Official Records

Capt. Clerment L. Best

Note: This report is printed in Vol. 51, Serial 107, of the Official Records. The introduction to this supplemental volume states: This volume contains documents discovered too late to be included where they belong. They supplement a number of other volumes, and contain material from Big Bethel (June 10, 1861) through Bull Run, various operations in Virginia in 1861 and 1862 into Maryland in 1862.

Report of Captain Clermont L. Best, Fourth U. S. Artillery, Chief of Artillery, Second Corps, Army of Virginia.

Hdqrs. Artillery, Second Corps, Army of Virginia
Culpeper, August 13, 1862.

Major: There being but five brigades composing the corps, and each of diminished strength, it was deemed proper that no more than one battery to each brigade should be brought into action. These batteries had been previously designated, and were placed in position on the most favorable points, supposed by the brigades to which they were respectively attached. Continue reading “Capt. Clerment L. Best”

Col. Thomas Ruger

Report of Colonel Thomas H. Ruger, Third Wisconsin Infantry. Continue reading “Col. Thomas Ruger”

Col. Henry J. Stainrook

Report of Colonel Henry J. Stainrook, One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Infantry. Continue reading “Col. Henry J. Stainrook”

Capt. James Thompson

Report of Captain James Thompson, Independent Battery, Light Pennsylvania Artillery.

Cedar Creek, Va. August 9, 1862.

Sir:–– Having arrived upon the gourd at dark and when near the wood thru’ which the road passes, I found the road blocked by troops and ordered to wheel to the right by Gen. McDowell and not having further instructions, I halted the battery until I was assigned a position on an open piece of ground between two patches of woods. Continue reading “Capt. James Thompson”

Col. Hazael J. Williams; (1886 letter).

Extract from letter of Colonel Hazael Joseph Williams, Fifth Virginia Infantry, on the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862.

August 17, 1886.

The distance my regiment was from the Culpeper Road was about 600 yards. (The regiment of the brigade were arranged as follows: Right [to left] Twenty-seventh Virginia, Thirty-third Virginia, Fifth Virginia, Second Virginia, Fourth Virginia.) The two regiments on my right was held back by a charge being made by a brigade of Federals, under the command of Colonel [Joseph Farmer] Knipe, if I mistake not. Continue reading “Col. Hazael J. Williams; (1886 letter).”

Capt. Samuel Thomas Player.

Report of Captain Samuel Thomas Player, Forty-ninth Georgia, of the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862.

[August, 1862.]

I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Forty-ninth Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, in the battle at Cedar Run on August 9. Continue reading “Capt. Samuel Thomas Player.”

Capt. John Ashford, 38th NC.

Account of Captain John Ashford, Thirty-eight North Carolina Troops, of operations July 29-August 30, 1862, including the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia.

Sir: I will give you a short history of the Thirty-eighth Regiment of North Carolina Troops from July 29 to August 30, 1862.

The regiment left Camp Randolph near Richmond on July 29 and marched to Richmond, thence by rail to Gordonsville on the morning of July 30, where we bivouacked until the next morning. Continue reading “Capt. John Ashford, 38th NC.”

Maj. John G. Kasey.

Report of Major John G. Kasey, Fifty-eighth Virginia, of the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862.

This regiment was drawn up in line of battle with the other regiments of the Fourth Brigade at about 4 o’clock on the evening of August 9, at a distance of about one mile from the enemy’s batteries, and moving forward encountered the enemy’s cavalry, which retired as the brigade advance. Continue reading “Maj. John G. Kasey.”

Lt. Nathaniel Terry.

Report of Lieutenant Nathaniel Terry, John R. Johnson’s Virginia Battery, of the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862.

Report of the positions occupied by Johnson’s Battery and the number of men wounded in the engagement of August 9, 1862.

First position of howitzers, 400 yards southeast [of the] Hospital. Continue reading “Lt. Nathaniel Terry.”