took position on the left; stacked arms and rested; were shortly afterward ordered to support a battery, which was in position in the center. After about an hour were ordered to advance, taking about 300 men into the engagement. While advancing we passed the Twelfth Regulars lying in a ravine, and only about 150 came out at the close of the fight, which was about dark. We had 1 field officer, 13 line officers, and 95 men killed and wounded.*
Respectfully, yours,
JNO. H. PATRICK,
Lieut. Col., Comdg. Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Colonel Candy, Sixty-sixth Ohio Vols., Comdg. First Brigade.
Headquarters Fifth Ohio Veteran Volunteers,
April 10, 1864.
Sir: In compliance with orders from the general commanding division I have the honor to forward the official report of the part taken by my command in the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862:
Headquarters Fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteers,
Culpeper, Va., August 13, 1862.
In obedience to orders from brigade headquarters I have the honor to transmit a record concerning our action in battle near Culpeper, Va., August 9, 1862:
We left Culpeper Saturday morning, the 8th instant, and marched a distance of about 8 miles, and arrived at the scene of action about 2 o’clock. We halted in front of the enemy’s right, stacked arms, and rested about an hour. In the mean time the artillery had opened fire on both sides, and I think that our artillery opened the fire. We were then ordered by General Geary to support a battery which was in position on our center. On arriving there our brigade, or rather that part comprising General Tylder’s old brigade (the other part, consisting of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, had left on the road), was divided, the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio formed the first line of support, the Fifth and Twenty-ninth Ohio the second, 50 paces in the rear. We were ordered to advance and occupy the line of the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio, while they advanced and gained equal distance in front.
We lay there until about 6 o’clock, having been shelled briskly from the commencement up to that time. The infantry were then ordered to advance. We kept advancing until we crossed a corn field. Our front was then clear, the troops in front having flanked to the right in advancing through the corn field. There was a road or ravine where we found a regiment of regulars (the Twelfth, I believe), all lying down. I tried to get them to advance. Our regiment called them cowards, and walked over them. After leaving the corn field we received the first round of grape and canister. We advanced farther until we reached a small mound. By this time we were the only regiment holding the open field, the others having flanked to the right that were on our right, and the regiment that came up on our left, after we had advanced through the corn field, only fired one volley, and retired immediately, the officer commanding leading them off the field.
The enemy by this time had been forced to retire, and if we had been re-enforced we would have driven them from the field. From some unexplained reason we were left to the kind mercy of the enemy, who seemed to know their business, and brought another brigade into action against us, no doubt with the intention of making a finish of the few brave men remaining on the field. We went into action with about 275 men, and lost in killed, wounded, and missing 122.
Respectfully submitted.
JNO. H. PATRICK,
Colonel Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Capt.Thomas H. Elliott,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps.
*But see revised statement, p. 137. [Report No. 2.]